Carolyn T. Burridge Obituary – Baltimore Sun – May 16, 2009

Annapolis Lobbyist Was President of Her Own Firm, CTB Government Relations, For More Than 20 Years

Carolyn T. Burridge, a well-known Annapolis lobbyist whose firm represented businesses that included heavy manufacturers and industrial operations, institutions of higher learning and associations for children with multiple disabilities, died of cervical cancer May 6 at Gilchrist Hospice Center. The longtime Homeland resident was 62.

Carolyn Taylor was born and raised in Springfield, Mo., and graduated from Greenwood High School, a private school.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1967 from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a master’s degree in journalism two years later from American University in Washington.

In 1970, she married James T. Burridge, a lobbyist, and moved to Wyoming, where her husband was working on a congressional campaign. “She was the first woman news director at KATI Radio in Casper, and worked there about eight months before we returned to Washington,” said Mr. Burridge, who lives in Washington. “Then we moved to Rockville, where we had our first child, and then twins.”  The couple later divorced.

Mrs. Burridge taught journalism from 1975 to 1980 at Montgomery Community College in Rockville and had been legislative director of Burridge Associates, owned by her then-husband, from 1983 to 1985.

“A Washington client asked me to represent them in Annapolis and I declined, but Carolyn said that she would, and that’s how she started her business,” he said.

In 1985, Mrs. Burridge established and served as president of CTB Government Relations LLC, which she owned and operated until 2007. She remained as a consultant. Mrs. Burridge’s clients also included for-hire passenger fleets, an automobile club, and information technology, finance, insurance and service companies.

Ellen R. Sauerbrey, a former Republican gubernatorial nominee and a 16-year veteran of the House of Delegates, is a longtime friend.  “We started our careers in Annapolis at the same time. When she established her one-person office, it was a big deal at the time,” Mrs. Sauerbrey recalled Thursday.  “I always found her to be gutsy and a woman of principle. She was highly respected, and people knew she was a straight shooter and very ethical,” Mrs. Sauerbrey said. “One of the qualities of a great lobbyist is that you can trust them, and you could trust Carolyn.”

After she had been around the legislature a while, Mrs. Burridge switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.  “Not a lot of people in Annapolis have the moxie to do that,” Mrs. Sauerbrey said.

Reflecting on the vulnerability of female lobbyists and delegates working in Annapolis, Mrs. Burridge told The Sun in a 1991 article that she had kept a list of legislators who had propositioned her.  “You just say no and go on,” she said. “Is there sexism? Absolutely. The sexism is something you recognize and live with. Has it impeded me in my profession? In part, yes. But not enough to discourage me.”

Concerned that women were not being placed on corporate boards and commissions, Mrs. Burridge was co-founder and first president of Network 2000, an organization that “helped women break the glass ceiling,” she said.  Notable speakers she brought to the organization included former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former United Nations Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and broadcast commentator Cokie Roberts.  The Daily Record selected Mrs. Burridge three times as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, the maximum time the honor can be awarded.Mark L. Joseph, CEO of Veolia Transportation, hired her 25 years ago to represent the taxi industry in Maryland and establish the Maryland Taxicab Association.  “Carolyn had the heart of a lion, the loyalty of a best friend, love of a devoted mother, determination of an investigative reporter and the positive outlook, energy and drive of a true winner,” Mr. Joseph wrote in a eulogy.