David Charlton Harrington

     On September 19th, the Honorable David Charlton Harrington was called to be home with the Lord. A native of Queens, New York, David was born on July 31, 1954, to Charlton and Audrey Harrington.  He received his BA from Howard University where he met his wife Cheryl, running for Liberal Arts Student Council President. After Howard, he received a MA in International Relations from Miami University of Ohio.

     In 1995, Harrington was elected the first African American Mayor of the Town of Bladensburg.  He was motivated to run for public office to create clean and safe public spaces for his two sons to play and interact with their community. While Mayor, Harrington was President of the Maryland Municipal League from 2001-2002, and a Senior Fellow and faculty member at the University of Maryland James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership.

     From 2002-2008, he served as a member of the Prince George’s County Council, ending his tenure as Council Chair. As a Council Member, David was committed to his “Community First” agenda, tirelessly working to create a cleaner environment, attract local businesses, support community policing and building neighborhood schools for the communities of District 5 and throughout Prince George’s County. He also served Prince George’s on the Board of Directors of Maryland Association of Counties in addition to National Chair of Economic Development with the National Association of Counties.

     In 2008, David was appointed to the Maryland State Senate representing District 47. As Senator, he passed over twenty bills, chaired the Task Force on Physical Education and co-chaired the Green Caucus. He was awarded Legislator of the Year by the League of Conservation Voters and Legislative Champion for non-profits by the Human Services Coalition. He was also instrumental in bringing Wellness Opportunity Zones to Prince George’s County.

     In 2012, Harrington was named President & CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he was the primary advocate, policy advisor and spokesperson for over 600 businesses, and led the Chamber to a Top Regional ranking, as determined by the Washington Business Journal. During his tenure, the Chamber had a 50 percent increase in revenue and membership and played a central role in influencing state and local policy including historic funding for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Maryland Transit Administration in addition to the setting of a regional minimum wage.

     Earlier this year Harrington joined Kaiser Permanente as the Senior Director of Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement for the Mid-Atlantic Region. While at Kaiser, he made long-lasting contributions that will support his life-long mission of improving health and economic prosperity including the opening of Kaiser’s new medical center in West Hyattsville.

     Outside of work, Harrington served on the Board of Directors of Dimensions Health Care, Bowie State University, Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation, and Greater Baden Hospital. He was Chair of the Board of Anacostia River Keeper; CommonHealth ACTION; if, a Foundation for Radical Possibility; and Chair of the National Advisory Council of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County. He also served on Harvard University’s Summer Institute on Reading, Writing and Civic Education.

     He is survived by his beloved wife, Cheryl, as well as his sons, Stephen (Michelle) and Christopher (Kai), respectively as well as three grandchildren, Micah, Lincoln and Naomi and Mother-In-Law, Gertrude Salmon, two Sister-in-Laws, Dianne Grenier (Gene), Janice Forde, Brother-in-Law David Forde and a host of nieces and nephews. 

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Condolences may be expressed on the above Tribute Wall

Friday, September 30, 2022

First Baptist Church of Glenarden

 Worship Center

600 Watkins Park Drive Upper Marlboro, MD  20774

Visitation:  9:30 am to 11:00 am

Service:  11:00 am

Interment:  Private

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