A member of the Maryland General Assembly from 1975-1986, Dennis Rasmussen would serve as a Maryland State Senator from 1978-1986, and a Maryland State Delegate from 1975-1978. His political career would culminate in his tenure as Baltimore County Executive from 1986-1990.

Born in Essex in 1947, Rasmussen would graduate from Kenwood High School before making his way to Essex Community College and then Loyola University where he’d receive a degree in economics in 1970.

Rasmussen would begin his career in public office in the Maryland House of Delegates. He’d represent Baltimore County (District 7) in the House from 1975-1978 and serve in a variety of capacities. While a Delegate, he’d serve as a member of the Joint Committee on Drug Abuse and Alcoholism Administration Merger, the Joint Committee on Personnel Management Study, and the Ad Hoc Committee on State Data Processing.

Rasmussen would move to represent Districts 6 & 7 in the Maryland Senate in 1978. While a Senator, Rasmussen would serve in a variety of new capacities including membership on the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, the Special Joint Committee on Energy, the Joint Budget and Audit Committee, the Executive Nominations Committee, the Spending Affordability Committee, and the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review. Additionally, he’d rise to the Chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee and the Special Joint Committee on Pensions.

Rasmussen would leave the Senate in 1986 upon his election as the 8th County Executive in the history of Baltimore County. He would serve as County Executive until 1990 and subsequently pursue a number of political advocacy positions. He is currently the President of his own Government Affairs firm (the Rasmussen Group) representing clients in a variety of matters before state and local leaders. Additionally, he is a current member of the Board of Trustees at the Franklin Square Hospital Center and the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Downtown Baltimore.