Elizabeth Embry

Elizabeth M. Embry (born March 2, 1977) is an American politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 43A in Baltimore.[1] In 2018, she was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, running on the ticket of Prince George's County executive Rushern Baker.[2] In 2016, she was a candidate for mayor of Baltimore.[3]

Elizabeth Embry
Embry in 2023
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 43A district
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Preceded byMaggie McIntosh
Personal details
Born (1977-03-02) March 2, 1977
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Waverly, Baltimore, Maryland
EducationBaltimore City College
Yale University
Columbia Law School
OccupationAttorney
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

Embry was born to father Robert C. Embry Jr., the president of the Abell Foundation, and mother Mary Ann E. Mears, a sculptor and arts advocate.[2] She attended Baltimore City College, Yale University, and Columbia Law School.[2]

In 2011, Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein named Embry as the new deputy prosecutor.[4][5]

In January 2015, Embry became the chief of the Maryland Attorney General's criminal division.[3] She was on leave from this job during her 2016 mayoral campaign,[6] and resigned from it in February 2018 to focus on her gubernatorial campaign.[2] In February 2019, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh rehired Embry to lead a probe of sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.[7] In September 2018, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori confirmed the archdiocese was under investigation by the state and that it had given the attorney general more than 50,000 pages of internal documents dating back to 1965.[8] On November 17, 2022, the Office of the Attorney General concluded its investigation, releasing a 456-page report identifying 600 victims of sexual abuse and accusing 158 Catholic priests, including 43 that were previously never publicly identified by the Archdiocese, of sexual abuse.[9][10][11]

2016 Baltimore mayoral candidacy
Main article: 2016 Baltimore mayoral election

Embry announced her candidacy for mayor of Baltimore on November 6, 2015,[12] becoming the 11th candidate to join the race in the Democratic primary.[3] Her platform included increasing funding for schools and extracurricular activities,[13] criminal justice reform,[14] and improving city transportation.[15] During the primary, she was endorsed by former Maryland Attorney General Stephen H. Sachs.[3]

Embry was defeated by state senator Catherine Pugh in the Democratic primary, placing third behind Pugh and former Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon with 11.7 percent of the vote.[16]

2018 Maryland lieutenant governor candidacy
Main article: 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election
Embry (center) campaigning with Rushern Baker (left) in 2018

In January 2018, rumors arose that Embry was on Prince George's County executive Rushern Baker's shortlist for potential running mates.[17] On February 20, 2018, Baker announced that Embry would be his running mate in the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election.[2] Embry said she was "a bit shocked" to be asked by Baker to join his ticket, as the two had only spoken briefly a few times before.[18] However, Baker had said that he decided on Embry "[f]ive minutes into the conversation".[19] Baker and Embry were defeated by former NAACP president Ben Jealous in the Democratic primary election, placing second with 29.3 percent of the vote.[20]

In the legislature

On January 21, 2022, Embry announced that she would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 43, seeking to succeed retiring state delegate Maggie McIntosh.[21] During the primary, she was endorsed by state delegates Regina T. Boyce[22] and Maggie McIntosh.[23] Embry won the Democratic primary election on July 19, 2022, placing second behind Boyce with 29.1 percent of the vote,[24] and later won the general election in November with 44.59 percent of the vote.[25]

Embry was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.[26] She is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.[27]

Political positions

Criminal justice reform

During her mayoral campaign, Embry released a plan to reform the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, abolish cash bail, improve education services in the juvenile justice system, and providing automatic criminal record expungement where possible.[28] She also supported providing incentives to encourage police officers to live in the city, and proposed implementing an early warning system to identify troubled officers.[29]

Education

On April 2, 2016, Embry unveiled a plan to double the amount of funding the city provided to schools, extracurricular activities, and community schools.[13] She also pledged to continue an executive order issued by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake that gave city employees paid time off to tutor struggling readers in Baltimore city schools.[30] Embry did not support Pugh's plan to take back legal control of the city's schools, but pledged to "take an ownership role in the city's schools."[31]

Housing

During her mayoral campaign, Embry said she would support reviving former Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer's "dollar house" program, in which the city sold homes for a dollar. She also said that her administration would use CitiStat to track maintenance and repairs at public housing complexes as well as the effectiveness of various housing incentives.[32] On April 2, 2016, Embry appeared at a mayoral forum to discuss proposals for incentivizing affordable housing construction in Baltimore, where she said she would help neighborhoods come up with a revitalization plan and better use funds from the 21st Century School Building Plan to rebuild communities.[33]

Social issues

In March 2016, Embry proposed a social media campaign to promote local art by establishing a cabinet-level position to focus on the arts and artist residency programs at city schools.[34][35] She added that her support for arts education was a matter of social justice, and that promoting youth arts programs would be her highest priority in arts policy.[36] Embry called for a continuation of the city's 1 Percent for Public Art initiative, which saw a portion of development fees go toward city art projects.[34]

Taxes

In March 2016, Embry said she supported continuing with tax cuts pursued by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, but said that those tax cuts, which reduced property tax rates by 14 cents, were not enough. She also expressed the need to find new sources of revenue to cut the city's dependence on property and income taxes.[37]

Transportation

On March 18, 2016, Embry released a plan for building a "comprehensive public transit system" in Baltimore, which included an east-west public transit line, expanded bus services, and connections between water taxis and other forms of transportation.[15]

Personal life

Embry lives in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore.[38]

Electoral history
2016 Baltimore mayoral Democratic primary results[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Pugh 48,665 36.6
Democratic Sheila Dixon 46,219 34.7
Democratic Elizabeth Embry 15,562 11.7
Democratic David Warnock 10,835 8.1
Democratic Carl Stokes 4,620 3.5
Democratic DeRay Mckesson 3,445 2.6
Maryland gubernatorial Democratic primary, 2018[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
231,895 39.6
Democratic
171,697 29.3
Democratic
48,647 8.3
Democratic
48,042 8.2
Democratic
  • Rich Madaleno
  • Luwanda Jenkins
 34,184 5.8
Democratic
  • Valerie Ervin (withdrawn)
  • Marisol Johnson (withdrawn)
 18,851 3.2
Democratic
  • Alec Ross
  • Julie C. Verratti
 13,780 2.4
Democratic
  • Ralph Jaffe
  • Freda Jaffe
 9,405 1.6
Democratic
  • James Hugh Jones
  • Charles S. Waters
 9,188 1.6
Maryland House of Delegates District 43A Democratic primary election, 2022[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Regina T. Boyce 8,090 30.9
Democratic Elizabeth Embry 7,618 29.1
Democratic Logan Endow 6,472 24.7
Democratic Reginald Benbow 2,176 8.3
Democratic Sherricka Alayshia McGrier-Douglas 1,005 3.8
Democratic Rikki Vaughn 846 3.2
Maryland House of Delegates District 43A election, 2022[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Regina T. Boyce 19,788 47.52
Democratic Elizabeth Embry 18,569 44.59
Green Renaud Deaundre Brown 1,691 4.06
Republican Gwendolyn O. Butler 1,509 3.62
Write-in 86 0.21

References
  1. "Members – Delegate Elizabeth Embry". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. Cox, Erin (February 20, 2018). "Democrat Rushern Baker picks former mayoral candidate Elizabeth Embry as running mate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  3. Wood, Pamela (November 6, 2015). "Embry says she'll bring 'hustle' to race for Baltimore mayor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  4. Kearney, Brendan (January 3, 2011). "Bernstein names former state budget chief to post". The Daily Record. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  5. Fenton, Justin (July 3, 2011). "With fewer arrests in Baltimore, fewer cases that don't stick". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  6. Cornish, Stephanie (January 13, 2016). "Mayoral Candidate Embry Stresses Experience Prosecuting Crime". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  7. DePuyt, Bruce (February 27, 2019). "Frosh Taps Elizabeth Embry to Probe Sex Abuse Allegations in Baltimore Archdiocese". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  8. Knezevich, Alison (September 24, 2021). "Years into attorney general investigation of Maryland's Catholic Church, abuse survivors wonder where it stands". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  9. O'Neill, Madeleine (November 17, 2022). "Report names 158 Catholic priests accused of abuse after investigation into Archdiocese of Baltimore". The Daily Record. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  10. Bowie, Liz; Prudente, Tim (November 17, 2022). "Attorney general seeks court approval to release four-year investigation into Catholic church abuse". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  11. Sanderlin, Lee O. (November 17, 2022). "Maryland AG investigation into Catholic church finds over 600 victims of sexual abuse". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  12. Broadwater, Luke (November 6, 2015). "Elizabeth Embry to launch campaign for mayor Friday". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  13. Broadwater, Luke (April 2, 2016). "Mayoral candidate Elizabeth Embry releases education plan". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  14. Ericson, Edward (March 8, 2016). "Elizabeth Embry aims to reform the criminal justice system". Baltimore City Paper. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  15. Broadwater, Luke (March 18, 2016). "Elizabeth Embry releases plans to improve transit, reform city ethics". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  16. Broadwater, Luke (December 22, 2016). "Catherine Pugh bested 28 other candidates to win Baltimore mayor's race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  17. Miner, Ryan (January 28, 2018). "Embry said to be atop Baker's lieutenant governor shortlist". A Miner Detail. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  18. Owens, Jacob (June 16, 2018). "Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Embry touts Baker's record". Cecil Whig. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  19. DePuyt, Bruce (February 21, 2018). "Baker: I Decided on Embry '5 Minutes' Into Our First Meeting". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  20. Neibauer, Michael (June 27, 2018). "Democrat Ben Jealous will face Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in November, while MoCo executive race too close to call". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  21. Gaines, Danielle; Kurtz, Josh (January 21, 2022). "Political Notes: Campaign Staff Unionizes, Embry Enters Delegate Race, Changes at GBC". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  22. Kurtz, Josh; Leckrone, Bennett (March 26, 2022). "Political Notes: History-Making Mikulski Looking to Make History With Endorsement — and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  23. Kurtz, Josh (April 1, 2022). "Political Notes: Franchot to Join Clyburn at Bowie State, Hogan Picks a Dem in City Race, McIntosh Blesses a Successor, and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  24. Gaskill, Hannah (July 29, 2022). "Wins, losses and close calls among Baltimore City and County General Assembly races". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  25. McQueen, Tashi (December 4, 2022). "Regina Boyce and Elizabeth Embry poised to jointly serve District 43". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  26. "Elizabeth M. Embry, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. May 30, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  27. Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  28. "Mayor's race on the issues: Public safety". The Baltimore Sun. February 11, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  29. Miller, Jayne (February 23, 2016). "Baltimore mayoral candidates lay out plans to hold police officers accountable". WBAL-TV. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  30. Green, Erica (April 13, 2016). "Mayoral candidates pledge to continue to fight literacy gaps". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  31. Broadwater, Luke (February 24, 2016). "Baltimore mayoral candidates clash on police, inequality issues at OSI forum". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  32. Wenger, Yvonne (February 23, 2016). "Mayoral candidates share similar visions for addressing Baltimore housing woes". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  33. McDaniels, Andrea (April 2, 2016). "Mayoral candidates address community development, housing". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  34. Babcock, Stephen (March 9, 2016). "4 Arts Issues That Matter to Baltimore's Mayoral Candidates". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  35. Callahan, Maura (March 9, 2016). "Mayoral candidates participate in first forum on the arts". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  36. Callahan, Maura (March 15, 2016). "Baltimore mayoral candidates turn to the arts". Baltimore City Paper. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  37. Bednar, Adam (March 4, 2016). "Baltimore Democratic mayoral candidates clash on property taxes". The Daily Record. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  38. Amara, Kate (April 14, 2016). "Elizabeth Embry touts Baltimore roots in campaign for mayor". WBAL-TV. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  39. "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Baltimore City". Maryland State Board of Elections. May 31, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  40. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Governor / Lt. Governor". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
  41. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  42. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
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