Joanne C. Benson


Joanne Claybon Benson is an American politician who represents district 24 in the Maryland State Senate.

Background

Born in Roanoke, Virginia, March 11, 1941, Delegate Benson attended South Hagerstown High School and then graduated from Bowie State College with a BS in education in 1961. She later attended The Catholic University of America where she earned her M.A. in curriculum instruction in 1972.

In the legislature

Delegate Benson was a member of House of Delegates from 1991 to 2011. She served on the House Health and Government Operations Committee and its health occupations subcommittee, long-term care subcommittee, and its minority health disparities subcommittee. She is also a member and former chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. In 2010 she defeated incumbent state senator Nathaniel Exum and was sworn into office in January 2011.

Legislative notes