Tommie Broadwater

Tommie Broadwater Jr. (June 9, 1942 – July 11, 2023) was an American politician and businessman who served in the Maryland Senate from 1975 until he was convicted on federal food stamp fraud charges on October 19, 1983. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African-American to serve as a state senator outside of Baltimore in Maryland history.

Early life and education Broadwater born in Washington, D.C., on June 9, 1942. He was the second of ten children born to Tommie Broadwater, who worked in construction, and his wife, who was a cook. Broadwater grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he attended segregated schools, including Fairmont Heights High School,

Career Broadwater operated several businesses along Sheriff Road in Landover, Maryland, including Ebony Inn, a barbecue rib joint, and a bail bonding office. In October 1990, a court evicted Broadwater from his restaurant-theater business, named The Castle, for being $60,000 behind in rent.

Political involvement Broadwater became involved in politics to assist African-Americans in accessing better government services and to support his business.

Broadwater was elected to the town council of Glenarden, Maryland in 1968, and served on the Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee from 1970 to 1974, and helped secure appointments for African American politicians and judges. and running unopposed in the general election.

Broadwater was sworn in on January 8, 1975, becoming the first African-American lawmaker elected to the Maryland Senate outside of Baltimore in Maryland history. and the 24th district from 1982 to 1983.

During his tenure, Broadwater earned a reputation for his flamboyant lifestyle and positioned himself as an advocate for Black issues, such as housing, political representation, and economic growth, which allowed him to build a strong political organization which he used to influence congressional and county elections. Following the 1982 Maryland Senate election, he helped organize an effort by the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland to oust James Clark Jr. as the President of the Maryland Senate. He again served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1988. During his arrest, federal agents searched his property and found guns and cash, which Broadwater later said was offered back as unrelated to the case, but found no marked food stamps. Broadwater denied participating in any such scheme, saying that he spurned offers from the codefendants to buy the stolen food stamps, and had Senate President Melvin Steinberg and Majority Leader Clarence W. Blount testify as character witnesses. U.S. District Court Judge Norman Park Ramsey sentenced Broadwater to six months in the Federal Correctional Institution, Petersburg federal prison and $38,000 in fines on October 20, 1983, after which he was automatically suspended from the Maryland Senate.

Following his conviction, Broadwater pushed for county committee members to appoint his wife or younger brother to the seat; committee members instead appointed former state Delegate Decatur "Bucky" Trotter to the seat, which Broadwater opposed and whom he criticized as a "puppet of Miller". Upon starting his prison sentence on January 4, 1984, Broadwater declared that he would run for the Maryland Senate in 1986, but he was blocked from running as a result of maneuvering from Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr. He was released early on May 19, 1984.

Post-prison career

Broadwater continued to be active in county politics following his release from prison, hosting political fundraisers and offering advice to dozens of Black politicians in the county including Albert Wynn, Dereck E. Davis, and Wayne K. Curry, but would never again hold public office.

In 1990, Broadwater unsuccessfully challenged state Senator Decatur "Bucky" Trotter in District 24, seeking to regain his old Senate seat. and afterwards backed Nathaniel Exum's successful ouster of Totter in 1998. Broadwater placed third behind Britt and state Delegate Darren Swain in the Democratic primary on September 10, receiving 22.6 percent of the vote. Following his defeat, he served on the transition team of Prince George's County Executive-elect Jack B. Johnson.

In May 2005, Broadwater was placed on 18 months probation and fined $1,550 for campaign finance violations after failing to file campaign finance reports to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

In July 2020, Prince George's County health officials issued a warning against Broadwater after his neighbors reported that he held a pool party with hundreds of attendees at his mansion amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life Broadwater married his wife, Lillian (née Prince), In 1999, Broadwater's daughter, Tanya, died at the age of 38 from respiratory failure and an infection.

Broadwater died at his mansion in Upper Marlboro on July 11, 2023, at the age of 81. Broadwater was laid in state at the Prince George's County Administration Building

Electoral history