Carl Anderton Jr. Explained

Carl Anderton Jr.
State Delegate:Maryland
District:38B
Termstart:January 14, 2015
Termend:July 24, 2024
Party:Republican
Predecessor:Norman Conway
Successor:Vacant
Office2:Mayor of Delmar, Maryland
Term2:2011–2015
Predecessor2:P. Douglas Niblett
Successor2:Karen H. Wells
Birth Date:20 May 1973
Birth Place:Salisbury, Maryland, U.S.
Children:2

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.[1]

Early life and career

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. He is married with two children.

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.

In December 2013, Anderton declared his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates, seeking to challenge Democratic incumbent Norman Conway.[2] 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.[3] He defeated Conway in the general election with 52.2 percent of the vote.[4]

In the legislature

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.

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 24, 2024,[10] to become the director of rural strategy within the Maryland Department of Commerce.[11]

Political positions

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."

Agriculture

Anderton opposed legislation introduced in the 2016 legislative session that would big chicken companies to handle and dispose of excess poultry manure.[12]

Alcohol

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

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

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

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

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

Anderton campaigned on repealing the "rain tax" 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Carl L. Anderton, Jr., Maryland State Delegate . Maryland Manual On-Line . . July 23, 2024 . July 24, 2024.
  2. News: Shutt . Jennifer . Delmar mayor to challenge for Md. House seat . February 21, 2022 . . . December 5, 2013.
  3. News: Rush . Don . GOP Ski Mask Leaflet Draws Fire on Eastern Shore . February 21, 2022 . Delmarva Public Media . October 15, 2014.
  4. News: Anderton on upset 38B Delegate win: 'It's surreal' . Holland . Liz . November 5, 2014 . . . en . March 5, 2020.
  5. News: Powers . Kelly . Delegate Carl Anderton, Councilman Joe Holloway seek Wicomico County executive seat . February 21, 2022 . . August 12, 2020.
  6. News: Peck . Louis . In Surprise, Cardiologist Bests Del. Anderton for Appointment as Next Wicomico Co. Exec . February 21, 2022 . . August 21, 2020.
  7. News: Peck . Louis . Confusion Reigns as Desmarais Declines County Council Appointment as Next Wicomico Executive . February 21, 2022 . . August 25, 2020.
  8. News: Peck . Louis . Moving to End Standoff, Wicomico Council Taps County Administrator as Acting Exec . February 21, 2022 . . September 18, 2020.
  9. News: Peck . Louis . Del. Anderton to Pass on Race for Wicomico County Exec, Will Seek Re-Election . February 21, 2022 . . February 1, 2022.
  10. Web site: Delegate Carl Anderton Joins Maryland Department of Commerce as Director of Rural Economic Strategy . Maryland Economic Development Association . July 12, 2024 . en . 10 July 2024.
  11. News: Sears . Bryan P. . Anderton to leave House for Maryland Commerce Department post . July 9, 2024 . . July 9, 2024.
  12. News: Bollinger . Josh . Shore reps say manure bill is bull . February 21, 2022 . . February 17, 2016.
  13. News: Mackonochie . Michelle . "The Evo Bill" to be signed on Tuesday . February 21, 2022 . 47abc . May 7, 2015.
  14. News: Bill Benefits Evolution Craft Brewery . February 21, 2022 . . April 29, 2015.
  15. News: Panetta . Kyleigh . Salisbury pushes for control of liquor permits in the city . February 21, 2022 . 47abc . February 11, 2020.
  16. News: Salisbury, Wicomico County Find Compromise on Liquor Licensing Commission . February 21, 2022 . . February 27, 2020.
  17. Web site: Legislation - HB1319 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . February 21, 2022.
  18. News: Ocean City Continues to Debate Offshore Wind Off Its Coast . February 21, 2022 . . August 29, 2019.
  19. News: Rush . Don . Natural Gas Pipeline Project for Eastern Shore . February 21, 2022 . Delmarva Public Radio . January 29, 2018.
  20. News: Eastern Shore Pipeline Faces Opposition and Support . February 21, 2022 . . June 19, 2018.
  21. News: Kurtz . Josh . LCV Scores Show Good, Bad and Ugly of Lawmakers' Support for Green Issues . February 21, 2022 . . September 18, 2018.
  22. News: Kurtz . Josh . Lawmakers Want Exelon Held Responsible for Conowingo Cleanup . February 21, 2022 . . February 11, 2019.
  23. News: Miller . Jenna . 'That's our way of life': Eastern Shore lawmakers unite to fight oyster harvest ban . February 21, 2022 . . April 5, 2019.
  24. News: Maryland Transportation Scoring Bill Faces Opposition From Eastern Shore Lawmakers . February 21, 2022 . . March 21, 2016.
  25. News: Cox . Jeremy . Fanelli . Gino . Holland . Liz . Hughes . Gray . Md. legislative roundup: More beer, less testing . February 21, 2022 . . April 11, 2017.
  26. News: Eldredge . Ryan . Improvements on the way for Maryland's roads . February 21, 2022 . 47abc . March 29, 2018.
  27. Web site: Legislation - HB0807 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . February 21, 2022.
  28. News: Smith . Van . The Maryland GOP on Pot: Free State Republicans have been warming to marijuana reform, but support for legalization so far remains a pipe dream . February 21, 2022 . . April 20, 2015.
  29. News: Lawmakers Push to Legalize Hemp; Farmers Unsure . February 21, 2022 . . February 13, 2018.
  30. News: Cortese . Doug . Marijuana Recreational Use Could Be on Ballot in November . February 21, 2022 . . February 17, 2022.
  31. News: Fernandez . Camila . Maryland Gov. Hogan offers compromise for minimum wage hike . February 21, 2022 . 47abc . March 10, 2019.
  32. News: Cox . Jeremy . Candidates Conway, Anderton spar over schools, taxes . February 21, 2022 . . October 31, 2014.
  33. News: Fernandez . Camila . Maryland lawmakers: sports betting bill on hold until 2020 . February 21, 2022 . 47abc . March 15, 2019.