Todd Morgan (politician) explained

Todd B. Morgan
State Delegate:Maryland
Term Start:January 11, 2023
Term Start2:January 2, 2014
Term End2:December 9, 2014
Predecessor2:Lawrence D. Jarboe
Successor2:Thomas H. Jarboe
Order3:Member of the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners, District 4
Term Start3:December 6, 2010
Term End3:December 5, 2022
Predecessor3:Daniel H. Raley
Successor3:Scott R. Ostrow
Birth Date:1 January 1956
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Children:3
Education:Susquehanna University (BBA)
Marshall University (MBA)
Website:Campaign website

Todd B. Morgan (born January 1, 1956)[1] is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 29C in St. Mary's County, Maryland. He was previously a member of the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners from 2010 to 2022 and served as its vice president in 2014.[2]

Background

Morgan graduated from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He later attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he earned his Master of Business Administration degree. Morgan moved to St. Mary's County in 1979 following graduation.[3]

Morgan began his career by working at federal U.S. Department of Defense contractor Science Applications International Corporation in finance and acquisitions. He also previously taught classes for 20 years at various local colleges, including College of Southern Maryland, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and the University of Maryland Global Campus, and as an adjunct assistant professor at Embry-Riddle University.[4] From 2004 to 2010, he was the president of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance.[5]

In 2010, Morgan was elected to the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners, and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018.[6] He served as the board's vice president in 2014.

In August 2016, Morgan applied to fill a vacancy in the Maryland House of Delegates left by the appointment of state delegate Tony O'Donnell to the Maryland Public Service Commission.[7] The St. Mary's County Republican Central Committee included Morgan on its list of three potential nominees,[8] but Governor Larry Hogan appointed former Calvert County commissioner Jerry Clark to the seat in September.[9]

In February 2022, Morgan filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 29C, seeking to succeed retiring state delegate Jerry Clark.[10] [11] He defeated Maryland Adjutant General Timothy Gowen in the Republican primary on July 19, receiving 64.8 percent of the vote.[12]

Morgan endorsed former Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly Schulz for governor in 2022.[13]

In the legislature

Morgan was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.[14] He is a member of the House Environment and Transportation Committee.[15]

Personal life

Morgan has three children. His wife, Maria, died in November 2012 following a long battle with injuries sustained in a traffic accident in July 2011.[16] [17]

Political positions

Morgan self-identifies as a fiscal conservative.[18]

Elections

Morgan opposed a bill introduced by state delegate Brian M. Crosby that would require elections for county commissioners to only be decided by voters within the districts in which the candidate is running rather than at-large, voting in 2021 to ask the Maryland General Assembly for a referendum on the bill and for another another referendum on eliminating districts altogether.[19]

Guns

In May 2020, Morgan voted to designate St. Mary's County as a Second Amendment sanctuary area.[20]

Marijuana

In March 2022, Morgan introduced a resolution that called on the St. Mary's County planning commission to amend the zoning ordinance to allow review of future medical marijuana facilities in the county. The resolution was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners.[21] In August, he voted for an ordinance that would restrict medical marijuana growing and processing operations to certain zoning areas.[22]

Social issues

In June 2019, Morgan described a Drag Queen Story Hour event held at the St. Mary's County Library as "going after and targeting the kids for sexuality".[23] [24]

Taxes

In November 2022, Morgan said he supported reductions in or eliminating the inheritance tax. He also supports deregulation and requiring the state to providing additional funding to counties to pay for "unfunded mandates from Annapolis".[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Members – Delegate Todd B. Morgan . mgaleg.maryland.gov . . January 11, 2023 . January 11, 2023.
  2. Web site: Todd B. Morgan, Board of County Commissioners, St. Mary's County, Maryland . Maryland Manual On-Line . . August 22, 2023 . December 29, 2022.
  3. News: Babcock . Jason . St. Mary's delegate, commissioner argue over spending . October 27, 2022 . . December 9, 2016.
  4. Web site: Biographies . leadershipsomd.org . Leadership Southern Maryland . October 27, 2022.
  5. News: Kurtz . Josh . Top 20 House Primaries to Watch . October 27, 2022 . . June 1, 2022.
  6. News: Babcock . Jason . Morgan seeking third St. Mary's commissioner term . October 27, 2022 . . February 16, 2018.
  7. News: Babcock . Jason . Candidates make their pitch for delegate . October 27, 2022 . . August 26, 2016.
  8. News: Babcock . Jason . Ward . Tamara . Governor to choose one of six for delegate . October 27, 2022 . . August 31, 2016.
  9. News: Jerry Clark Will Take O'Donnell's Seat in Md. House . October 27, 2022 . Southern Maryland Online . September 13, 2016.
  10. News: Soptelean . Caleb . Morgan, current St. Mary's commissioner, makes bid for state delegate . October 27, 2022 . . February 14, 2022.
  11. News: Kurtz . Josh . Political Notes: A Barnburner in Southern Md., Van Hollen Makes It Official, Masking Changes, Senator Pulls Chief Judge Bill . October 27, 2022 . . February 15, 2022.
  12. News: Soptelean . Caleb . St. Mary's orphans' court race still undecided; most other races settled . October 27, 2022 . . July 27, 2022.
  13. News: Endorsements in the Race for Maryland Governor . October 27, 2022 . . January 31, 2022.
  14. Web site: Todd B. Morgan, Maryland State Delegate . Maryland Manual On-Line . Maryland State Archives . August 22, 2023 . January 18, 2023.
  15. News: Gaines . Danielle E. . Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session . January 5, 2023 . . January 5, 2023.
  16. News: Myers . Dick . Commissioner Morgan's Wife Injured in Accident . October 27, 2022 . The BayNet . July 11, 2011.
  17. News: Maria Morgan Passes Away on November 14 . October 27, 2022 . The BayNet . October 15, 2022.
  18. News: Meet the Candidate: Todd Morgan for St. Mary's County Commissioner . October 27, 2022 . The BayNet . July 16, 2010.
  19. News: Belson . Dan . District voting bill presses on, to St. Mary's commissioners' ire . October 27, 2022 . . February 25, 2021.
  20. News: Bateman . Madison . St. Mary's County designated second amendment sanctuary area . October 27, 2022 . . May 1, 2020.
  21. News: Soptelean . Caleb . St. Mary's commissioners approve resolution to review future medical cannabis facilities . October 27, 2022 . . March 26, 2022.
  22. News: Soptelean . Caleb . St Mary's board approves ordinance for medical marijuana facilities; calls for outside audit of process . October 27, 2022 . . August 23, 2022.
  23. News: DeVille . Taylor . Drag Queen Story Hour to press on despite opposition . October 27, 2022 . . June 21, 2019.
  24. News: Bateman . Madison . Library main topic of discussion at public forum . October 27, 2022 . . October 11, 2019.
  25. News: Ciarleglio . Tony . Political Profile: Todd Morgan, Candidate For State Delegate In District 29C . November 10, 2023 . The BayNet . November 4, 2022.