Haddaway-Riccio Elected House Minority Whip!

Annapolis – The House Republican Caucus today elected by acclamation Delegate Anthony J. O’Donnell as Minority Leader and Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio as Minority Whip.

“I am humbled to have the continued support of my colleagues”, said Delegate O’Donnell. “Our victories in the 2010 elections have made our Caucus larger and stronger. The combination of our new members and veteran legislators will make us a force to be reckoned with over the next four years.”

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in this new position”, said Delegate Haddaway-Riccio. “Our caucus members are some of the best, brightest, well-studied legislators in Annapolis. Maryland faces many challenges and there is much work to be done, but our Caucus members are up to the task.”


A member of the House of Delegates since 2003, Delegate Haddaway-Riccio has served as Assistant Minority Whip since 2005. She is the 1st Vice President of Women Legislators of Maryland.


The Minority Leader and Minority Whip run as a team. The House Republican Caucus holds its leadership election annually.

Haddaway Receives FOP Endorsement

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio has received the endorsement of the Talbot County FOP (Lodge 18) and the Maryland State FOP.  She is pictured with George Paugh, a local FOP representative, in front of the Talbot County Courthouse.

"Our men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line for us everyday.  They are civic-minded, active in our communities and they stand ready to put others before themselves.  That is why I am so grateful for them and why I am so grateful for their endorsement,"  Haddaway said.

Voting Begins Today!

Early voting begins today!  You can begin voting for the candidate of your choice today, October 22nd through October 28th (except on Sunday October 24th when voting will be closed).

Whether you wait for the General Election Day on November 2nd or you choose to vote early, I hope you will consider voting Haddaway for the House of Delegates!

For more information on early voting locations, visit my web site at http://www.votehaddaway.com/!

"Jeannie is a rising star in Annapolis.  She is the future of our State." - Governor Robert Ehrlich

Haddaway Endorsed by Maryland Farm Bureau

The Maryland Farm Bureau announced today that are endorsing Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio's candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates.


The Farm Bureau's endorsement was based on Haddaway-Riccio's voting record, stated positions and actions taken in the past and is also based on recommendations of local Farm Bureaus.  She was thanked for her support of farm families across Maryland and was presented with a Maryland agriculture lapel pin given exclusively to endorsed candidates.

As a representative of District 37B, Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio represents farmers in Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties. She has cosponsored and supported pro-agriculture legislation such as the Critical Farms Act, the Young Farmers Act and the Maryland Organic Farming Transition Act. She has also been the lead sponsor of several bills that make it easier for farmers to sell their products at farmers markets.

Haddaway Gives Backpacks to Mid Shore Children

As part of an annual program, Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-37B) partnered with The Office Depot Foundation to present backpacks and school supplies to foster children in Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne's, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties.  This is the Foundation’s Ninth Annual National Backpack Program which is also a partnership with the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL). Additionally, Delegate Haddaway-Riccio presented backpacks to the St. Michaels Community Center for children in the Bay Hundred region.  Delegate Haddaway-Riccio is NFWL’s Education Team Leader.

Haddaway Recognized for Pro-Business Stance

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio has been recognized by two statewide organizations for her support of the Maryland business community. Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG) announced that Haddaway-Riccio is the recipient of their 2010 John Shaw Pro-Business Award and the Maryland Chamber Political Action Committee has announced their endorsement of her candidacy for re-election to the Maryland House of Delegates.

Maryland Business for Responsive Government is a state-wide, non-partisan, political research and education organization that works to improve Maryland’s business climate.

The Maryland Chamber Political Action Committee stated that their endorsement of her candidacy was based on her “history of providing leadership and advocacy on behalf of Maryland employers”. Serving on the House Economic Matters Committee and the Business Regulation Subcommittee has meant that Haddaway-Riccio has been working directly on the State’s business and economic policies.

Haddaway-Riccio is a small business owner herself as the sole proprietor of a graphic design firm called Dragonfly Designs. She also assists her husband Joseph Riccio with his property management and vacation rental business, Maritime Properties, LLC. Haddaway-Riccio has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2003 and represents District 37B which includes Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester and Wicomico Counties. For more information, visit www.votehaddaway.com.



# # #

Delegate Elmore Will Be Missed

After sharing an office with Delegate Page Elmore for seven years now in Annapolis, I have certainly learned a lot about the importance of constituent service, fighting for your district and being a good representative for the Eastern Shore.  He prided himself in all of these things and his hard work was realized not only through his seat in the Maryland House of Delegates, but as Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation.  He will certainly be missed, especially by me, but he has left behind a legacy and has given us an example of what true public service is all about.

Haddaway to Bag Groceries for Cancer Awareness!

Join me at the Easton Safeway from 3:00-3:30pm and at the Easton Food Lion from 3:30pm-4:30pm! I will be bagging groceries to help raise awareness on prostate and breast cancer. As we approach Father's Day, we should remind all the special men in our lives that regular screenings really can make a difference. My father is a survivor thanks to early detection, so I am proud to participate in this event! Senator Richard Colburn will also be participating at the Food Lion in Easton. Hope to see you there!

Public Hearing on Postal Processing Plant

A public hearing on the potential closure of the Postal Processing Plant has been scheduled for June 15th from 6-8pm at the Easton High School Auditorium. Citizens who wish to speak will be given two minutes and are asked to bring written copies of their testimony.

I would like to encourage private citizens and business owners to attend. Keeping this processing plant open is critical to Easton and the entire Eastern Shore.

Haddaway & Eckardt to Address Young Republicans

Delegates Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Addie Eckardt will be featured speakers at the Mid Shore Young Republicans club meeting on Wednesday, May 26th. The event will take place at 7pm upstairs at Carpenter Street in St. Michaels, Maryland. Senator Richard Colburn has also been invited.

Haddaway-Riccio was the founder and first President of the Mid Shore Young Republicans in 2002. The club formed to get more young people involved in the political process and to help conservative candidates with their campaigns. While the group started as the Talbot Young Republicans, they changed their name to Mid Shore Young Republicans after a few meetings because attendees were coming from Dorchester and Caroline Counties as well. In light of the coming elections, the group is getting active again.

“I think it is very important to engage young people in politics because they are our future. Many of them have the desire to do good things in their communities and they bring a fresh perspective with them,” Haddaway-Riccio said. “Delegate Eckardt and I are looking forward to meeting with them next Wednesday”.

For more information on the event, contact Brian Griffiths via email sent to brian@briangriffiths.com.

Haddaway Announces $3,000 Scholarship Contest

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio is teaming up with the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) and the National Rifle Association on their thirteenth annual Bill of Rights Essay Contest for college-bound female high school juniors and seniors. This year, the contest will be entitled “Freedom and Civic Virtues”. In addition to receiving a $3,000 college scholarship, seven contest winners from across the nation will win an all-expenses-paid trip to NFWL’s Annual Conference (November 18-22, 2010) which will be held at The Ritz – Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. At the conference, winners will be able to network with, be mentored by and speak to hundreds of women lawmakers from across the United States.

“This is an excellent opportunity for local members of the Class of 2010 and 2011,” said Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio who is the NFWL Education Coordinator for Maryland. “This contest will allow seven young women from across the nation to enhance their understanding of the role of women in politics through experience-based learning. It also provides them with an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and get assistance with college tuition expenses.”

“I think programs such as this are important because the Millennial Generation is the future of American politics and they are a great way to engage young women,” said Haddaway-Riccio. “Understanding and explaining the importance of American virtues and rights puts these same young women in a position to have a lasting impact on our nation’s policies in the near future. The essay contest is also a great opportunity for young women to win a college scholarship while making their voices heard on the true intentions of the Bill of Rights.”

Entries must be received or postmarked no later than July 30, 2010, after which an NFWL selection committee will judge each essay and determine the seven winners. The judges will primarily weigh the factors of storytelling, understanding of the Bill of Rights and original insight.

Visit http://www.votehaddaway.com/ for more details or click here for an application!

Haddaway-Riccio Commemorates Earth Day

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio planted a tree in her yard today to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and her upcoming birthday. Haddaway says her parents planted a tree for her the year she was born so with her birthday coming up and Earth Day already here, she wanted to commemorate the occasion. Of course her trusty side kick Max was on hand to help (especially with the digging)!

Jeannie is also sharing a coupon with you so you can save some green the next time you go green! Visit her web site at www.votehaddaway.com for more details!

Haddaway-Riccio Named 1st Vice President

(Annapolis, MD) – The Women Legislators of Maryland have announced their slate of officers for 2010-2011 and have elected Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-District 37B) as 1st Vice President.

During her career in the Maryland House of Delegates, Haddaway-Riccio has served in numerous positions with the Women’s Caucus including co-chair of the legislative policy committee and 2nd Vice President. “I am truly honored to have been elected to this position and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on our priority issues,” Haddaway-Riccio said.

The Women Legislators of Maryland was founded in 1972 and was the first statewide organization of its kind in the country. It is informally referred to as the “Women’s Caucus” and serves as a forum for female senators and delegates in the Maryland General Assembly. Since that time, their mission has been to improve public policy that affects women’s lives and to increase the number of women elected and appointed to public office.

Dems invite GOP to Budget Discussion

If there was ever a time to come together on Maryland’s budget woes, now would be the time. With a cumulative $8 billion deficit by 2015 on the horizon, we have to make systemic changes in Maryland’s budget unless we want future generations to inherit the burden.

Recently the Democrat leadership of the Maryland General Assembly invited the Republicans to share their ideas on how to resolve the structural deficit. The House Republican Caucus accepted that invitation and unveiled a plan that would end the structural deficit, fully fund the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, eliminate the need for state employee furloughs and allow Maryland to roll back the tax increases from 2007.

I realize that with 188 legislators there are 188 different opinions on how to balance the budget and I also realize that the devil is always in the details. However, the challenge for this legislative session will be choosing options from both sides of the aisle that will ultimately result in a balanced budget without the need for future tax increases. While some have chosen to stand on the sidelines and pick the Republican plan apart or criticize the Democrats for inviting us to the table, the exercise was never meant to be a fait accompli. Rather, it is a starting point. In the words of one Democrat Senator who attended the meeting, “we need all hands on deck” and in the words of Ronald Reagan, “all great change in America begins at the dinner table”.

Haddaway-Riccio & Eckardt Donate Children's Books

(Annapolis, Md.) – Delegates Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio recently met with the Cat in the Hat in honor of Read Across America. The two delegates presented him with donation of children’s books that will go to schools in their district. Read Across America is an annual event sponsored by the National Education Association and is an awareness campaign that calls for children to celebrate reading. It is always held on or around Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

“Reading is essential and the key to success. Dr. Seuss’s contribution through his books captivates minds and motivates our children," Delegate Eckardt said. "There is no better gift than reading to children.”

“Celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss is a great way to bring attention to the importance of literacy,” Haddaway said. “I gladly donate books each year in hopes that they will inspire children in our community to read and learn.”

# # #

Haddaway Meets Perino

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and other members of the Republican Caucus met with former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino this week.

Haddaway-Riccio Delivers Lincoln Day Address

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio was selected to give the annual Lincoln Day Address this year in the Maryland House of Delegates. The address is given each year on the floor of the House in honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

Haddaway-Riccio celebrated the life and times of the former President by outlining two significant journeys in his life. The first journey was a trip down the Sangamon River in Illinois where at age 22, Lincoln first decided to run for public office. The second journey was his train ride to the nation’s capital for his presidential inauguration.

The delegate also focused on Lincoln’s legacy which she believes was rooted in his dedication to the Constitution and unifying our country. In her words, Lincoln viewed the Constitution as a legally binding document and a contract with the American people. “Upholding that contract was his constant focus and eventually his legacy,” she said.

Haddaway Named "Liberty Legislator"

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio was named a “Liberty Legislator” after receiving a grade of 100% on a scorecard that reviewed votes taken in the 2009 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

The Liberty Vote Scorecard was compiled to inform the public of the effect their legislator’s votes have on their liberties as citizens of Maryland. The votes that were graded were chosen based on whether they promoted or infringed upon the liberties inherent in the Bill of Rights. One example was the Freedom of Association and Assembly Protection Act of 2009 which prohibits police from spying on individuals or groups without probable cause. Haddaway-Riccio also supported a floor amendment related to the REAL ID Act.

“Liberty is a very powerful concept that our country was founded on,” said Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. “The Bill of Rights was meant to provide guidance for Congress when they are making laws. Being a state legislator should be no different, so I am very proud of my designation as a Liberty Legislator.”

Haddaway-Riccio Becomes Member of Civil Air Patrol

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio became a member of the Maryland State Legislative Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. She was presented with a certificate recognizing her support of the organization.

The Civil Air Patrol dates back to World War II when civilian pilots patrolled our nation’s shores. Since then, they have continued operating as a voluntary organization with three key missions: emergency services (including search and rescue and disaster relief), aerospace education and offering a cadet youth program. They are also the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.