Statehouse Shakeup: Delegate Campos Resigns, Delegate Proctor Dies

The death of one delegate and sudden resignation of another this week havs left Prince George’s County minus two representatives at the Maryland House of Delegates.

James E. Proctor Jr., 79, of Accokeek died Thursday. He was a retired school teacher and principal, reports the Baltimore Sun.

He had served in the legislature since 1990; his District 27A seat is vacant.

And Delegate William Campos resigned his seat on Thursday for personal reasons.

Gov. Larry Hogan ordered state flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Proctor’s legacy.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this amazing Prince Georgian who contributed so much to our community,” said County Executive Rushern Baker. “He was a man of great character and convictions. His dedication and energy to public education and our children as both an educator and as an elected official helped make Maryland one of the best in the nation in prioritizing education funding. Prince George’s County is a better place because of James Proctor, we will miss him.”

State Delegate William Campos, 41, resigned his District 47B seat on Thursday. He took office in January 2015, according to the Maryland State Archives.

Campos represented northwestern Prince George’s County, which is home to the county’s largest concentration of Hispanic immigrants. The Washington Post says the district was drawn in 2012 to boost the odds that a Latino lawmaker would be elected.

Campos recently married and wants to start a family, but he is looking for a job outside the legislature. He told the Post tackling those issues, along with serving at the statehouse, were “too many transitions” to juggle.

Possible replacements for Campos are Dinora Hernandez, a Prince George’s County Board of Education member, and Carlo Sanchez, a member of the county Democratic Central Committee, the Post says. Gov. Hogan will appoint a new delegate.

»Former Delegate James Proctor Jr., left, and former Delegate William Campos, from Maryland State Archives