Governor Moore Announces Three Key Appointments to State Boards and Commissions

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore today announced the appointment of The Honorable Jill P. Carter to the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals; Alverne (Chet) Chesterfield to the Maryland State Board of Education; and Lafe Solomon as chair of the Public Employee Relations Board.

"Our state boards and commissions have a fundamental role in moving Maryland forward. I thank Senator Carter, Mr. Chesterfield, and Mr. Solomon for raising their hands to serve," said Gov. Moore. "These three public servants have built distinguished careers advancing the interests and values of our state. I thank them for continuing to give back to the people of Maryland."

Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals

Formed in 1980, the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals is an independent agency within the executive branch of state government. The board adjudicates bid and contract disputes between state government agencies and contractors and vendors who do business with the State of Maryland.

The Honorable Jill P. Carter has served as a civil rights champion, community leader, and Maryland legislator for more than 35 years. Senator Carter is the daughter of the late civil rights activist, leader, and visionary Walter P. Carter. She was the third African-American woman attorney to serve in the Maryland General Assembly as Delegate for the 41st District and has served as a Maryland State Senator representing the 41st district. 

Carter earned her B.A. from Loyola College in Maryland and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Maryland State Board of Education

The Maryland State Board of Education sets the educational policy and standards for pre-kindergarten through high school and vocational rehabilitation services, in addition to passing regulations. The board also reviews and approves three annual education budgets before they are passed on to the Governor's Office and Maryland General Assembly. 

Alverne (Chet) Chesterfield serves as executive director of the Chincoteague Bay Field Station, which provides multidisciplinary educational and research opportunities that celebrate natural, cultural, economic, and technological resources. Chesterfield spent 36 years at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, retiring as assistant vice president for administration affairs and as director of auxiliary enterprises. 

Chesterfield earned his B.S. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, his M.S. from Wilmington University, and completed coursework towards a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Public Employee Relations Board Chair

The Public Employee Relations Board, established in 2023, oversees collective bargaining activities for certain public employees in Maryland. The board may also establish procedures and resolve disputes regarding exclusive representatives and the negotiability of bargaining subjects. In response to complaints of unfair labor practices, the board may investigate and take appropriate action.

Lafe Solomon has practiced labor law at the federal level for more than40 years. Solomon has served in a number of roles in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor, including as senior advisor to the solicitor, labor counsel, and senior counsel. Solomon has similarly held several positions with the National Labor Relations Board including as director of the Office of Representation Appeals, and as Acting General Counsel from 2010-2013. 

Solomon earned his B.A. from Brown University and his J.D. from Tulane University School of Law.