Bill Ferguson (politician)
Encyclopedia
William C. "Bill" Ferguson IV (born April 15, 1983) is a Democratic
member of the Maryland Senate, representing the 46th district since 2011. The district is composed of parts of Baltimore City
.
On September 14, 2010, Ferguson defeated six-term incumbent George W. Della, Jr.
in the Democratic primary. He won the general election with no opposition. At the age of , he is currently the youngest state senator in Maryland.
, Maryland
, and graduated from Davidson College
with a double major in political science and economics in 2005. He then joined Teach For America
, teaching history and government to ninth and tenth graders at a high school in Baltimore
for two years. In 2007, he earned a Master of Arts
degree from the Johns Hopkins University
School of Education.
Ferguson served as a community liaison on educational issues for the president of the Baltimore City Council
from 2005 to 2006. From 2009 to 2010, he was a special assistant to Andres Alonso
, the chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools
. He graduated magna cum laude
from the University of Maryland School of Law
with a Juris Doctor
in 2010.
for the Democratic
nomination for the 46th district in the Maryland Senate. He won the primary election by a margin of 59-41%. Running in a heavily Democratic district, he won the general election with no formal opposition, receiving 98% of the vote. He is the youngest state senator ever elected in Maryland.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Maryland Senate, representing the 46th district since 2011. The district is composed of parts of Baltimore City
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
On September 14, 2010, Ferguson defeated six-term incumbent George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr. is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is previously served in the Maryland State Senate, representing District 46 in Baltimore City from 1983 to 2011.-Background:...
in the Democratic primary. He won the general election with no opposition. At the age of , he is currently the youngest state senator in Maryland.
Biography
Ferguson was born in Silver SpringSilver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and graduated from Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
with a double major in political science and economics in 2005. He then joined Teach For America
Teach For America
Teach For America is an American non-profit organization that aims to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders to teach for two or more years in low-income communities throughout the United States...
, teaching history and government to ninth and tenth graders at a high school in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
for two years. In 2007, he earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
School of Education.
Ferguson served as a community liaison on educational issues for the president of the Baltimore City Council
Baltimore City Council
The Baltimore City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Baltimore and its nearly 700,000 citizens. Baltimore has fourteen single-member City Council districts and representatives are elected for a four-year term. To qualify for a position on the Council, a person must be...
from 2005 to 2006. From 2009 to 2010, he was a special assistant to Andres Alonso
Andres Alonso
Andres Alonso is the chief executive officer of the Baltimore City Public School System in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Alonso came to Baltimore from the New York City Public School system in July 2007...
, the chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools
Baltimore City Public Schools
The Baltimore City Public School System is a public school district in the state of Maryland, United States, that serves the youth in the city of Baltimore . Its headquarters are the Dr. Alice G...
. He graduated magna cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
from the University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 2010.
Maryland Senate
In 2010, Ferguson challenged six-term incumbent George W. Della, Jr.George W. Della, Jr.
George W. Della, Jr. is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is previously served in the Maryland State Senate, representing District 46 in Baltimore City from 1983 to 2011.-Background:...
for the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for the 46th district in the Maryland Senate. He won the primary election by a margin of 59-41%. Running in a heavily Democratic district, he won the general election with no formal opposition, receiving 98% of the vote. He is the youngest state senator ever elected in Maryland.