Biography

Commissioner Debra M. Davis, Esq., was raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. As a lifelong resident of Southern Maryland, Commissioner Davis has four generations of family residing in Charles County, dating back to the 1900’s. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from the University of Maryland in College Park and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore’s School of Law.

Professional

Commissioner Davis has practiced law for over 20 years. She is a civil litigator who practices in her own firm, the Law Office of Debra M. Davis, in Upper Marlboro. Commissioner Davis was first elected to the Charles County Board of Commissioners in 2010 and is currently serving her second term.

Prior to her entry into politics, she was a leader for many years in government and civic organizations. From 2012 to 2013, Commissioner Davis sat on the Board of Governors for the Maryland State Bar Association. She also served from 2011 to 2012, as the president of the Prince George’s County Bar Association, an organization of more than 1,200 lawyers and judges who live and/or practice law in Prince George’s County. She is the former president and current member of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, and a member of the American Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, Prince George’s County Bar Association, a charter member of the Salome A. Howard Bar Association, and Zonta Club of Charles County.

Leadership

 A consummate student of leadership, Commissioner Davis completed the University of Maryland’s Academy for Excellence in Local Governance professional development program in August 2012. She is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland, a 1999 Maryland State Bar Association Leadership Fellow, and served on the African American Leadership Summit for the U.S. Congress in 2004. She has received numerous awards and commendations; in 2016, Davis joined 25 women in government service from across the United States who were selected to the prestigious Governing magazine’s Women in Government Leadership Class of 2017. In 2012 and 2014, Commissioner Davis was honored as one of Maryland’s TOP 100 Women by The Daily Record for her leadership, professional accomplishments, commitment to community service, and mentoring. In 2016, she was inducted into the publications Circle of Excellence for her sustained contributions to her community. Other accolades she has received include the NAACP Foot Soldiers Award for outstanding community service, the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association Legal Excellence Award, and the President’s Award, to name a few. Commissioner Davis is the County Commissioner representative on the Charles County Commuter Ferry Stakeholders Group; College of Southern Maryland Diversity Institute Advisory Council. She also serves on the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO), Minority County Officials Diversity Caucus; National Association of Black County Officials; Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland as chair; and Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT), as chair; The University of Maryland School of Social Policy Academy of Excellence course committee.

Local Leadership

 Initiatives spearheaded by Commissioner Davis include: the Charles County intern program; the county’s civility code; the Western Charles County Business Roundtable; and the Charles County 2020 Vision program, a comprehensive, long term plan to address poverty in rural areas. Commissioner Davis served formerly as the County Commissioner representative on the Charles County Economic Development Executive Board; Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity & Intergroup Relations; Tourism Advisory Board; and the Unity in Our Community Diversity Forum Planning Committee, and the Charles County Department of Social Services Board. Commissioner Davis and her husband Christopher have two adult daughters, Kendra and Maya and reside in Rison, Maryland.

Source: Vote Debra Davis.com