State legislators mourned the death of Del. Bennett Bozman, an Eastern Shore Democrat and the House deputy majority whip who will be remembered as a “strong supporter and spokesman for rural folks.”
Bozman died of bacterial meningitis Thursday en route to Johns Hopkins University Hospital. He would have turned 70 in May.
Since 1991, Bozman represented Wicomico and Worcester counties in the House of Delegates. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Federal Relations.
Bozman, a staunch defender of the Eastern Shore, was known for his commitment to education, beach replenishment and agricultural initiatives, colleagues said.
He had planned to seek re-election. His vacant seat will be filled by a governor appointee who is nominated by the Democratic party?s central committee, state officials said.
“I think people in our district will remember Bennett for being a caring person,” said Del. Norman Conway, D- Salisbury, “People issues were his issues. … He was trying to make life better for people on the Eastern Shore.”
Conway said he and his district-mate talked “almost every night.”
“He had a way of gleaning information from people that was just uncanny,” Conway said. “I would ask him, ?Bennett, how do you get all this stuff?? And he said, ?Just talk to people and ask them questions ? they?ll tell you.? ”
Gov. Robert Ehrlich called Bozman a “decent, caring, and a great advocate for the Eastern Shore.”
Lt. Gov. Michael Steele said he was “deeply saddened to hear about Bennett?s untimely passing.”
