This article was republished with permission from 草莓传媒’s news partners at .聽Sign up for today.
This content was republished with permission from 草莓传媒鈥檚 news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for聽听迟辞诲补测.
Even into his 80s, Jacqueline Broadwater said her father, former Maryland state Sen. Tommie Broadwater, would receive phone calls and visits from people who sought his advice and counseling when contemplating whether to run for elected office.
鈥淗e was well-known. He was there for everybody. He gave everybody advice, especially those running for office. They called him the godfather. He loved people,鈥� she said during a brief phone interview at her father鈥檚 mansion in Upper Marlboro.
Jacqueline Broadwater confirmed her father died Tuesday at 3:17 p.m. He turned 81 on June 9.
She said Tuesday evening she didn鈥檛 know the exact cause of his death.
Born in Washington D.C. on June 9, 1942, Broadwater was one of 10 children. He attended Prince George鈥檚 County public schools and Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., though he dropped out to sell insurance. Broadwater聽. He married his wife, Lillian, as a teenager and the couple had four children.
Broadwater鈥檚 political career started when he was elected to the Glenarden Town Council in 1968. In 1970, he was elected to the county鈥檚 Democratic Central Committee.
Broadwater first served in the Senate in 1974 and became the first Black lawmaker from Prince George鈥檚 elected to that chamber, at a time when the county was still predominately white. He was also the first Black senator elected outside of the city of Baltimore.
Although Broadwater hadn鈥檛 held elected office since 1983 after a聽聽and lost subsequent attempts to seek public office, he maintained businesses in the county and was sought after for his political counsel.
He offered advice to dozens of Black politicians, including former Rep. Albert Wynn (D) and the late County Executive Wayne K. Curry, whom he once babysat as a younger man. For years, he offered support for others, including Bowie Mayor Tim Adams when he announced his run for state Senate in 2017.
One beneficiary of Broadwater鈥檚 advice was former Prince George鈥檚 County Board of Education Member Belinda Queen, who sent out a mass email Tuesday evening with a picture of her and Broadwater. Part of it states: 鈥淭he Godfather of Prince George鈥檚: Gone but never forgotten.鈥�
鈥淗e would talk to you about politics. He told you what you should do and what you shouldn鈥檛 do. He told people when they should run and when they shouldn鈥檛 run. He told them the truth,鈥� Queen said. 鈥淭ommie Broadwater will be missed. There was no other godfather like him.鈥�
In a聽聽maintained by the Society of Senates Past, Broadwater reflected on his own political career: 鈥淎s the first black senator elected outside of Baltimore 鈥� I served as a trailblazer and pioneer, and in doing so, carved a path of opportunity for other black hopefuls to enter the political arena as candidates in the process; and I led the fight to galvanize the black and white communities toward working together in order to reach common goals and objectives for their respective communities and in politics as well.鈥�
Queen recalled that during Broadwater鈥檚 work as a bail bondsman, he would feed people ribs or chicken from his Ebony Inn 鈥� a bar, exotic dancing venue and carryout barbecue joint 鈥� in Fairmount Heights.
During his time in the legislature between 1974 to 1983, Broadwater also brought ribs to聽, guaranteeing attendance of his Budget and Taxation colleagues.
In recent weeks, county dignitaries have gathered at events to celebrate Broadwater鈥檚 career: at the Glenarden Municipal Center in May and at Bowie State University last month.
鈥淚t was about 300 people there for him in Glenarden. Then had a big at Bowie State. They gave him plaques and all this other stuff,鈥� Jacqueline Broadwater said.
Several social media tributes paid homage to Broadwater late Tuesday.
鈥淔airmont Heights High School bids farewell to our esteemed alum, Tommie Broadwater, a distinguished member of the Class of 1961,鈥� Fairmount Heights alum Mario Williams wrote on Facebook. 鈥淔airmount Heights High School mourns the loss of a remarkable individual who will forever be remembered for his contributions and compassion.鈥�
鈥淲e lost a big giant鈥n our community today,鈥� community activist and entrepreneur LaTasha Ward said on her Facebook page. 鈥淭hank God for the opportunity I had to sit and be in his company. He loved his community and he took care of his community!鈥�
In recent years, Broadwater still made public appearances at various events such as the annual聽聽in Somerset County on the Eastern Shore.
鈥淚鈥檓 comfortable here,鈥� Broadwater said in July 2018. 鈥淚 come to see all my old friends, my new friends, people just starting in politics. I like the camaraderie.鈥�
Danielle E. Gaines contributed to this report.聽
