About Marilyn Booker
Marilyn is the eldest of five children born to the late George Ferreri of New York, a chemical engineer and former Director of the Air and Radiation Administration for the State of Maryland, and Mary Lynch Ferreri of Baltimore, a retired Baltimore County English teacher. Upon moving from New Jersey to the Northwood area, Marilyn attended St. Matthew's Parochial School and completed grammar school at the Institute of Notre Dame. After graduating from Western High School, she earned her Associates Degree in Nursing from Essex Community College cum laude. She completed a Bachelors degree in Nursing from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and then earned a Masters Degree in Business with a concentration in Management from Johns Hopkins University.
Marilyn spent the first 11 years of her nursing career at the Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland. After 4 years as a critical care nurse, she was promoted to the nurse manager of a medical-surgical unit. Over her career, Marilyn has held positions as the Regional Director of a Home Health and Staffing agency; the Executive Director of a Home Health agency, and the Corporate Director of Clinical Services and Quality Improvement for a Home Infusion Company. In addition, Marilyn spent several years arranging research for a European-based dietary supplement company as well as writing marketing and technical material for them. In 1995, Marilyn's book, InfusionTherapy, Techniques and Medications was published by W.B. Saunders, Co. Marilyn has also authored several chapters for other nursing textbooks. Five years ago, she returned to Good Sam where she is working as the Director of Nursing Informatics, assisting in the implementation of Medstar Health Group's first electronic documentation system.
Marilyn and Dennis Booker met in their Northwood neighborhood, dated throughout high school and were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Towson. They have two children, Reed and Mary. They moved from their home in the Loch Hill section of Baltimore County to Sunnybrook in Jacksonville in 1990. Dennis works for the State of Maryland as an Administrator with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
2008 was a very good year for the Booker family. Not only did Marilyn decide to run for the House of Delegates, but Reed's wife, Allison, gave birth to Marilyn and Dennis' first grandchild, Jake.
Booker on the Issues
- BUDGET - While the Democrat-lead General Assembly spends projected rather than actual income, the Governor continues to build the budget based upon an overly optimistic view of revenues. When these inflated estimates are not realized, rather than re-evaluate spending, the Governor and his fellow Democrats raise taxes. As responsible citizens, we must insist that the budgeting process incorporate a more realistic projection of state revenues and that spending cuts, not tax increases be the first approach to balancing the budget.
- BAILOUT MONEY - Maryland must not use the Federal bailout money to fund new programs. To do so would promulgate the same behavior that caused us to require this Federal handout to begin with. The reality is that in two years the recurring expenses of any new programs will have to be funded by the already over-taxed citizens of Maryland.
- MD REPUBLICAN PARTY - A two-party political system is essential for Maryland's success in the future. Opposing viewpoints are crucial to the debate and assures the citizens of Maryland that they get the best possible government. To that end, as the Republican Party, we must encourage and support viable candidates to run in every election and in every jurisdiction.
- MD BUSINESS CLIMATE - In 2008, The Tax Foundation rated Maryland's business tax climate as the 45th worst nationally compared to a ranking of 24th in 2007. This decline can be linked directly to the tax hikes on the business community enacted during the 2007 special session. If we are to advance the business climate in Maryland and improve employment, we must lower taxes. Other states struggle with having citizens possessing the skills that employers are seeking. Maryland has plenty of talent, we just can't attract and keep businesses here because of our overwhelming business taxes. Our focus must change from "What types of businesses can we tax?" to "What types of businesses can we attract?"
- BELIEFS - I believe that we need conservative representatives in Annapolis who are smart, ethical, even-tempered and who have the political will to address issues with creativity and an open mind. I possess these qualities and look forward to serving.