Tawanna P. Gaines Explained

Tawanna P. Gaines
State Delegate:Maryland
Term Start:December 21, 2001[1]
Term End:October 4, 2019
Constituency:Prince George's County
Predecessor:Richard Palumbo (D)
Successor:Nicole A. Williams (D)
Term Start2:2000
Term End2:2001
Predecessor2:William T. Armistead Jr.
Successor2:Ronald M. Shane
Term Start3:1998
Term End3:2000
Birth Date:1 February 1952
Birth Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Death Place:Lanham, Maryland, U.S.
Children:2
Education:District of Columbia Teachers College, 1970-72
Towson University, Realtors Institute of Maryland, Associate Broker, 1981[2]
Occupation:Politician, University staff

Tawanna Phyllis Gaines (February 1, 1952 – November 12, 2022) was an American politician who represented District 22 in the Maryland House of Delegates from December 2001 to October 2019. She resigned in the face of federal corruption charges and in 2020 was sentenced to six months in prison.

Background

Gaines was born in Washington, DC, on February 1, 1952. She attended District of Columbia Teachers College, 1970-72.

In the legislature

Gaines had been a member of House of Delegates since December 21, 2001 when she was appointed by Governor Parris Glendening to fill the vacancy of Richard Palumbo who himself had been appointed judge to the District Court of Maryland for Prince George's County. She was appointed by the Speaker to be Deputy Majority Whip in 2003. She served on the House Appropriations Committee and was the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Sub Committee on Transportation and the Environment, in addition to the capital budget subcommittees. She was also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

Gaines resigned from the legislature on October 4, 2019 and on October 7 was charged with federal wire fraud for using over $22,000 of campaign money for personal use.[3] Her daughter and campaign treasurer subsequently pled guilty in November 2019 to wire fraud, admitting using campaign funds for personal use. On January 3, 2020, Gaines was sentenced to six months in prison for one count of wire fraud.[4]

Legislative notes

Death

Gaines died from bladder cancer on November 12, 2022, at the age of 70.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tawanna P. Gaines, Maryland State Delegate . Maryland Manual On-Line . . October 7, 2019 . October 8, 2019 . October 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191008125240/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa13716.html . live .
  2. Web site: Tawanna Gaines' Biography . Vote Smart . January 27, 2020 . January 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127035859/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/36524/tawanna-gaines . live .
  3. News: Prince George's delegate charged with wire fraud, resigns from Maryland General Assembly . Wood . Pamela . . 2019-10-08 . 2019-10-07 . October 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191008064047/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-gaines-resigns-20191007-qbg56hv6mnchpjuvyntmc3hlkq-story.html . live .
  4. News: Former Maryland lawmaker Tawanna Gaines sentenced for federal wire fraud. Thompson. Steve. 2020-01-03. The Washington Post. 2020-01-03. January 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200103191057/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/former-maryland-lawmaker-tawanna-gaines-sentenced-for-federal-wire-fraud/2020/01/03/a9f50f52-2e35-11ea-9b60-817cc18cf173_story.html. live.
  5. Web site: BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 359. mlis.state.md.us. July 12, 2007. April 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160408222931/http://mlis.state.md.us/2007rs/billfile/HB0359.htm. live.
  6. Web site: 2005 Regular Session - Vote Record 0152. mlis.state.md.us. July 23, 2007. December 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102806/http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/votes/house/0152.htm. live.
  7. Web site: HB 2 Third Reading . https://web.archive.org/web/20120209113112/http://www.mdchamber.org/docs/ss_hb2.pdf . November 11, 2007 . February 9, 2012 . mdchamber.org . Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
  8. News: Beachum . Lathesia . Wiggins . Ovetta . Former Maryland delegate Tawanna Gaines dies at 70 . November 15, 2022 . . November 15, 2022 . November 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221116154147/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/11/15/tawanna-gaines-death-delegate-maryland/ . live .

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