Page 15 - University of Baltimore Law - Fall 2019

Jake Weissman, continued from page 12
Weissmann says. “One legislator told me that every time she goes to the grocery store she plans on being there for three hours,” because she knows constituents will approach her with their concerns.
ALEXANDRA M. HUGHES, J.D. ’09,
is chief of staff to Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, and had served in that capacity for the previous speaker, the late Michael Busch. Hughes’ first government job was as an aide to Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley during his first term in office, which began in 1999. “We were young people, super-idealistic, and
we had a young, brash mayor. It was
a moment in time for the city that felt transformational,” she says.
“I waited six years after college to
go to UB Law, and I went at night, which was great,” says Hughes. “It was a lot of professionals who brought a lot of different experiences to the table.” She says that one of the reasons she pursued a law degree was because she thought that as a woman, being a lawyer would help her be taken more seriously. “I use my UB degree every hour of every day.”
As enamored as she is with politics, she has no desire to run for office. “In the legislature, you can get your hands more dirty in the nuts and bolts of policy work,” says Hughes, 41. “I’m more suited to helping the trains run on time.”
SAMEER SIDH, J.D. ’07, is
chief of staff to Howard County (Md.) Executive Calvin Ball. He attended UB Law right after graduating from James Madison University with a
political science degree. “UB has a terrific reputation for delivering a practical law education,” he says.
Sidh, 37, graduated during the legal recession, when it was tough to find jobs. While he worked at a law firm for a year or so, his heart was in public service. “I always had an interest in government,” he says. “Both in the internal management of government and driving policy, it’s still a relationship-driven industry.”
His legal skills translate very well
to government work, he says: “Looking at data, working with people doing the work, networking skills, ability to think on
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Rogers says Ruppersberger has the heart of a public servant and is a tireless worker.
“His governance style in the legislative process is the old style of, ‘We can disagree without being disagreeable,’” says Rogers. “I think that's why he’s been successful moving the ball for the people of Maryland but also for the country.”
“This is a guy who doesn’t need to be famous,” Rogers adds. “A lot of politicians today want to be celebrities before they want to be legislators, and that’s not Dutch Ruppersberger.”
The ability to build consensus and make impactful change for constituents is a powerful motivator for Ruppersberger, and it explains why he views the current political climate as one of the most challenging he’s ever seen.
“In Congress it used to be that when you disagreed with someone you went on with your relationship. Now if you disagree, you become their enemy,” he states. “That has gone out to the country, aided by national media, and that’s not helping. We need to look at the end game and what’s best for the constituents.”
Ruppersberger says he is concerned about the country’s direction, but far from becoming cynical, that, too, keeps him motivated.
“I’ve always liked to go into the lion’s den. I like a challenge and I don’t like to be threatened,” he says. “My wife would love for me to retire, but based on present circumstances I feel I need to be here.”
Robert Cassilly, J.D. ’88
PHOTO BY LARRY CANNER