Power Primer: MoCo's Influence in Annapolis

As the General Assembly session opens in Annapolis, Montgomery County lawmakers have increased their clout.

Sen. Jamie Raskin, a Takoma Park Democrat, has been appointed majority whip in the Senate, a position where he'll be asked to find vote counts on legislation important to the majority party.

The county's influence extends throughout the 141-member legislature. For example:

The Senate's majority leader, Sen. Robert Garagiola, is from Germantown. The House's majority leader is Del. Kumar Barve of Gaithersburg.

Garagiola is also chair of the health subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee.

Two Montgomery lawmakers chair standing committees in the legislature.Sen. Brian Frosh of Bethesda chairs the Judicial Proceedings Committee.Del. Sheila E. Hixson of Silver Spring chairs the Ways and Means Committee.

Del. Kathleen Dumais of Rockville is the vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

And three Montgomery County delegates serve as chairs of Judiciary subcommittees. Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons of Rockville chairs the Civil Law and Procedure Subcommittee. Del. Jeff Waldstreicher of Kensington serves as the chair of the Estates and Trusts Subcommittee. And Del. Susan Lee of Bethesda chairs the Family Law Subcommittee.

Del. Heather Mizeur of Takoma Park is vice chair of the education and economic development subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.

Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr. of Kensington chairs the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

Del. Brian Feldman of Potomac serves as the House Parliamentarian, who makes rulings a procedure. He's also the Montgomery County House delegation chair as well as the chair of the Banking, Economic Development, Science and Technology Subcommittee of the House Economic Matters Committee.

Del. Anne Kaiser of Burtonsville serves as Chief Deputy Majority Whip in the House. She also chairs the Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

Del. C. William Frick of Bethesda is the chair of the Revenues Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

Del. Charles Barkley of Germantown serves as chair of the Alcoholic Beverages Committee of the Economic Matters Committee.