Terry Lierman, New Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party

Terry Lierman, Chair, Maryland Democratic Party

Terry Lierman was elected Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party in December 2004 after three decades of leadership in public policy, business, community service and political organizing.  Throughout his distinguished career, Terry has been a policy and political advisor to Democratic leaders in Maryland and across the United States. 

Terry came to Washington in the early 1970s, after earning a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, to work at the National Institutes of Health.  Later he joined the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and became the youngest Staff Director/Chief Clerk in committee history under the late Senator Warren Magnuson (D-WA).  Lierman guided more than 90 professional staff responsible for policy and funding recommendations for every federal program and department.

In the early 1980s, Lierman took his policy expertise and political savvy to the private sector, where he founded Capitol Associates, Inc., a government relations firm focused on serving non-profits, health care, medical research and education entities. 

After building Capitol Associates into a Washington powerhouse, Lierman tackled his next challenge – a U.S. Congressional race against long-time incumbent Republican Constance Morella in Maryland’s Eighth District.  Lierman built a vibrant, diverse grassroots campaign and received more votes than any Democratic candidate had ever gotten against Morella, setting the stage for the 2002 defeat of Morella.

Most recently, Lierman devoted nearly two years to the Presidential campaign of former Governor Howard Dean, now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.  Lierman was National Finance Co-Chair of Dean for America and, following the nomination of Senator John F. Kerry, Lierman served as Co-Chair of Grassroots Action Institute and Network (GAIN), a weeklong seminar series at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. 

Community service and volunteerism have always been instrumental parts of Terry Lierman’s life.  Lierman has devoted at least one day per week during his adult life to volunteering.  He was a founder of the Children’s Research Institute at Children’s Hospital, the National Coalition for Cancer Research, the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the Pancreatic Cancer Network, Research America!, and the Partnership for Prevention.  Lierman also fought tirelessly for higher education quality and access as a member of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and served as a board member of the National Labor College.

You may contact Terry Lierman at Terry@mddems.org or 410-269-8818.