On the Passing of Tommie Broadwater, Political Giant of Prince George's County

I was saddened to hear that we lost a trailblazer in Prince George’s County politics. Just last month, I attended a tribute in honor of the one and only Tommie Broadwater. His unique and personal touch in retail politics can only be described as down-to-earth. He knew your name. He knew your church. He knew about your struggling nephew or your sick aunt. From the halls of power as a State Senator in Annapolis to the halls of the courthouse in Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville, Tommie was a formidable player in Maryland's political and legal landscape. Many sought his advice. Many sought his endorsement. And all knew he was a force for Black empowerment in Prince George’s County and beyond. As the first African-American State Senator in PGC (and the only one outside of Baltimore in the 1970s), Tommie bolstered the middle-class while paving the way for future leaders from suburban areas outside Washington, D.C. I will miss his common touch with the public, his uncommon friendship, and his generous political support throughout the years. May he rest in peace.