Jeannie is the daughter
of a watermen and the
granddaughter
of a farmer.

Jeannie Haddaway was born in Neavitt, Maryland, a small town outside of St. Michaels in Talbot County, Maryland.  She is the daughter of Herman Haddaway, a waterman and boat builder, and Barbara Haddaway who recently retired from a twenty-year career in banking.

She attended St. Michaels High School and in her senior year, served as a legislative page in the Maryland House of Delegates.  That experience, along with programs such as Girls State, peaked her interest in politics.  With that in mind, she graduated from Salisbury University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in art/graphic design. 

Her first job out of college was with the Maryland Department of the Environment's Air and Radiation Management Administration.  She later was hired as a Development Officer for the National Audubon Society's Maryland-DC Office.

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Her Appointment

At only twenty-six years old, Jeannie Haddaway was appointed to the Maryland House of Delegates by Governor Robert Ehrlich to replace former delegate Kenneth Schisler. 

In addition to be the youngest woman in the House of Delegates, her appointment made Maryland third in the nation for the number of women in the legislature.  At one time thereafter, Maryland became first in the nation, but lost that ranking during the 2006 elections.

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Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio
pictured with Ken Schisler,  former member of the
Maryland House of Delegates and the
youngest member ever elected.

Jeannie was officially sworn in as delegate
by Michael Busch, Speaker of the House
in August of 2003.

In her first three years in office, Jeannie gained many leadership positions in the House of Delegates including Assistant Minority Whip, Co-Chair of the Legislative Policy Committee for the Women's Caucus and Treasurer of the Eastern Shore Delegation.   She is also the Chair of the Talbot County Delegation.

She also hit the ground running by introducing legislation and getting bills passed in her first year in office.

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Jeannie married Joseph Riccio in August 2005.  A former merchant marine, Riccio is an associate broker with EXiT Latham Realty in Easton, Maryland and owner of Maritime Properties, LLC. 

Joseph is also a native of Talbot County whose grandfather, James Latham, was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1955-1966.  The two were married at the Easton Church of God followed by a reception at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
 

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and her husband
Joseph Riccio were married in August 2005.
(Photo Courtesy of In His Grace Photography)

She is also extremely active in the community and across the state serving on boards including the Rural Maryland Council, the Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation,  the St. Michaels Community Center and the Talbot Child Advocacy Center.  She also serves as a Character Coach for Character Counts! at Easton High School.

She attends the Easton Church of God where she is involved with the music ministry and enjoys boating, fishing, reading and art.

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Chairman Dereck Davis welcomes
Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio to the House
Economic Matters Committee
on her first day.

• Jeannie is a member of the House Economic Matters Committee which primarily reviews business-related legislation.  She serves on Business Regulation Subcommittee, the Consumer Protection and Corporate Law Subcommittee and the Public Utilities Subcommittee.
   

• Member, Joint Committee on Federal Relations
   

• Republican Caucus: She is the Assistant Minority Whip
   

• Women's Caucus:  Jeannie was elected First Vice President in 2010. Prior to that, she served as Second Vice President (2009), an At-Large Executive Board Member (2008) and Co-Chair of the Legislative Policy Committee (2006 & 2007).  She was also responsible for reviewing all domestic violence legislation for the Caucus.
   

• Treasurer, Eastern Shore Delegation
   

• Member, Legislative Arts Council which supports funding and programs of the arts  and arts organizations in Maryland
   

• Member of the Maryland Veteran's Caucus
   

• Member of the Maryland Sportsmen's Caucus
   

• Member, Mid Shore League of Republican Women, Republican Women of Talbot County, Republican Women of Caroline County Clubs

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