Luwanda Jenkins and Rich Madaleno
Here is the press release from the Madaleno campaign:
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Rich Madaleno Selects Baltimore Native, Luwanda Jenkins, as Running Mate
BALTIMORE, Md.—Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Richard Madaleno announced today his selection of Baltimore native Luwanda Walker Jenkins as his running mate.
Jenkins, 55, has a record of results from her extensive work in the public and private sectors to expand opportunity for all Marylanders, especially women and minorities.
“Luwanda and I are committed to making Maryland the state that will be known for its high quality of life, progressive values and wider access to opportunity for all,” Madaleno said. “Luwanda shares my values and sensible vision for Maryland’s future and will strengthen my administration’s ability to achieve my goals, especially in the areas of economic development and expanding small business development for minorities and women.”
The announcement was held at Western High School in Baltimore, the city’s all-girls public high school that she attended. “Western set the foundation for my support for a strong public education system and to do whatever I can to help families achieve the American dream,” Jenkins said.
“I’m thrilled to join Rich. My entire career has been about leveraging opportunity to make a better quality of life for Marylanders. I’m excited to travel across the state and share our ticket’s plan for action and engage Marylanders in how to make our state better,” she said.
Jenkins said she would focus on four main areas: improving K-12 public education, especially for high-poverty communities, and ensuring more college affordability and access; reducing wealth inequities; growing women- and minority-owned small businesses; and ensuring gender equity to increase Maryland’s competitiveness.
“Between our shared progressive vision for Maryland, my budget and finance mastery, and Luwanda’s economic development and community relations expertise, we’ve got a winning team,” Madaleno said.
A Madaleno-Jenkins vision for Maryland presents a stark contrast to Gov. Larry Hogan’s agenda.
“Our vision focuses on improving the quality of life for all Marylanders and making sure that people and communities with the most needs actually get the help they need to succeed. We will work to strengthen communities—from urban centers like Baltimore to rural areas on the Eastern Shore and in western Maryland—and make wise budgetary decisions that will make positive change but won’t break the state treasury,” Madaleno said.
Jenkins has wide experience in the public and private sectors. Most recently, Jenkins has been the chief operating officer of the LEADERship program, a Baltimore-based leadership development program. From 2016-17, Jenkins was vice president of community relations and diversity at The Cordish Companies. During her 2012-15 tenure at Coppin State University in Baltimore, she was involved in implementing the “Coppin State University Review Plan” that addressed the university’s performance, fiscal accountability, enrollment and graduation rates to put the university on a course for future growth. As former Gov. Martin O’Malley’s special secretary of the Office of Minority Affairs from 2007-12, Jenkins created programs to provide opportunities for small and minority-owned firms in the state.
As a way to give back to her hometown of Baltimore, Jenkins coordinated the Baltimore Sun’s “Reading by 9” program to help strengthen Baltimore City school children’s reading achievement. The program included community book distributions to low-income children, summer reading programs and grants to non-profit literary organizations. The program won national and local awards.
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Madaleno bio – http://madalenoformaryland.com/meet-rich/
Jenkins bio – http://madalenoformaryland.com/meet-luwanda/
