Robert Flanagan

Infobox Politician


imagesize = 150px
name = Robert L. Flanagan
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small_| office = Secretary of Transportation
term_start = 23 March 2003
term_end = 17 January 2007
predecessor = John D. Porcari
successor = John D. Porcari
constituency =
majority =
office2 = State Delegate District 9A
term_start2 = January 2002
term_end2 = March 23, 2003
predecessor2 =
successor2 = Warren E. Miller
constituency2 =
majority2 =
office3 = State Delegate District 14B
term_start3 = January 14, 1987
term_end3 = January 2003
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successor3 =
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birth_date = Birth date and age|1945|11|1|df=y
birth_place = Burlington, Vermont
death_date =
death_place =
party = Republican
relations =
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children =
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Robert L. Flanagan was the Secretary of Transportation for the U.S. state of Maryland from 2003 until 2007, under the administration of Governor Robert Ehrlich. Prior to this position, Flanagan served in the Maryland House of Delegates [ [http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1986/results_1986/gahod.html Maryland State Board of Elections ] ] . He was first elected to office in 1987 and served with fellow Republican, Robert Kittleman, until 2002, when the districts were redrawn and he would move to District 14B [ [http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2002/results/g_house_of_delegate.html Maryland State Board of Elections ] ] .

Education

Flanagan attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC. After high school he attended Harvard University where he earned his B.A. in Economics in 1967. Several years later graduated from Cornell University Law School, earning his J.D. in 1974.

Career

After college, Flanagan joined the United States Navy and earned the rank of Lieutenant. He served aboard the ballistic missile submarine, USS Patrick Henry, from 1967 until 1971.

After his stint in the Navy, Flanagan returned to college, as mentioned previously, to begin his pursuit of a law career. He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1978 and began practicing law. He practiced law for 28 years.

In 1987, he began his political career by being elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, serving District 14B, which covered parts of Montgomery and Howard Counties. Districts were later redrawn and he was elected into his new district of 9A, which was solely in Howard County. As a Republican member in the heavily Democratic House of Delegates, he served the role as Minority Whip from 1997 until 2001.

Being a Republican in the Maryland General Assembly leaves little chance to serve as a chair on any committees. However, Flanagan was able to chair the Howard County Delegation from 1991 until 1996. Moreover, he was a high-ranking Republican on many committees, such as the Judiciary Committee (1987-90), the Joint Audit Committee (1987-92, 1995-03), the important Appropriations Committee (1991-03), the Legislative Policy Committee (1997-02), and the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee (1997-02).

Finally, in the 2002 gubernatorial election, Republican Robert Ehrlich defeated Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend to become the first Republican to govern the state of Maryland since Spiro Agnew in 1969. Governor Ehrlich tapped Flanagan to become his Secretary of Transportation. In this position, Flanagan would be charged with the management of the Port of Baltimore, the Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI), the Motor Vehicle Administration, the various transportation entities, such as the MARC Train, the Baltimore Light Rail, the Baltimore Subway, and the Maryland bus system (MTA), and various tolls and bridges, such as the Fort McHenry Tunnel and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

In 2006, Baltimore Mayor, Martin O'Malley, defeated Bob Ehrlich in the gubernatorial election, thus ending Flanagan's tenure as the Secretary of Transportation. He was replaced by John D. Porcari, who was the Secretary during the administration of the previous governor, Parris Glendening.

Currently, Flanagan is a Senior Vice President with First Southwest Company, advising state and local governments regarding Public Private Partnerships for Transportation Infrastructure.

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/24dot/former/html/msa12222.html Biography]