Tawanna Phyllis Gaines (February 1, 1952 – November 12, 2022) was an

American politician The politics of the United States function within a framework of a constitutional federal republic and presidential system, with three distinct branches that share powers. These are: the U.S. Congress which forms the legislative branch, a bic ...

who represented

District 22 District 22 may refer to: * District 22 (Chile) * District 22 (Tehran) * Texas Senate, District 22 * Florida's 22nd congressional district * Texas's 22nd congressional district * New York's 22nd congressional district * California's 22nd congressio ...

in the

Maryland House of Delegates The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the legislature of the State of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House on State Circle in Annapolis, ...

from December 2001 to October 2019. She resigned in the face of federal corruption charges and 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 The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is a public historically black land-grant university in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1851 and is the only public university in the city. UDC is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall ...

, 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 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 is 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 The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. (also known as The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus) is an American political organization composed of African Americans elected to the Maryland General Assembly. Incorporated in 1970, the Caucus me ...

. 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. 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.

Legislative notes

*voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359) *voted against slots in 2005 (HB1361) *voted for the Tax Reform Act of 2007(HB2)

Death

Gaines died from

bladder cancer Bladder cancer is any of several types of cancer arising from the tissues of the urinary bladder. Symptoms include blood in the urine, pain with urination, and low back pain. It is caused when epithelial cells that line the bladder become mali ...

on November 12, 2022, at the age of 70.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Tawanna P. 1952 births 2022 deaths Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates African-American state legislators in Maryland African-American women in politics People from Washington, D.C. Women state legislators in Maryland People from Berwyn Heights, Maryland Berwyn Heights, Maryland 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century American politicians University of the District of Columbia alumni Maryland politicians convicted of crimes 21st-century African-American women 21st-century African-American politicians 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women Maryland city council members African-American city council members in Maryland Women city councillors in Maryland