County Executive Barry Glassman has named LaWanda Edwards as his senior government affairs specialist on state and federal legislative issues. Ms. Edwards has spent the past 15 years in Annapolis, most recently serving as the legislative director for state Sen. Roger Manno of Montgomery County. As legislative director, she was responsible for lobbying and providing testimony to the members of the Maryland General Assembly. At earlier points in her career, Ms. Edwards assisted Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Congressman Elijah Cummings, and former Baltimore County executive, now Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger.
“I worked with LaWanda during my years as a state legislator in Annapolis, where she has strong ties and she is well-respected by administrative staff and elected officials alike,” said County Executive Glassman. “She will be an outstanding addition to our team, helping to support our initiatives in Annapolis and Washington D.C.”
Ms. Edwards will work with Harford County’s state delegation and the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) on quality of life issues, protecting the county’s state funding, and on public safety, education and community matters. Locally, she will assist with community outreach and strengthening relationships with faith-based organizations.
Before working for state Sen. Manno, Ms. Edwards served in the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and the Maryland Public Service Commission heading up communications and community affairs.
At the Department of Juvenile Services, she was the chief spokesperson for the agency, handling press and media inquiries, writing press releases, preparing senior staff for media interviews and coordinating press conferences. As director of Community Affairs, she coordinated the agency’s outreach events and projects.
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Edwards moved to Maryland in 1993 and worked as a staff writer for The Daily Record. She attended Tennessee State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications.
