By Adam Pagnucco.
Former District 20 Delegate Sheila Hixson, a legendary figure in state politics, has passed away. When she announced her retirement in 2017, the Gandhi Brigade produced the following tribute video for her featuring an all-star cast of elected officials celebrating her long career.
A statement from Congressman Jamie Raskin, District 20 Senator Will Smith and District 20 Delegates Lorig Charkoudian, David Moon and Jheanelle Wilkins appears below.
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We are filled with sadness to share news of the loss last night of our beloved friend and mentor and former District 20 colleague, Delegate Sheila Hixson, the former Chair of the House of Delegates Ways and Means Committee. We extend heartfelt condolences to her wonderful family and share their grief over this terrible loss.
Sheila was a trailblazer in Maryland politics and government. A former staffer at the Democratic National Committee, she got involved locally and led the way for a generation of women running in Maryland elections at every level, always working pragmatically for progressive change. She was the longest serving woman in the Maryland General Assembly and the first woman to become Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. She advocated for gun safety, the rights of same-sex marriage, repeal of the death penalty and progressive tax policy for many decades before any of these causes were popular or easy.
We are grateful for her impassioned life of service and her enduring contributions to the dynamic political culture of District 20, where her Breakfast Club was always the center of the action, the good-government politics of Montgomery County and progressive legislative change in the state of Maryland. Sheila believed in the power of government to be an instrument of common prosperity and the agent of excellent constituent service. She listened to and valued the voice of the people. May her example of passionate commitment to the people always be our guide in our community and may her sparkling memory always be a blessing to her family and friends and those who love her. Sheila’s family and colleagues will be announcing a memorial service in the New Year in Annapolis.