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Jones Chosen as New Md. House Speaker

WASHINGTON INFORMER — Maryland Del. Adrienne Jones of Baltimore County was unanimously chosen Wednesday as the state’s new House speaker during a special session among her colleagues. Jones, who served as speaker pro tem to organize House sessions when the late House Speaker Michael Busch wasn’t in attendance, becomes the state’s first woman and African American to hold the position.

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By William J. Ford

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Del. Adrienne Jones of Baltimore County was unanimously chosen Wednesday as the state’s new House speaker during a special session among her colleagues.

Jones, who served as speaker pro tem to organize House sessions when the late House Speaker Michael Busch wasn’t in attendance, becomes the state’s first woman and African American to hold the position.

“I’m probably going to take a deep breath,” Jones, 64, said. “I know the Baltimore region best, [but] other areas [will] not be neglected because I’m a visual person. I like to go out in areas. … I’m visual.”

According to the legislation handbook, some of the duties of the speaker includes the appointment of committee leadership, assigns bills to committee and decides all points of order. However, the speaker must also maneuver political posturing which Busch received praise for from his Democratic colleagues and Republican members.

Before Jones received the 139 unanimous votes on the House floor, the House Democratic Caucus deliberated for more than four hours while considering two additional delegates, Maggie McIntosh of Baltimore City and Dereck E. Davis of Prince George’s County, for the position.

All three lawmakers have served in the House for more than 20 years.

McIntosh, a gay white woman, and Davis who’s Black, chair two prominent committees in the House. McIntosh leads Appropriations and Davis heads Economic Matters.

Either would have made history if selected as House speaker, as only white men have held the position.

Busch, 72, had held the position since 2003 and served as the longest House speaker in state history. He died April 7, one day before the last day of the legislative session, of pneumonia following complications from a 2017 liver transplant.

According to those familiar with Wednesday’s discussions, McIntosh received 50 votes and Davis 48.

The House Republicans voted as a bloc during its session, with all 42 votes for Davis.

The winner needed 71 votes to secure the position.

To ensure caucus unity and avoid the need for GOP votes, Jones was backed by all 98 Democrats, though more progressive members of the party sided with McIntosh.

“There were a number of people that wanted to support Chairman Davis … [and] join in with the Republican Caucus,” said a teary-eyed McIntosh minutes after the Democratic Caucus meeting. “I basically said, ‘We need to stay this room until we find someone who gets 71 votes. So we stayed in this room and did it. It was the best debate I ever heard. I’m proud.”

Davis, 51, praised Jones, who stepped out of the speaker race Friday to support him.

“‘House of Cards’ doesn’t have anything on us — talk about high drama,” Davis said from the House floor. “No one will ever forget the courage, the conviction and just the strength you showed those vital few weeks of this passed legislation session guiding us through … and performing admirably. [Less than] one week ago, you were willing to step aside for me and I’m honored to step aside for you now.”

House Minority Leader Del. Nic Kipke (R-Anne Arundel County) said Jones treats every member with respect.

“She’s not a partisan person, which we really appreciate, being the minority in Maryland like Republicans are,” he said. “We look forward to working with her to solving the big problems that are in our in the state. We’re excited about her nomination and election today.”

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. also congratulated Jones.

“Del. Jones has been a key House leader on issues including education, health and environment for years and is a natural successor to Speaker Busch,” Miller said in a statement. “I congratulate her and look forward to continuing to partner with her in the future.”

This article originally appeared in the Washington Informer

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

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PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

  1. BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street, 2nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
  2. WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
  3. OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website.  A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
  4. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
    Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
    Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
    Passcode: 502955
    Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
    And
  5. Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
    Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
    Passcode: 091848
    Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
  6. VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
  7. SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
  8. SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.

Dated:  February 13, 2026                  Sarah Bunting, City Clerk 

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