Richard A. Sossi
Encyclopedia
Richard Sossi is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
, serving District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties.
in 1965 with a B.A. in Asian Studies.
, where he served from 1965 until 1970. He did a tour in Vietnam, from 1966 until 1967, and served as Deputy Branch Chief for the National Security Agency from 1968 to 1970. While in the military, he graduated from the Defense Language Institute studying Chinese. He also completed Officers' Cryptologic Course for the National Security Agency
in 1969.
After the military, Sossi was a self-employed businessman, owning The Ship and Soldier Shop since 1977. He was a member of the Queen Anne's County Republican Central Committee from 1990 until 1998. He has had the honor of serving as an alternate delegate to the Republican Party National Convention several times (1992, 1996, 2000).
In his community, Sossi is a member of the American Legion
Post 278, the Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge
, the Vietnam Veterans of America
, and the Coastal Conservation of America. He also serves on the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary International
.
and Mary Roe Walkup
. In 2002, he defeated Democratic incumbent Wheeler R. Baker for the seat in Queen Anne's County. In 2002, the election for that district called for the voters to choose 3 from the slate, whereas in the 1998 election, the voters chose one delegate from each county.
In 2006, Sossi defeated Wheeler R. Baker again, this time with 53% of the vote.
As a member in the Maryland House of Delegates, Sossi was appointed to be the Deputy Minority Whip in 2007. He serves on the Environmental Matters Committee (2003–present) and numerous subcommittees including local government & bi-county agencies subcommittee, 2003–05; housing & real property subcommittee, 2003–05, 2007-; natural resources subcommittee, 2003-; affordable housing work group, 2004; housing for individuals with disabilities work group, 2004; natural resources & ethics subcommittee, 2005; land use & ethics subcommittee, 2006; agriculture, agriculture preservation & open space subcommittee, (2006–present); ground rent work group, (2006–present); co-chair, abatement of drug-related nuisances work group, 2004); Chair, Queen Anne's County Delegation, (2003–present). Member, Maryland Rural Caucus, (2003–present); Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, (2003–present); Maryland Veterans Caucus, (2005–present); Member, Bainbridge Development Advisory Board, (2003–present); Task Force on Traffic Capacity Across the Chesapeake Bay, 2005–06; Task Force to Study Visual Smoke and Evacuation Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2005–06; J. DeWeese Carter Center Advisory Board, (2005–present); Task Force to Study the Boating Industry in Maryland, (2007–present).
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
, serving District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties.
Education
Sossi graduated from the University of ColoradoUniversity of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
in 1965 with a B.A. in Asian Studies.
Career
After college, Sossi joined the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, where he served from 1965 until 1970. He did a tour in Vietnam, from 1966 until 1967, and served as Deputy Branch Chief for the National Security Agency from 1968 to 1970. While in the military, he graduated from the Defense Language Institute studying Chinese. He also completed Officers' Cryptologic Course for the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
in 1969.
After the military, Sossi was a self-employed businessman, owning The Ship and Soldier Shop since 1977. He was a member of the Queen Anne's County Republican Central Committee from 1990 until 1998. He has had the honor of serving as an alternate delegate to the Republican Party National Convention several times (1992, 1996, 2000).
In his community, Sossi is a member of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Post 278, the Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge
Moose International
Moose International is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888, consisting of the Loyal Order of Moose, with nearly 1 million men in roughly 2,400 Lodges, in all 50 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, plus Great Britain and Bermuda; and the Women of the Moose with more than...
, the Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that promotes the interests of United States military veterans of the Vietnam War era. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government...
, and the Coastal Conservation of America. He also serves on the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
.
Family
Richard Sossi married Flora Schoolfield (Sossi) in 1970 and has one daughter, Yvette Sossi Kalkay, and one grandson, Armando Kalkay.The Maryland General Assembly
He was first elected in 2003 and now serves along with fellow Republicans Michael D. Smigiel Sr.Michael D. Smigiel, Sr.
Mike Smigiel is a delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. He was first elected in 2002 along with fellow Republicans Richard Sossi and Mary Roe Walkup after the legislative boundaries were redrawn...
and Mary Roe Walkup
Mary Roe Walkup
Mary Roe Walkup is a delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates serving District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties.-Background:...
. In 2002, he defeated Democratic incumbent Wheeler R. Baker for the seat in Queen Anne's County. In 2002, the election for that district called for the voters to choose 3 from the slate, whereas in the 1998 election, the voters chose one delegate from each county.
In 2006, Sossi defeated Wheeler R. Baker again, this time with 53% of the vote.
As a member in the Maryland House of Delegates, Sossi was appointed to be the Deputy Minority Whip in 2007. He serves on the Environmental Matters Committee (2003–present) and numerous subcommittees including local government & bi-county agencies subcommittee, 2003–05; housing & real property subcommittee, 2003–05, 2007-; natural resources subcommittee, 2003-; affordable housing work group, 2004; housing for individuals with disabilities work group, 2004; natural resources & ethics subcommittee, 2005; land use & ethics subcommittee, 2006; agriculture, agriculture preservation & open space subcommittee, (2006–present); ground rent work group, (2006–present); co-chair, abatement of drug-related nuisances work group, 2004); Chair, Queen Anne's County Delegation, (2003–present). Member, Maryland Rural Caucus, (2003–present); Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, (2003–present); Maryland Veterans Caucus, (2005–present); Member, Bainbridge Development Advisory Board, (2003–present); Task Force on Traffic Capacity Across the Chesapeake Bay, 2005–06; Task Force to Study Visual Smoke and Evacuation Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2005–06; J. DeWeese Carter Center Advisory Board, (2005–present); Task Force to Study the Boating Industry in Maryland, (2007–present).
Legislative notes
- voted against the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)http://mlis.state.md.us/2007rs/billfile/HB0359.htm
- voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/votes/house/0690.htm
- sponsored and voted for Veterans Advocacy and Education Act of 2006 (law)(HB3) (SB305)http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb0003.htm
- sponsored and voted for Prohibition against Inflicting Unnecessary Suffering or Pain on Animals (regardless of ownership) 2006 (law)http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb0011.htm
- voted against the Healthy Air Act in 2006 (SB154)http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/votes/house/0942.htm
- voted for slots in 2005 (HB1361)http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/votes/house/0152.htm
Election results
- 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36 Queen Anne's County
-
- Voters to choose one per county:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Richard Sossi, Rep. 19,450 53.4% Won Wheeler R. Baker Wheeler R. BakerWheeler R. Baker is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving District 36, which covers Carolina, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. Mr. Baker is known for his colorful home-spun language...
, Dem.16,950 46.6% Lost
- Voters to choose one per county:
- 2002 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36
-
- Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Richard Sossi, Rep. 19,098 19.0% Won Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. Michael D. Smigiel, Sr.Mike Smigiel is a delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. He was first elected in 2002 along with fellow Republicans Richard Sossi and Mary Roe Walkup after the legislative boundaries were redrawn...
, Rep.19,216 19.1% Won Mary Roe Walkup Mary Roe WalkupMary Roe Walkup is a delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates serving District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties.-Background:...
, Rep.28,230 28.0% Won Wheeler R. Baker Wheeler R. BakerWheeler R. Baker is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving District 36, which covers Carolina, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. Mr. Baker is known for his colorful home-spun language...
, Dem.17,575 17.5% Lost James G. Crouse, Dem. 16,329 16.2% Lost Other Write-Ins 277 0.3%
- Voters to choose three:
- 1998 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36 Queen Anne's County
-
- Voters to choose one per county:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Wheeler R. Baker Wheeler R. BakerWheeler R. Baker is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving District 36, which covers Carolina, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. Mr. Baker is known for his colorful home-spun language...
, Dem.17,109 55% Won Richard Sossi, Rep. 13,807 45% Lost
- Voters to choose one per county:
External links
- http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14003.html
- http://www.mdp.state.md.us/redistrict/2002ld_courtappeals_62102_MD_map_web.pdf