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Ruth M. Kirk
1ruth kirk.JPG
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 44th district
In office
January 1995 – January 2011
Succeeded by Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr.
Constituency Baltimore City
Maryland House of Delegates
(39th District)
In office
1983–1995
Succeeded by (redistricting)
Personal details
Born (1930-02-02)February 2, 1930
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died June 17, 2011(2011-06-17) (aged 81)
Political party Democratic
Spouse Arthur F. Kirk II
Children Six children
Residences Baltimore, Maryland

Ruth M. Kirk (February 2, 1930 – June 17, 2011) was an American politician who represented the 44th legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates. She was elected 7 times and served a total of 28 years representing west and west central Baltimore.

Background

Born Ruth Simmons in Baltimore, Delegate Kirk was the fifth of eight children. She attended Baltimore City public schools through the ninth grade and later received a GED. Prior to being elected to The Maryland General Assembly, Kirk held jobs as a house cleaner and in early childhood education. In 1970, Kirk took a job at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Baltimore, Maryland), working as a teacher's aide.

In the Legislature

Kirk was first elected in 1982 and sworn in as a member of House of Delegates on January 12, 1983. She was appointed to the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee and served on it until its elimination in 1990. She was then appointed to the Economic Matters Committee where she served until 2011. There, she served on its deathcare industry work group; workers' compensation subcommittee, 1995–2003; real estate & housing subcommittee, 1999–2003; business regulation subcommittee, 2003–11; property & casualty insurance subcommittee, 2003–06). During her career in the legislature, Kirk also served as a member of the Tort and Insurance Reform Oversight Committee, 1993; the House Facilities Committee, 1993–2011; the Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1999–2004; the Protocol Committee, 2007–11, the Liaison Work Group of the Baltimore City Delegation, the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (formerly Maryland Black Caucus), 1983-2011 (member, nominating committee, 2000–11, redistricting committee, 2000–11; past chair, budget committee; past treasurer), the Women Legislators of Maryland, 1983-2011 (president, 1994); the Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2006–11, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Outside of the legislature she was a member of the National Order of Women Legislators; and the Southern Legislative Conference (economic development, transportation & cultural affairs committee, 2005–11; fiscal affairs & government operations committee, 2005–11).

Maryland Delegates McCoy, Kirk, Anderson and Cummings in 1984
Delegates McCoy, Kirk, Anderson and Cummings during a floor session in the Maryland House in February 1984.

Democratic primary election results, 2010

  • 2010 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – 44th District
Voters to choose three: (only the top 6 finishers are shown)
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Keith E. Haynes 4859   25.9%    Won
Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr. 4481   13.9%    Won
Melvin L. Stukes 3321   17.7%    Won
Ruth Kirk 2860   15.2%    Lost
Chris Blake 973   5.1%    Lost
Gary T. English 907   4.8%    Lost

General election results, 2006

  • 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – 44th District
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Melvin L. Stukes Dem. 13,173   34.0%    Won
Ruth M. Kirk, Dem. 12,894   33.3%    Won
Keith E. Haynes, Dem. 12,565   32.4%    Won
Other Write-Ins 129   0.3%    

Death and legacy

Ruth Kirk Family Fun Festival (52270339998)
Governor Larry Hogan at the Ruth Kirk Community Centre in August 2022

She died in 2011. Her son, Art Kirk, created a recreation center in her honor called the Ruth M. Kirk Recreation and Learning Center and Community Garden.

See also

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