Gov. Hogan Appoints Del. Sydnor To Become State Senator Representing Parts Of Baltimore City, County

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday appointed Democratic Del. Charles Sydnor to become a state senator representing western parts of Baltimore County and of the city of Baltimore.

Sydnor, 45, of Catonsville, will finish the term of Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, who resigned recently due to health reasons. He is the majority deputy whip in the House and serves on the Judiciary Committee.

“I’m ecstatic,” Sydnor said. “I’m grateful to the governor for appointing me to the Senate. I’m grateful for everyone who supported me throughout this entire process.”

Hogan picked Sydnor over Democratic Del. Keith Haynes of Baltimore, who was also nominated for the seat.

Incoming Senate President Bill Ferguson praised Sydnor and said he would name him to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

“Senator-appointee Sydnor has been a dynamic leader surrounding issues of criminal justice and consumer protection, and we are excited to welcome him to the Senate,” Ferguson said in a statement. “I have no doubt he will serve the people of Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and the entire state of Maryland well on the Judicial Proceedings Committee.”

Sydnor is an attorney who works on affordable housing and community development issues.

He was elected to the House in 2014, representing part of Baltimore County. Sydnor said Monday that he planned to build relationships across the city-county line, meeting with faith and community leaders.

“I’m extremely excited to be representing the full district,” he said.

The Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee for Sydnor’s district will solicit applications for his replacement as delegate. The committee will then recommend a name to Hogan, who can choose to either accept or reject the nominee.

Also Monday, Hogan appointed Republican Mike Griffith to the House to fill a seat representing Harford and Cecil counties. Griffith will replace Republican Andrew Cassilly, who stepped down to work as a senior adviser to Hogan.

Griffith is the chief marketing officer for HPS Management in Havre de Grace and was a member of the military police for the Marine Corps. Griffith has served on several Harford County community boards, including the Maryland Building Industry Association, the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board and The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region.

Learning of his appointment Monday, the Bel Air resident said “understanding the weight and the responsibility tied to serving the residents of Harford and Cecil counties, I take that very seriously.”

Griffith thanked Hogan for the appointment, and said he looked “forward to working closely with the governor and moving his agenda forward.”

"I am confident that Mr. Griffith and Delegate Sydnor will represent their constituencies admirably in their new respective roles,” Hogan said in a statement. “I offer them both my sincere congratulations and look forward to working with them in the upcoming legislative session.”

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