Susan W Turnbull Elected Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Contact:  Quincey Gamble

February 20, 2009                                                            Phone:    (301) 312-2776

Susan Turnbull Elected Chair of Maryland Democratic Party

Annapolis, MD--Susan “Susie” Turnbull of Montgomery County was elected chair of the Maryland Democratic Party by unanimous vote at the party’s Executive Committee meeting February 19, 2008, succeeding Michael Cryor of Baltimore, who had served since June 2006.

Most recently, Turnbull served as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 till January of this year.  But her political engagement began in 1982 when she first worked on a campaign in Montgomery County, where she has lived since 1979.

She was first elected to the Maryland Democratic Party Executive Committee when she joined the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee in 1990 and served on the Executive Committee continuously until 2004.    

In recommending Ms. Turnbull to the post with “great pride,” Governor Martin O’Malley noted that Ms. Turnbull “played an instrumental role in helping to elect President Barack Obama and countless other Democrats across the country.”

Ms. Turnbull told the committee, “As Governor O’Malley has said, our country and state are at a critical juncture.  Our elected leaders are all working to solve our nation’s economic problems and, here at home, to protect our people and our number-one ranked schools so that we come out of the current difficulties stronger than ever before.  Simply put, Maryland has made great progress since 2006 and we cannot allow it to be undone,“ said Turnbull.

She continued, “I see this as an opportunity for all of us to work together to continue to build on the strong foundations of the Maryland Democratic Party put into place by Chairman Michael Cryor.  In 2007 and 2008, the Maryland Democratic Party achieved tremendous successes in helping to elect President Obama and increasing voter participation throughout our state.

“In 2009, we must keep our volunteers engaged and energized for the good of our state and nation. In these serious times, we need to work to support our Democratic administration and legislature in Maryland and ensure the re-election of Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown, Senator Mikulski, our entire Congressional delegation, the strong majorities in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, and all the other members of our 2010 ticket.

“We must all work together to make sure that One Maryland moves forward. I look forward to engaging an active Maryland Democratic Party in our joint efforts. 

“Again, I thank Governor O’Malley.  His dynamic and principled leadership demonstrates how good policy—sustainability, security and skills—is so critically important in these challenging times.”

Other party officers elected or reelected at the same meeting are Delegate Talmadge Branch of Baltimore City, as First Vice Chair; Lauren Dugas Glover, of Prince George's County, as Second Vice Chair; Sarah Flynn, of Anne Arundel County, as Secretary; Andréa Vernot, of Baltimore County, as Deputy Secretary; Dr. Ngoc Chu, of Montgomery County, as Treasurer, and Robert Kresslein, of Frederick County, as Deputy Treasurer.