Stephen W. Lafferty

Stephen W. Lafferty (born February 28, 1949) is an American politician who was a member of Maryland House of Delegates from January 2007 to September 2019, representing District 42 from 2007 to 2015, and District 42A from 2015 to 2019. Lafferty was the first Democrat to be elected in district 42 since it was moved to Baltimore County after the 21st century census and redistricting.[1] In September 2019, he resigned from the House of Delegates to serve as chief sustainability officer for Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski.[2]

Stephen W. Lafferty
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 42A district
In office
January 2015 – September 6, 2019
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byCathi Forbes
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 42nd district
In office
January 2007 – January 2015
Preceded byJohn G. Trueschler
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born (1949-02-28) February 28, 1949
Washington, D.C., United States
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBetsy Lafferty
Residence(s)Baltimore County, Maryland
OccupationAttorney

Background

Lafferty was born in Washington, D.C., on February 28, 1949. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he earned his B.A. in American studies in 1971.[3] Just a year later at Bowling Green State University, he earned a M.A. also in American studies; and then a teacher's certificate at Towson State University in 1977.[3] He was a teacher (mathematics & social studies) for Baltimore City Public Schools from 1974–1978. Lafferty served as executive director & assistant director for the Baltimore American Indian Center, Inc. during 1978–1980. He received a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1983.[3] He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1983.

He is married to Betsy Lafferty. Lafferty resides in Stoneleigh.[3]

In the legislature

Lafferty was a member of House of Delegates from January 10, 2007, to September 6, 2019. He served on the House Environmental Matters Committee and its housing & real property, its land use & ethics and its local government & bi-county subcommittees. He also contributed to the ground rent legislation of 2007 through the ground rent work group.[1]

Legislative notes
  • voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)[4]
  • voted in favor of prohibiting ground rents in 2007(SB106)[5]
  • voted for the Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2007 (HB713), subjecting gang members to up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000[6]
  • voted for Jessica's Law (HB 930), eliminating parole for the most violent child sexual predators and creating a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in state prison, 2007[7]
  • voted for Public Safety – Statewide DNA Database System – Crimes of Violence and Burglary – Post conviction (HB 370), helping to give police officers and prosecutors greater resources to solve crimes and eliminating a backlog of 24,000 unanalyzed DNA samples, leading to 192 arrests, 2008[8]
  • voted for Vehicle Laws – Repeated Drunk and Drugged Driving Offenses – Suspension of License (HB 293), strengthening Maryland's drunk driving laws by imposing a mandatory one year license suspension for a person convicted of drunk driving more than once in five years, 2009[9]
  • voted for HB 102, creating the House Emergency Medical Services System Workgroup, leading to Maryland's budgeting of $52 million to fund three new Medevac helicopters to replace the State's aging fleet, 2009[10]
  • co-sponsored and voted for HB0294 (cross filed with SB281) that restricted gun possession, 2012[11]

Post-legislative career

In 2019, Lafferty became Baltimore county's first chief sustainability officer.[2][12]

Election results
  • 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 42[13]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Susan Aumann, Rep. 22,054   18.3%    Won
Stephen W. Lafferty, Dem. 21,117   17.5%    Won
William J. Frank, Rep. 20,522   17.0%    Won
Dilip Paliath, Rep. 19,490   16.2%    Lost
Tracy Miller, Dem. 19,168   15.9%    Lost
Andrew Belt, Dem. 18,006   14.9%    Lost
Other Write-Ins 88   0.1%    Lost
  • 2002 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 42[14]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Susan Aumann, Rep. 21,326   17.2%    Won
William J. Frank, Rep. 20,881   16.9%    Won
John G. Trueschler, Rep. 21,591   17.4%    Won
Stephen W. Lafferty, Dem. 18,958   15.3%    Lost
James W. Campbell, Dem. 18,168   14.7%    Lost
Matthew Joseph, Dem. 17,478   14.1%    Lost
Rick Kunkel, Green 5,464   4.4%    Lost
Other Write-Ins 66   0.1%    Lost

References
  1. "Stephen W. Lafferty, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 6, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  2. "Two Maryland Lawmakers To Work For Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski". WJZ-TV. Associated Press. August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  3. Mitchell, Josh (25 October 2006). "Brochin, and Riley do battle in Senate race". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  4. "BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 359". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  5. "2007 Regular Session - Vote Record 0250". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  6. "BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 713". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  7. "BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 930". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  8. "BILL INFO-2008 Regular Session-HB 370". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  9. "BILL INFO-2009 Regular Session-HB 293". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  10. "BILL INFO-2009 Regular Session-HB 102". Maryland Legislative Information System (MLIS). Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  11. "Legislation - HB0294". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  12. Boteler, Cody (2 October 2019). "Former Del. Stephen Lafferty is Baltimore County's first chief sustainability officer. What does that mean?". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  13. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
  14. "2002 Gubernatorial Election". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
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