Melvin Steinberg

Melvin A. Steinberg
5th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
In office
January 21, 1987 – January 18, 1995
GovernorWilliam Donald Schaefer
Preceded byJ. Joseph Curran, Jr.
Succeeded byKathleen Kennedy Townsend
President of the Maryland State Senate
In office
January 1983 – January 1987
Preceded byJames Clark Jr.
Succeeded byThomas V. Mike Miller Jr.
Member of the Maryland Senate
In office
January 1967 – January 1987
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byPaula Hollinger
Constituency13th district (1967–1975)
12th district (1975–1983)
11th district (1983–1987)
Personal details
Born(1933-10-04)October 4, 1933
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 2026(2026-03-10) (aged 92)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseAnita Akman
Children3
ProfessionAttorney at law

Melvin A. Steinberg (October 4, 1933 – March 10, 2026) was an American politician who served as the fifth lieutenant governor of Maryland from 1987 to 1995, under Governor William Donald Schaefer. He previously served as the president of the Maryland Senate from January 1983 to 1987, and a member of the Maryland Senate from 1967 until his election to the position of lieutenant governor.

Early life and education

Steinberg was born in Baltimore on October 4, 1933.[1] His parents were Russian immigrants, and his father, Irvin Steinberg, founded a grocery store where Mickey worked after school.[2] Steinberg attended Baltimore Public Schools and graduated from the University of Baltimore with an A.A. degree in 1952 and with a J.D. degree in 1955.[1]

He later enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years, starting a law practice after returning.[2]

Career

Steinberg was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1966, later becoming the vice chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee until 1978. He became the president of the Senate Finance Committee in 1978 after cutting a deal with James Clark Jr., who successfully ran for president of the Maryland Senate after Steny Hoyer opted to run for lieutenant governor with Blair Lee III. He defeated Clark to become president of the Maryland Senate in 1982, mounting a campaign backed by state senators Thomas V. Miller Jr. and Clarence W. Blount. During his presidency, he was a key player in addressing a number of crises in the state, including the savings and loan crisis triggered by the failure of Old Court Savings and Loans.[2]

He was elected lieutenant governor of Maryland in 1986, when he ran on a ticket wtih Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer. During his tenure, Steinberg was involved with modernizing the Maryland State Police's aviation unit and the building of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and later the complex that would include M&T Bank Stadium and the Baltimore Ravens.[2] Steinberg's relationship with Governor Schaefer was strained, with each publicly criticising the other[3][4][5][6] and extensive coverage being devoted to their personal relationship.[7][8] Despite their differences, they worked together for eight years (1987–1995), winning two elections in the process.

Steinberg ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994,[9] launching his campaign pledging a war on crime.[10] He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Parris Glendening, who went on to become governor, after only managing to secure third place with 15% of the vote.[11] Steinberg then took up a career in lobbying.[12]

In 1998, he drew criticism for supporting the Republican candidate for governor, Ellen Sauerbrey, rather than endorsing Glendening in his bid for re-election; Sauerbrey was a critic of abortion and of gun control, positions opposite those held by Steinberg.[13] In 2018, he again endorsed the Republican nominee for governor, incumbent Larry Hogan, over the Democratic nominee, Ben Jealous.[14]

Personal life and death

Steinberg was Jewish.[15][1] He was married to Anita Akman and had three children, a son and two daughters.[2]

Steinberg died under hospice care in Baltimore on March 10, 2026, at the age of 92.[16] Current Maryland Governor Wes Moore and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan were among those who paid tribute.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Melvin A. Steinberg, MSA SC 3520-1494". Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series). Maryland State Archives. March 11, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sears, Bryan P. (March 12, 2026). "Former Lt. Gov. Melvin "Mickey" Steinberg, dies at age 92". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  3. ^ Birch, Doug; Banisky, Sandy (April 27, 1991). "Steinberg staff pared to 3 Schaefer blames budget". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 1799934258. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  4. ^ Jensen, Peter (March 22, 1991). "Schaefer addresses rift with Steinberg over airwaves". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 1798147226. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  5. ^ Frece, John W. (March 16, 1991). "Schaefer memo appears aimed against Steinberg". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 1797927486. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  6. ^ Smith, C. Fraser (May 15, 1991). "Governor signals compromise with Steinberg, Assembly". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 1797957172. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  7. ^ Thompson, William (September 28, 1990). "Annual Schaefer-Steinberg chill gets chillier". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  8. ^ Olesker, Michael (February 9, 1992). "Schaefer and Steinberg: no fire, just ice". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 1981194659. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  9. ^ Waldron, Tom (September 12, 1994). "Steinberg appeals for defections from two rival camps". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 2289240134. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  10. ^ Timberg, Robert (January 11, 1994). "Steinberg fires anti-crime salvo". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 2293891274. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  11. ^ "1994 Gubernatorial Election".
  12. ^ Frece, John W. (December 6, 1994). "Steinberg to become a lobbyist". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 2289316537. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  13. ^ Waldron, Thomas W. (September 18, 1998). "Democratic warhorse defects Steinberg endorses GOP's Sauerbrey in slap at Glendening". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 2896005162. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  14. ^ "Hogan For Governor Announces Democratic Endorsements". Larry Hogan for Governor campaign. June 28, 2018. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  15. ^ Maisel, L. Sandy; Forman, Ira N., eds. (2001). Jews in American Politics. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-0181-2.
  16. ^ Harris, Cayla (March 11, 2026). "Former Lt. Gov. Melvin Steinberg dies at 92". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  17. ^ Peters, Sophia (March 11, 2026). "Fmr. Lt. Gov. Melvin Steinberg Dies at 92". WMDT. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
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