David Fraser-Hidalgo Explained

David Fraser-Hidalgo
Birth Date:25 November 1969
Birth Place:Quito, Ecuador
State Delegate:Maryland
District:15th
Term Start:October 21, 2013
Appointer:Martin O'Malley
Alongside:Linda Foley and Lily Qi
Party:Democrat
Residence:Boyds, Maryland
Occupation:Sales Director
Website:https://www.fraserfor15.org/

David V. Fraser-Hidalgo (born November 25, 1969) is an Ecuadorian-born American politician and a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 15 in Montgomery County, Maryland.[1] He was appointed to complete the term of Delegate Brian J. Feldman following Feldman's appointment to a Senate seat and has since been elected to his own full term.[2]

Early life and education

Fraser-Hidalgo was born on November 25, 1969, in Quito, Ecuador. He grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland, attending Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland. In 1992, he earned a B.A. in History from St. Mary's College of Maryland.

For three years, Fraser-Hidalgo served as a police officer in Montgomery County before leaving the police department and entering the business world. He has worked for a number of firms, including being a partner in a Montgomery County based tech firm for 10 years and as an Area Director for Regus. He has also been involved in a variety of volunteer activities in the county, including as a leader in the Boyds Civic Association and sits on the boards of the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Community Farm Share and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.

In 2010, Fraser-Hidalgo unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 15,[3] coming in fourth place with 8.8 percent of the vote.

In the legislature

In 2013, the retirement of Senator Robert J. Garagiola from the Maryland Senate prompted the appointment of Delegate Brian J. Feldman to fill the remainder of Garagiola's term. This left an open Delegate seat, which was contested by a number of applicants. Fraser-Hidalgo won the final vote of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee by a close margin, and on October 16, 2013, was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to fill the seat.[4] He was sworn in on October 21, 2013.

In February 2015, Fraser-Hidalgo joined state Senator Victor Ramirez and Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Maricé Morales, Will Campos, and Ana Sol Gutierrez in organizing the Maryland Latino Legislative Caucus, becoming one of the caucus' first six members.[5] [6] [7] Fraser-Hidalgo served as the Latino Caucus' chair from 2019 to 2024.

Political positions

Environment

Fraser-Hidalgo has repeatedly introduced legislation that would ban the practice of fracking in Maryland.[8] [9] [10] During the 2017 legislative session, his bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on April 4, 2017.[11] [12]

Fraser-Hidalgo introduced legislation in the 2019 legislative session that would increase the state's electric vehicle tax credit to $3,000.[13] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 30, 2019.[14] [15] A bill extending the tax credit was introduced and passed during the 2022 legislative session and was signed into law on April 21, 2022.[16] [17]

Fraser-Hidalgo introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would charge polluters a carbon fee for their greenhouse gas emissions, investing the revenue earned from the fee into education and green infrastructure.[18] [19] The bill received an unfavorable committee report.[20]

Fraser-Hidalgo introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would set goals for electrifying the state's vehicle fleet, with 100 percent of passenger cars purchased to be electric by 2028 and all passenger cars in the fleet to be electric by 2031.[21]

Industrial hemp

Fraser-Hidalgo introduced legislation in the 2018 legislative session that would create a pilot program authorizing both growing and processing operations for industrial hemp.[22] The bill passed with nearly unanimous support (136-1 in the House and 46-0 in the Senate) and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on May 8, 2018.[23] He introduced legislation during the 2019 legislation to fully legalize commercial hemp farming, which was signed into law by Hogan on April 30, 2019.[24] [25]

Social issues

Fraser-Hidalgo introduced legislation in the 2016 legislative session that would have strengthened laws on underage drinking. The bill was watered down during committee hearings,[26] [27] but passed and became law on May 19, 2016.[28] [29] [30]

Fraser-Hidalgo introduced legislation in the 2020 legislative session that would require special elections to fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly.[31]

Personal life

Fraser-Hidalgo lives in Boyds, Maryland, in a home that is almost completely autonomous.[32] He was married to Lisa Bethel, and has two children, Samantha and Scott.[33] [34] In the early spring of 2018, his wife Lisa died from cancer.[35] [36]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 15 Democratic Primary Election, 2010[37]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticBrian J. Feldman6,26231.4%
DemocraticKathleen Dumais6,08630.6%
DemocraticAruna Miller4,67123.5%
DemocraticDavid-Fraser Hidalgo1,7558.8%
DemocraticLara Wibeto1,1425.7%
Maryland House of Delegates District 15 Democratic Primary Election, 2014[38]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticKathleen Dumais6,15630.6%
DemocraticAruna Miller5,74828.6%
DemocraticDavid Fraser-Hidalgo4,44722.1%
DemocraticBennett Rushkoff3,75418.7%
Maryland House of Delegates District 15 General Election, 2014[39]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticKathleen Dumais19,08320.6%
DemocraticAruna Miller18,07119.5%
DemocraticDavid Fraser-Hidalgo17,32418.7%
RepublicanEd Edmundson12,91313.9%
RepublicanChristine Thron12,82513.8%
RepublicanFlynn Ficker12,35513.3%
N/AOther Write-Ins860.1%
Maryland House of Delegates District 15 Democratic Primary Election, 2018[40]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticKathleen Dumais8,20722.4%
DemocraticLily Qi6,56817.9%
DemocraticDavid Fraser-Hidalgo6,20616.9%
DemocraticAmy Frieder5,28914.4%
DemocraticKevin Mack4,25711.6%
DemocraticAnis Ahmed2,0975.7%
DemocraticAndy Van Wye2,0325.5%
DemocraticHamza Sarwar Khan 1,2623.4%
DemocraticTony Puca 7762.1%
Maryland House of Delegates District 15 General Election, 2018[41]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticKathleen Dumais36,33124.6%
DemocraticLily Qi34,88823.6%
DemocraticDavid Fraser-Hidalgo33,80822.9%
RepublicanLaurie Halverson 15,67810.6%
RepublicanHarvey Jacobs14,0969.5%
RepublicanMarc A. King12,9938.8%
N/AOther Write-Ins1390.1%
Maryland House of Delegates District 15 General Election, 2022[42]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticLily Qi21,12723.1%
DemocraticLinda Foley21,09723.1%
DemocraticDavid Fraser-Hidalgo20,42922.4%
RepublicanStacey Sauter 9,93010.9%
RepublicanMatt Wade9,42610.3%
RepublicanJodi Noah9,3219.1%
N/AOther Write-Ins730.1%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Fraser-Hidalgo, Maryland State Delegate. msa.maryland.gov. Maryland State Archives. May 9, 2022.
  2. Web site: Democratic Committee Backs Fraser-Hidalgo For Vacant Dist. 15 Delegate Seat. Peck . Louis . October 9, 2013 . . May 9, 2022.
  3. News: Peck . Louis . Candidates Facing a Three-Week Sprint to Capture Delegate Seat . May 9, 2022 . . September 20, 2013.
  4. News: Wagner . John . O'Malley names Fraser-Hidalgo to take over delegate seat from Montgomery County . May 9, 2022 . . October 16, 2013.
  5. News: Lawmakers seek to give Latinos bigger voice in Maryland . May 9, 2022 . . February 5, 2015.
  6. News: Hernández . Arelis R. . Md. lawmakers organizing the state's first Latino legislative caucus . May 9, 2022 . . February 2, 2015.
  7. News: Hernández . Arelis R. . Md. Latino lawmakers launch caucus to boost their presence in Annapolis . May 9, 2022 . . February 5, 2015.
  8. News: Wheeler . Timothy B. . Health, environmental groups seek fracking moratorium . May 9, 2022 . . February 5, 2015.
  9. News: Deforestation, fracking bills spark rallies before hearing in Annapolis . May 9, 2022 . . . February 22, 2017.
  10. News: Hernandez . Arelis . Jouvenal . Justin . Morse . Dan . Vozzella . Laura . Man who sought sex-assault victims at 'beer pong' tournaments is convicted . May 9, 2022 . . February 5, 2015.
  11. News: Dresser . Michael . Wood . Pamela . Hogan announces support for fracking ban in Maryland . May 9, 2022 . . March 17, 2017.
  12. News: Hicks . Josh . Wiggins . Ovetta . As a child, he was raped. As a lawmaker, he ensured victims have more time to sue. . May 9, 2022 . . April 4, 2017.
  13. News: Youngmann . Charlie . Maryland may expand electric vehicle tax credits . May 9, 2022 . . March 28, 2019.
  14. News: Dance . Scott . Maryland's electric vehicle rebate is so popular it ran out of money even before the fiscal year began July 1 . May 9, 2022 . . July 8, 2019.
  15. Web site: Legislation - HB1246 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  16. News: DePuyt . Bruce . Gaines . Danielle E. . Kurtz . Josh . Shwe . Elizabeth . On 'Crossover Day,' Lawmakers Address Myriad Pandemic Challenges — And More . May 9, 2022 . . March 21, 2022.
  17. Web site: Legislation - HB1391 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  18. News: Shwe . Elizabeth . Lawmakers Consider Carbon Fees For Polluters That Will Help Pay for Kirwan Bill . May 9, 2022 . . February 19, 2021.
  19. Web site: Legislation - HB0033 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  20. News: Shwe . Elizabeth . Committee Votes Down Bill That Would Charge Carbon Fee for Polluters . May 9, 2022 . . March 1, 2021.
  21. News: Condon . Christine . Maryland lawmakers are once again hoping to pass wide-ranging environmental legislation. Here's what's proposed. . May 9, 2022 . . February 10, 2022.
  22. News: Dresser . Michael . Industrial hemp advocates hope this is their year in Annapolis . May 9, 2022 . . February 2, 2018.
  23. Web site: Legislation - HB0698 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  24. Web site: Maryland passes HB 1123 to legalize commercial hemp farming . votehemp.com . May 9, 2022 . April 30, 2019.
  25. News: Prudente . Tim . How Congress passed a farm bill and left Maryland police labs unable to test for marijuana . May 9, 2022 . . June 24, 2020.
  26. News: Metcalf . Andrew . Alex and Calvin’s Law Weakened Before Passing General Assembly . May 9, 2022 . . April 12, 2016.
  27. News: Wiggins . Ovetta . How a bill to fight underage drinking got watered down . May 9, 2022 . . April 19, 2016.
  28. News: Burnett . Ava-joye . New Law Punishes Adults Who Host Underage Drinking Parties . May 9, 2022 . . September 30, 2016.
  29. News: Wiggins . Ovetta . MADD honors three Maryland lawmakers who toughened drunken-driving laws . May 9, 2022 . . September 22, 2016.
  30. Web site: Legislation - HB0409 . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  31. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Lawmakers Press for Special Elections to Fill Vacancies . May 9, 2022 . . January 23, 2020.
  32. News: Kurtz . Josh . State Lawmaker Lives (Almost) Completely Off the Grid . May 9, 2022 . . January 4, 2022.
  33. Web site: Alumni Connection . smcm.edu . . May 9, 2022 . 19–20 . Spring 2014.
  34. News: Prairie . Cynthia . State Roundup, October 22, 2013 . May 9, 2022 . MarylandReporter.com . October 22, 2013.
  35. News: Kurtz . Josh . Hogan Revs Up Montgomery County Crowd, Tries to Ignore Ficker . May 9, 2022 . . October 24, 2018.
  36. News: Maria Bonessi . Dominique . These Maryland Lawmakers Strategize On The Run (Literally) . May 9, 2022 . . February 21, 2020.
  37. Web site: Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  38. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  39. Web site: Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  40. Web site: Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  41. Web site: Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates . elections.maryland.gov . . May 9, 2022.
  42. Web site: General election for Maryland House of Delegates District 15 (3 seats) . ballotpedia.org . . June 22, 2023.