Maryland Manual 1996-1997 House of Delegates / 79

JOANNE C. BENSON, Democrat, District 24, Prince George's County. Member, House
of Delegates since 1991; Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1994— (procure-
ment subcomm.; chair, state government & civil rights subcomm.); Constitutional and Ad-
ministrative Law Committee, 1991-92; Environmental Matters Committee, 1992-93. Law
Enforcement Committee, Prince George's County Delegation. Past chair, Md. Legislative
Black Caucus. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, March 11, 1941. Bowie State College, B.S., 1961;
Catholic Univ. of America, M.A., 1972; George Washington Univ. Staff Administrator,
Prince George's Public School System. Board member, Black Democratic Council; Coalition
of Economic Development. Member, Coalition of 100 Black Women; PG Co. Educators' Assoc.
(negotiations team); Md. State Teachers Assoc.; National Education Assoc.; delegate, MSTA
& NEA conventions. Chair, Faculty Advisory Council. PG Bargaining Council. Honorary
member, Girl Scouts of America. Outstanding Minority Leader Award; Outstanding &
Dedicated Services to Children & Youth; Outstanding Minority Leadership Award; Out-
standing Educator, PG Co. Public Schools; Outstanding Award for Love of Children, Kiwanis
Club of Capitol Centre; Outstanding Community Service Award, LasAmigas; Citizen of
Tear, Omega Psi Phi fraternity; Community Service Award, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Assoc.;
Outstanding Minority Educator, MSTA Minority Caucus. Ebenezer A.M.E. Church. District
office: 1891 Brightseat Rd., Landover 20785; tel. (301) 772-2802. Annapolis office: 204
Lowe House Office Bldg., 21401-1991; tel. (301) 858-3065.

LEON G. BILLINGS, Democrat, District 18, Montgomery County. Member of House
of Delegates since 1991. Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 1995— (environ-
mental & natural resources subcommittee). Member, Constitutional and Administrative
Law Committee, 1991-93; Judiciary Committee, 1993; Commerce and Government
Matters Committee, 1994. Born in Helena, Montana, November 19, 1937. Reed College;
University of Montana, B.A., 1959. Served in U.S. Navy Reserve, 1955-63. Consultant. Staff
Director, U.S. Senate Environment Subcommittee, 1966-78. Administrative Assistant to U.S.
Senator Edmund Muskie, 1978-80. Executive Assistant to U.S. Secretary of State, 1980-81.
Director, Washington Politics Program, University of Southern California, 1981-94. Execu-
tive Director, U.S. Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, 1982-83. Lecturer and writer
on politics and environment; principal staff on federal environmental laws, 1966-78.
Widower; three children. District office: 3940 Rickover Rd., Silver Spring 20902; tel. (301)
946-5916; business tel. (202) 293-7800. Annapolis office: 223 Lowe House Office Bldg.,
21401-1991; tel. (301) 858-3028, (410) 841-3028.

PHILLIP D. BISSETT, Republican, District 30, Anne Arundel County. Member of
House of Delegates since 1991. Member, Judiciary Committee, 1991— (gaming law &
regulation subcommittee). Chair, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 1995. Born in
Bethesda, Maryland, September 11, 1956. Southern Senior High School; Anne Arundel
Community College. Self-employed small business owner. Member, State Commission on the
Capital City. Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 1992. Co-Chair, Anne
Arundel County Bush/Quayle Campaign, 1992. Past member, Anne Arundel County
Republican Central Committee. Member, Loch Haven Civic Association. Legislator of the
Year, State's Attorneys' Association, 1994. Married; three children. District office: 453
Walnut Dr., Edgewater 21037; tel. (410) 798-6273. Annapolis office: 212 Lowe House
Office Bldg., Annapolis 21401-1991; tel. (410) 841-3211.

ELIZABETH BOBO, Democrat, District 12B, Howard County. Member of House of
Delegates since 1995. Member, Commerce and Government Matters Committee,
1995— (financial institutions subcommittee); Joint Committee on Mandates, 1995—.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 21, 1943. Seton High School, Baltimore; University
of Maryland, B.A. (literature), 1969, J.D., 1981. Attorney. Member, Howard County Bar
Association. Member, Howard County Board of Appeals, 1976-77. Member, Howard County
Council, 1977-86. Howard County Executive, 1986-90. Deputy Secretary for Programs,
Department of Human Resources, 1990-94. Member, Governor's Commission on Growth in
the Chesapeake Region, 1989-91; State Advisory Council on Nutrition, 1991-94; Task Force
on Dual Office-Holding by Public Employees, 1995. Delegate, Democratic Party National
Convention, 1988. Member, League of Women Voters; Sierra Club; Howard County Citizens'
Association. Chesapeake Bay Conservation Award, Izaak Walton League of America, 1989.
Award for establishing shelter for homeless, Governor's Advisory Board of Homelessness, 1990.
Tribute of Appreciation, Howard County General Hospital, 1990. Howard County Historic
Preservation Award, 1990. Gates of Freedom Award, Maryland Committee, State of Israel
Bonds, 1990. Married; two children. District office: 5561 Suffield Ct., Columbia 21044;
tel. (410) 730-1206. Annapolis office: 209 Lowe House Office Bldg., 21401-1991; tel.
(410) 841-3205.