Secretary David Brinkley Awarded The First Citizen Award By Maryland Senate

ANNAPOLIS, MD – David Brinkley, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, was today awarded The First Citizen Award by the Maryland Senate. Each year, the Senate gives this prestigious award to a Marylander who has been a “dedicated and effective participant in the process of making government work for the benefit of all.”

“For decades, Secretary Brinkley has been a dedicated public servant to the citizens of Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “He has shown throughout his career that one person can make a difference, and I am honored to have him on our team. I would like to congratulate Secretary Brinkley on this great honor and thank the Maryland Senate for bestowing this award on one of their peers.”

A Frederick County native, Secretary Brinkley served in the state Senate for 12 distinguished years, representing Frederick and Carroll Counties. He was Minority Leader and member of the Budget and Taxation Committee. He also served in the House of Delegates for eight years.

Two other members of the General Assembly that received the award today included Senator Edward Kasemeyer and Senator Ulysses Currie. Past First Citizen recipients have included notable Marylanders such as former Washington Post executive editor Benjamin C. Bradlee; former Senate President and Comptroller of the Treasury Louis Goldstein; and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The First Citizen award is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of four Marylanders to sign the Declaration of Independence. Carroll wrote a series of anonymous letters that were published in the Maryland Gazette in 1773; he signed them “First Citizen.” At the time, Carroll was barred from public office for being a Roman Catholic, but his First Citizen letters eventually launched his long career in public service as a state Senator.