Carl Anderton Jr.
Carl Anderton Jr. | |
---|---|
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 38B district | |
In office January 14, 2015 – July 23, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Norman Conway |
Succeeded by | Barry Beauchamp |
Mayor of Delmar, Maryland | |
In office 2011–2015 | |
Preceded by | P. Douglas Niblett |
Succeeded by | Karen H. Wells |
Personal details | |
Born | Salisbury, Maryland, U.S. | May 20, 1973
Political party | Republican |
Children | 2[1] |
Carl L. Anderton Jr. (born May 20, 1973) is an American politician who was a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 38B in Wicomico County, from 2015 to 2024.[2]
Early life and career
[edit]Carl Anderton Jr. was born in Salisbury, Maryland on May 20, 1973, grew up in Kingston, Maryland, and graduated from Washington High School in Princess Anne, Maryland.[1] He is married with two children.[2]
Anderton was a member of the Town Commission of Delmar, Maryland from 2006 to 2011, and served as the mayor of Delmar from 2011 to 2015. He served as the President of the Maryland Municipal League from 2013 to 2014.[2]
In December 2013, Anderton declared his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates, seeking to challenge Democratic incumbent Norman Conway.[3] During the general election, the Maryland Republican Party distributed fliers opposing Conway, portraying him in a black ski mask typically seen on bank robbers. Anderton distanced himself from the fliers, saying that he was unaware of the fliers until someone told him about it over the weekend and that he had no involvement with their distribution.[4] He defeated Conway in the general election with 52.2 percent of the vote.[1]
In the legislature
[edit]Anderton was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. He was a member of the Environment and Transportation Committee from 2015 to 2018 and from 2019 to 2023, and the Appropriations Committee in 2019 and from 2023 to 2024. Anderton was also a chair of the Wicomico County Delegation during his entire tenure and the vice-chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation in 2024.[2]
Following the death of Wicomico County executive Robert L. "Bob" Culver, Jr. in 2020, Anderton applied to replace Culver,[5] but was defeated by cardiologist Rene Desmarais.[6] Desmarais declined the county council's appointment,[7] which prompted the council to reopen the application process, for which Anderton applied a second time. The council ultimately voted to keep County Administrator John D. Psota in place as acting county executive until the 2022 election.[8] Anderton was rumored to be a candidate for Wicomico County executive in 2022, but announced in February 2022 that he would seek a third term to the Maryland House of Delegates.[9]
On July 9, 2024, Anderton announced that he would be resigning from the Maryland House of Delegates on July 23, 2024,[10] to become the director of rural strategy within the Maryland Department of Commerce.[11]
Political positions
[edit]Following his election win, Anderton expressed that he would reach across party lines. He supports deregulation, saying that overregulation in Maryland is "detrimental to Eastern Shore farmers and business owners."[1]
Agriculture
[edit]Anderton opposed legislation introduced in the 2016 legislative session that would big chicken companies to handle and dispose of excess poultry manure.[12]
Alcohol
[edit]Anderton introduced legislation during the 2015 legislative session, nicknamed "The Evo Bill" after the Evolution Craft Brewery in Salisbury, Maryland, that would allow Wicomico County to increase their beer production from 22,500 barrels to 45,000 barrels each year.[13] The bill passed and was signed by Governor Larry Hogan on April 29, 2015.[14]
Anderton introduced legislation during the 2020 legislative session that would allow the city of Salisbury to make its own alcohol licensing commission following controversy surrounding permits for the National Folk Festival.[15] After a compromise was found between the city of Salisbury and Wicomico County,[16] the legislation passed the Maryland General Assembly unanimously and became law on May 8, 2020.[17]
Environment
[edit]Anderton is a long-time supporter of a project to construct a 32 turbine wind farm off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland, saying that it would bring jobs to the area.[18] While he supports renewable energy alternatives like solar power and offshore wind, he does not think those energy sources are fully sustainable on their own and supports the construction of a natural gas pipeline on Maryland's Eastern Shore.[19][20]
In September 2018, Anderton received a score of 83 percent from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.[21]
During the 2019 legislative session, Anderton cosponsored a bill that would hold Exelon financially responsible for cleanup costs associated with pollution spilling over the Conowingo Dam.[22] He opposed legislation that banned oyster harvesting in sanctuaries.[23]
Infrastructure
[edit]Anderton opposed legislation introduced in the 2016 legislative session that changed how transportation projects are prioritized in Maryland, arguing that it would put projects on the Eastern Shore on the backburner.[24]
Anderton introduced legislation during the 2017 legislative session that would have incrementally increased highway user revenue appropriations to Maryland towns. The bill did not receive a vote during the legislative session,[25] but was reintroduced in 2018.[26] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 24, 2018.[27]
Marijuana
[edit]In 2015, Anderton voted alongside six other Republicans for a bill that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana paraphernalia.[28] During the 2018 legislative session, Anderton supported a bill that would legalize the production and sale of hemp in Maryland, saying that "passing the bill would be a win for lawmakers and farmers."[29] Anderton supports using a referendum to let voters decide on legalizing recreational marijuana in Maryland.[30]
Minimum wage
[edit]Anderton opposed a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, instead promoting a compromise bill proposed by Governor Hogan that would raise the state's minimum wage to $12.10 by 2022.[31]
Taxes
[edit]Anderton campaigned on repealing the "rain tax"[1] and broadening Wicomico County's enterprise zones.[32] Anderton supports legalizing sports betting in Maryland, saying that the state "needs additional sources of revenue in order to get more funding for things like education resources."[33]
Electoral history
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Carl Anderton Jr. | 1,543 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Carl Anderton Jr. | 5,617 | 52.2 | |
Democratic | Norman Conway (incumbent) | 5,133 | 47.7 | |
Write-in | 5 | 0.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Carl Anderton Jr. (incumbent) | 10,021 | 94.3 | |
Write-in | 611 | 5.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Carl Anderton Jr. (incumbent) | 8,026 | 94.5 | |
Write-in | 470 | 5.5 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Holland, Liz (November 5, 2014). "Anderton on upset 38B Delegate win: 'It's surreal'". Delmarvanow. Salisbury, Maryland. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Carl L. Anderton, Jr., Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Shutt, Jennifer (December 5, 2013). "Delmar mayor to challenge for Md. House seat". The Daily Times. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Delaware Online.
- ^ Rush, Don (October 15, 2014). "GOP Ski Mask Leaflet Draws Fire on Eastern Shore". Delmarva Public Media. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Powers, Kelly (August 12, 2020). "Delegate Carl Anderton, Councilman Joe Holloway seek Wicomico County executive seat". Delmarvanow. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Peck, Louis (August 21, 2020). "In Surprise, Cardiologist Bests Del. Anderton for Appointment as Next Wicomico Co. Exec". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Peck, Louis (August 25, 2020). "Confusion Reigns as Desmarais Declines County Council Appointment as Next Wicomico Executive". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Peck, Louis (September 18, 2020). "Moving to End Standoff, Wicomico Council Taps County Administrator as Acting Exec". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Peck, Louis (February 1, 2022). "Del. Anderton to Pass on Race for Wicomico County Exec, Will Seek Re-Election". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Delegate Carl Anderton Joins Maryland Department of Commerce as Director of Rural Economic Strategy". Maryland Economic Development Association. July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ Sears, Bryan P. (July 9, 2024). "Anderton to leave House for Maryland Commerce Department post". Maryland Matters. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ Bollinger, Josh (February 17, 2016). "Shore reps say manure bill is bull". The Star Democrat. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Mackonochie, Michelle (May 7, 2015). ""The Evo Bill" to be signed on Tuesday". 47abc. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Bill Benefits Evolution Craft Brewery". WBOC-TV. April 29, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Panetta, Kyleigh (February 11, 2020). "Salisbury pushes for control of liquor permits in the city". 47abc. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Salisbury, Wicomico County Find Compromise on Liquor Licensing Commission". WBOC-TV. February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Legislation - HB1319". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Ocean City Continues to Debate Offshore Wind Off Its Coast". WBOC-TV. August 29, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Rush, Don (January 29, 2018). "Natural Gas Pipeline Project for Eastern Shore". Delmarva Public Radio. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Eastern Shore Pipeline Faces Opposition and Support". WBOC-TV. June 19, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 18, 2018). "LCV Scores Show Good, Bad and Ugly of Lawmakers' Support for Green Issues". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (February 11, 2019). "Lawmakers Want Exelon Held Responsible for Conowingo Cleanup". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Miller, Jenna (April 5, 2019). "'That's our way of life': Eastern Shore lawmakers unite to fight oyster harvest ban". Delmarvanow. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Maryland Transportation Scoring Bill Faces Opposition From Eastern Shore Lawmakers". WBOC-TV. March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Cox, Jeremy; Fanelli, Gino; Holland, Liz; Hughes, Gray (April 11, 2017). "Md. legislative roundup: More beer, less testing". Delmarvanow. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Eldredge, Ryan (March 29, 2018). "Improvements on the way for Maryland's roads". 47abc. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Legislation - HB0807". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Van (April 20, 2015). "The Maryland GOP on Pot: Free State Republicans have been warming to marijuana reform, but support for legalization so far remains a pipe dream". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Lawmakers Push to Legalize Hemp; Farmers Unsure". WBOC-TV. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Cortese, Doug (February 17, 2022). "Marijuana Recreational Use Could Be on Ballot in November". WBOC-TV. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Fernandez, Camila (March 10, 2019). "Maryland Gov. Hogan offers compromise for minimum wage hike". 47abc. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Cox, Jeremy (October 31, 2014). "Candidates Conway, Anderton spar over schools, taxes". Delmarvanow. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Fernandez, Camila (March 15, 2019). "Maryland lawmakers: sports betting bill on hold until 2020". 47abc. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 16, 2014.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014.
- ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Media related to Carl Anderton Jr. at Wikimedia Commons