James Brochin

James (Jim) Brochin
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 42nd district
Assumed office
2003
Personal details
Born (1964-02-22) February 22, 1964
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Children One
Residence Cockeysville, Maryland
Occupation Insurance Broker

James (Jim) Brochin (born February 22, 1964) is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party.[1] He is currently serving in his 3rd term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 42 in Baltimore County. In 2010 he was reelected as a Senator for another four years, the term of a Maryland Senator.[2] During the 2010 campaign, he raised $344,316, had $131,245 on hand and spent $225,413 on his campaign, which was more than what James Rosapepe and Andrew (Andy) Harris spent on their campaigns.[3]

On his website, he calls himself Maryland's most independent Senator. In a letter on his homepage, signed with his name at the bottom he explains the reason he still serves on the General Assembly. He writes: "Over the last 9 years, I have always voted my conscience placing my constituents’ best interests above anything else. As I promised 9 years ago, my votes have reflected fiscal conservatism combined with a great concern for protecting open space and saving the Chesapeake Bay. I continue to remain an independent thinker, placing policy before party."[4]

Background

He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, February 22, 1964. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, B.A. (political science)in 1986 and gained an M.A at the University of Maryland, College Park, M.A. for government & politics in 1990. In 1989 he was a Legislative analyst for the Maryland Senate President. Also that year he was a political analyst for WCBM Radio. From 1990-1991 he was a lobbyist in Baltimore County. From 1993 to 1994 he was a Campaign manager for Joe Miedusiewski. From 1990-8 he was a political science instructor at the Catonsville Campus, Community College of Baltimore County. From 1994 to 2011 he taught at Towson University. From 2000 to present he has been an insurance broker. From 1994 to 2001 he was a senior political writer for Baltimore Magazine, 1994–2001, In 2003 he was dubbed the legislator of the Year by the Maryland State's Attorneys Association, 2003. In 2004 he was dubbed the Legislator of the Year by the American Institute of Architects, 2004. He current has one child. Since 2005 he has been a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures.[5]

Political career

Member of Senate since January 8, 2003. Member, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2007-; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2003-; Special Committee on Substance Abuse, 2007-. Member, Judicial Proceedings Committee, 2003–04; Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2003–06; Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2004–06 (environment subcommittee, 2004–06; ethics & election law subcommittee, 2004–06). Member, Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, 2004-. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (law & criminal justice committee, 2005-; legislative effectiveness & state government committee, 2005–07; legislative effectiveness committee, 2007-). Member, Environmental Restoration and Development Task Force, 2003.[6]

Legislative career 2002-Present

Senator Brochin has served three terms as a state senator representing the 42nd legislative district.

Election of 2002

In 2002, he won the seat for state senator with 22709 votes, Martha Scanlan Klima, the Republican incumbent gained 21781 and write-in named "zz998" gained 45 votes.[7]

Election of 2006

In 2006, he won against Douglas B. Riley, a Republican, who garnered 19,084 votes or 43.7%. Mr. Brochin garnered 24,588 votes or 56.3% and write-ins included 30 voters or 0.1% of the electorate. [8]

Positions in 2007 legislative session

The last session where information is available tells even more about Mr. Brochin. Less bills were sponsored in this session by Mr. Brochin and are the most unusual positions of the senator to date.[9]

Positions in 2008 legislative session

In 2008, Mr. Brochin sponsored certain legislation that was different that what he has voted on before. In this session, there was some bills relating to special education, illegal aliens and others. [10]

Positions in 2009 legislative session

Unlike the 2010 and 2011 sessions, Mr. Brochin's website linked us to a page hosted on the General Assembly site, an archive page. During this session, Mr. Brochin had some interesting positions as well, different from previous sessions.[11]

Positions in 2010 legislative session

Like the 2011 legislative session, Mr. Brochin's website laid out the bills he supported it.[12] He was the lead sponsor of the below legislation. He was the lead sponsor of each piece of legislation in the list below.

Election of 2010

In 2010, Jim Brochin with less of votes than the less election, with 24,346 people voting in his favor(58.39%), but his Republican opponent, Kevin Carney was almost 7,000 votes behind with 17,320 voting for him (41.54%). Other Write-Ins registered 27 people in the Baltimore County or 0.06% of the vote. [13]

Support of medical marijuana

In 2010 during the debate over medical marijuana in the Maryland General Assembly, Senator Brochin professed his support for medical marijuana. In a mailed form letter on 6.9.10, Mr Brochin wrote: "I supported the medical marijuana bill which could relieve the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens. [The bill] allows someone who has pain through a chronic or terminal illness to be prescribed medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has been shown to stimulate appetite for those that must undergo chemotherapy."[14]

LGBT issues

Senator Brochin in 2011 made a controversial move. In an interesting about-face, Washington Post reported that Mr. Brochin stated he would support same sex-marriage in the state of Maryland: "Brochin said at a news conference that while he has been willing to support civil unions between gay couples previously, the word "marriage" was a "stumbling block."...Brochin called testimony from same-sex marriage opponents "appalling and disgusting. ... I just heard hate and venom coming out of that hearing.""[15] The Advocate found similar statements from the senator. In the article he is quoted as saying: “What I witnessed from the opponents of the bill was appalling," he said. “Witness after witness demonized homosexuals, vilified the gay community, and described gays and lesbians as pedophiles. I believe that sexual orientation is not a choice, but rather people are born one way or another. The proponents of the bill were straightforward in wanting to be simply treated as everyone else, and wanted to stop being treated as second-class citizens. For me, the transition to supporting marriage has not been an easy one, but the uncertainty, fear, and second-class status that gays and lesbians have to put up with is far worse and clearly must come to an end."[16]

In March 2013, the Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2013 (SB 449), came up for vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The bill, which would have added gender identity and expression to existing state law prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations, failed to pass the committee in a 5-6 vote. Brochin cast one of the six opposing votes, effectively blocking the bill from receiving a vote by the full Senate.[17]

Positions in 2011 General Assembly Session

Mr. Brochin's website lays out every bill the Senator has supported. Some positions he held were controversial, as others were not.[18] He was the lead sponsor of the below legislation.

Positions in 2012 General Assembly Session

Positions in 2013 General Assembly Session

Meeting with BGE officials at Towson High School

As an effort to mitigate the anger of the populace against Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) owned by Constellation energy, Mr. Brochin held a meeting in Towson High School. The Baltimore Sun reported "The meeting, held at Towson High School, was attended by dozens of residents who spent the first week of September in the dark — and won't let BGE forget about it...But after the presentation [by BGE officials] some level of vitriol was common from the speakers...For his part, Brochin said one of the reasons to bring up Irene three months later is to evaluate priorities for restoration after such outages." [27] Towson Patch also had an article on the subject. They noted that "State Sen. James Brochin moderated a Monday evening town hall with representatives of BGE at Towson High School, where officials listened to complaints and concerns of more than 30 residents and promised to do better...During the question-and-answer session, which lasted for more than an hour, residents grilled [BGE officials] Carostens and McDaniel on what happened during the August storm and the lessons learned." [28] One individual user on YouTube[29] posted audio of the whole meeting in a number of different videos.

References

  1. ↑ "James Brochin- Ballotopedia". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  2. ↑ "Terms of Delegates and Senators in Article III, Section 7". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  3. ↑ "Top Fundraising Candidates through August 10, 2010" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  4. ↑ "Jim Brochin letter to constituents". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  5. ↑ "James Brochin - Biography - Project Vote Smart". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  6. ↑ "Jim Brochin page on Maryland State Archives website". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  7. ↑ "Official 2002 election results". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  8. ↑ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  9. ↑ "BILLS SPONSORED BY BROCHIN - 2007 REGULAR SESSION". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  10. ↑ "BILLS SPONSORED BY BROCHIN - 2008 REGULAR SESSION". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  11. ↑ "BILLS SPONSORED BY BROCHIN - 2009 REGULAR SESSION". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  12. ↑ "Positions in 2010 legislative session". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  13. ↑ "Official 2008 Election results for District 42". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  14. ↑ "Viewpoints on the drug war". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  15. ↑ "Brochin confirms plan to vote for Md. same-sex marriage bill". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  16. ↑ "Antigay Testimony Swayed Md. Senator's Marriage Vote". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  17. ↑ "Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee: Voting Record - 2013 Session" (PDF). Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  18. ↑ "Positions in 2011 legislative session". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  19. ↑ http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/SB0030.htm
  20. ↑ http://marylandreporter.com/2012/02/23/brochin-offers-new-redistricting-process/
  21. ↑ http://votesmart.org/bill/votes/38400#.UlqQkVCsjAk
  22. ↑ http://towson.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/brochin-throws-support-behind-same-sex-marriage-bill
  23. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2013RS/bills/sb/sb0382F.pdf
  24. ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-03-18/news/bs-md-speed-cameras-senate-20130318_1_camera-legislation-camera-bill-city-cameras
  25. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=flrvotepage&tab=subject3&id=HB1515,s-0841&stab=02&ys=2013rs
  26. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=flrvotepage&tab=subject3&id=SB0276,s-0417&stab=02&ys=2013rs
  27. ↑ "Hurricane Irene still brews a few dark clouds in Towson". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  28. ↑ "BGE Officials Hear Concerns at Irene Town Hall". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  29. ↑ "HermannView YouTube Channel". Retrieved 2011-12-10.
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