Tiffany Alston

Tiffany Alston
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 24th district
In office
January 2011 – January 2013
Preceded by Joanne C. Benson
Personal details
Born (1977-04-22) April 22, 1977
Washington, D.C.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Kendal Gray
Children one child
Residence Mitchellville, Maryland
Occupation Executive Director

Tiffany Alston is an American politician who represented Prince George's County District 24 in the Maryland House of Delegates from January 2011 to January 2013.

Background

Delegate Alston was born in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., and grew up in Prince George's County. She attended Seat Pleasant Elementary School, where, as a fifth grader, she was one of 55 students to be promised a full college scholarship upon high school graduation by Abe Pollin, then owner of the Capital Centre, Washington Bullets and Washington Capitals and businessman Melvin Cohen. In high school, she served three out of four years as class president. She was also a cheerleader, member of the International Baccalaureate program and served as editor of the newspaper.[1]

In the legislature

Alston had been a member of House of Delegates since January 12, 2011 and served on the Judiciary committee. She was a member of the Prince George's County Delegation, the Women's Caucus, and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.[1]

Marriage equality

During the 2011 legislative session, Alston was a co-sponsor of HB 175-Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.[2] A similar bill was filed in the Maryland Senate (SB 116-Civil Marriage Protection Act)[3] and was assigned to the House Judiciary committee, the committee on which Alston serves. During the committee voting session on SB 116, Alston revoked her co-sponsorship and instead offered an amendment to change the bill from same-sex marriage to civil unions. The amendment failed and Alston then voted against the bill.[4][5] Despite Alston's vote, SB 116 was approved by the committee 12-10 and was forwarded to the full House of Delegates for final approval, but the bill was eventually sent back to committee, effectively terminating the bill for the session.

Criminal charges

Alston was indicted in an Anne Arundel County courtroom with embezzlement on September 24, 2011; her charges, laid by the state prosecutor, include one count each of felony and misdemeanor theft, misappropriation by a fiduciary and two election law offenses. She is alleged to have used Maryland General Assembly funds and her election campaign funds to cover her wedding expenses and to pay an employee of her law firm.[6] Alston denied wrongdoing in the case.[7]

Alston was found guilty of misdemeanor theft of General Assembly funds and misconduct in office on June 12, 2012. The judge postponed sentencing until after a separate trial, scheduled for October 2012, on the charges regarding Alston's use of her 2010 campaign funds to pay her wedding-related expenses.[8] On October 9, 2012, the judge struck the jury verdict and entered probation before judgement Alston entered a plea deal agreed to pay $800 in restitution to the General Assembly and complete 300 hours of community service.[9][10][11] On October 10, 2012, General Assembly Counsel Daniel A. Friedman announced that Alston was suspended from her office without pay or benefits due to a Maryland constitutional provision.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "House of Delegates". Maryland Manual. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "House Bill 175". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  3. ↑ "SENATE BILL 116". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Wagner, John (4 March 2011). "House panel passes same-sex marriage bill". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  5. ↑ Hill, David (4 March 2011). "Maryland House panel passes gay marriage bill". Washington Times. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Md. state lawmaker accused of using campaign funds to cover wedding expenses". Associated Press via Washington Post. September 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ Aaron C. Davis (Posted at 01:09 AM ET, 09/24/2011). "Alston denies wrongdoing". Washington Post. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ Siegel, Andrea (June 12, 2012). "Alston convicted of theft, misconduct in office". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Alford plea: State v. Alston" (PDF). Office of the State Prosecutor of Maryland. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  10. 1 2 Marimow, Ann E. (October 10, 2012). "Del. Tiffany Alston suspended from office, General Assembly lawyer says". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ Marimow, Ann E. (October 10, 2012). "Pr. George's Del. Tiffany Alston strikes deal just before trial was to begin". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
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