Joanne C. Benson

Joanne Claybon Benson
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 2011
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 24th district
In office 1991–2011
Preceded by	Nathaniel Exum
Personal details
Born	(1941-03-11) March 11, 1941 Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Hyattsville, Maryland
Occupation	teacher
Religion	African Methodist Episcopal

Joanne Claybon Benson (born March 11, 1941) is an American politician who represents district 24 in the Maryland State Senate.

Background

Born in Roanoke, Virginia, March 11, 1941, Delegate Benson attended South Hagerstown High School and then graduated from Bowie State College with a BS in education in 1961. She later attended The Catholic University of America where she earned her M.A. in curriculum instruction in 1972.

In the legislature

Delegate Benson was a member of House of Delegates from 1991 to 2011. She served on the House Health and Government Operations Committee and its health occupations subcommittee, long-term care subcommittee, and its minority health disparities subcommittee. She is also a member and former chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. In 2010 she defeated incumbent state senator Nathaniel Exum and was sworn into office in January 2011.

Legislative notes

• voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)[1]
• voted in favor of the Tax Reform Act of 2007(HB2)[2]
• voted in favor of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)[3]