David R. Craig

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = David Craig

| image = David R Craig Headshot.jpg

| caption = Craig ({{circa|2011}})

| office1 = Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning{{Cite web |url=http://planning.maryland.gov/OurWork/biosecretary.shtml |title=Secretary of Planning Wendi Peters |access-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-date=June 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613032923/http://planning.maryland.gov/OurWork/biosecretary.shtml |url-status=live }}

| term_start1 = February 1, 2015

| term_end1 = July 28, 2016{{Cite web |url=https://mdplanningblog.com/2016/07/27/governor-hogan-swears-in-planning-secretary/ |title=Governor Hogan Swears in Planning Secretary | Maryland Planning Blog |access-date=July 29, 2016 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815235002/https://mdplanningblog.com/2016/07/27/governor-hogan-swears-in-planning-secretary/ |url-status=dead }}

| predecessor1 = Richard Eberhart Hall

| successor1 = Wendi W. Peters

| office2 = 6th Executive of Harford County

| term_start2 = July 7, 2005

| term_end2 = December 1, 2014

| predecessor2 = James Harkins

| successor2 = Barry Glassman

| office3 = 34th Mayor of Havre de Grace

| term_start3 = 2001

| term_end3 = 2005

| state_senate4 = Maryland

| district4 = 34th

| term_start4 = 1995

| term_end4 = 1999

| predecessor4 = Habern W. Freeman

| successor4 = Nancy Jacobs

| state_delegate5 = Maryland

| district5 = 34th

| term_start5 = 1991

| term_end5 = 1994

| predecessor5 = Barbara Osborn Kreamer

| successor5 = David D. Rudolph

| office6 = 31st Mayor of Havre de Grace

| term_start6 = 1985

| term_end6 = 1989

| office7 = Member of the Havre de Grace City Council

| term_start7 = 1979

| term_end7 = 1985

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|6|12}}

| birth_place = Havre de Grace, Maryland, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Melinda Lee Blevins|1971}}

| children = 3

| alma_mater = Towson University {{small|(B.S.)}}
Morgan State University

| signature = DRC Signature.gif

}}

David R. Craig (born June 12, 1949) is an American Republican Party politician from the State of Maryland who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maryland in 2014.{{cite web|last=Dresser|first=Michael|title=Craig launches GOP bid for governor|date=June 3, 2013 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2013/06/03/craig-launches-gop-bid-for-governor/|publisher=Baltimore Sun|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-date=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614125901/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-06-03/news/bs-md-craig-announcement-20130603_1_gop-bid-craig-harford-county-executive-david|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Wagner|first=John|title=In Maryland, Republicans look to next year's governor's race|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/in-maryland-republicans-look-to-next-years-governors-race/2013/06/15/55249e4c-d519-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=June 15, 2013|date=June 15, 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/marylanders-go-to-the-polls-tuesday-for-primary-elections-for-governor-other-offices/2014/06/23/8a545e48-faef-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 25, 2014|accessdate=June 25, 2014|author=The Washington Post staff|title=Results: Primary elections, Maryland|archive-date=July 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171354/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/marylanders-go-to-the-polls-tuesday-for-primary-elections-for-governor-other-offices/2014/06/23/8a545e48-faef-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html|url-status=live}} He was appointed, and sworn in as Harford County Executive{{cite web|last=County Government|first=Harford|title=County Executive, David R. Craig|url=http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/executive/|publisher=Harford Co. Government|accessdate=July 7, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430042137/http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/Executive/|archive-date=April 30, 2007|url-status=dead}} on July 7, 2005. Craig was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. Craig previously served in the Maryland State Senate from 1995 to 1999, representing Harford County, and from 1990 to 1994 in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was also elected mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989, and 2001 to 2005.{{Cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/havre/html/hmayors.html |title=Havre de Grace Mayors |website=msa.maryland.gov |access-date=2021-07-21 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715215149/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/havre/html/hmayors.html |url-status=live }} Craig was a teacher and assistant principal in the Harford County Public School System for 34 years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidcraig.com/bio/|title=Bio|access-date=June 18, 2013|archive-date=July 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702035327/http://www.davidcraig.com/bio/|url-status=live}}

Early life and education

Craig was born in 1949 in Havre de Grace, Maryland to Joseph E. Craig (1917–2011).{{Cite news |url=https://apgnews.com/special-focus/career-public-servant-grew-apg/ |title=Career public servant 'grew up' on APG |date=2017-05-12 |last=Johnson |first=Yvonne |website=apgnews.com |access-date=2021-06-20 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204418/https://apgnews.com/special-focus/career-public-servant-grew-apg/ |url-status=live }}{{citation needed |date=June 2021 |reason=details on birth year/place}} He graduated Havre de Grace High School in 1967, and obtained a B.S. in History from Towson University in 1971 and a master's degree from Morgan State University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-re-grads-havredegrace-0612-20130606-story.html|title=Havre de Grace 'with Warrior pride in our eyes'|website=Baltimore Sun|date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=April 4, 2022|archive-date=June 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621171456/https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-re-grads-havredegrace-0612-20130606-story.html|url-status=live}}{{citation needed |date=June 2021 |reason=no cite for Morgan State University}}

Personal life

Craig married his high school sweetheart, Melinda Lee Blevins, in 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/06/03/republican-david-craig-formally-announces-bid-for-md-governor/|title=Republican David Craig Formally Announces Bid For Md. Governor|date=June 3, 2013|access-date=April 4, 2022|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402181535/http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/06/03/republican-david-craig-formally-announces-bid-for-md-governor/|url-status=live}} They have three children and nine grandchildren.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/local/2013/06/03/harford-county-executive-announces-candidacy-for-md-governor/46514873/ |title=Harford County Executive announces candidacy for Md. governor |date=2013-06-03 |publisher=Herald |access-date=2022-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015154357/https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/local/2013/06/03/harford-county-executive-announces-candidacy-for-md-governor/46514873/ |archive-date=2022-10-15 |url-status=live}}

Teaching career

Craig spent 34 years in the Harford County Public School System as a teacher and assistant principal. He began teaching in 1971 at Edgewood Junior High School. He then taught at Havre de Grace Community School for seven years, and later at Magnolia Middle School, Aberdeen High School, and Edgewood High School.

Political career

=Local government=

Craig began his political career serving on the Havre de Grace City Council. Beginning in 1979, he was elected to three consecutive two-year terms. He was elected mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989 and 2001 to 2005. He resigned upon being sworn in as the Harford County Executive.

=Maryland House of Delegates=

Craig was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1990, representing District 34 (Harford County). He was a member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1991–92; Ways and Means Committee, 1992–93 (education subcommittee); and Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1994. He was the vice chair of the Harford County Delegation in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/ha/html/msa12162.html|title=Maryland State Archives - David R. Craig, County Executive, Harford County, Maryland|publisher=Maryland State Gov.|accessdate=|archive-date=May 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522002412/http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/ha/html/msa12162.html|url-status=live}}

=Maryland State Senate=

Craig was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1994 and served until 1999, representing District 34 (Harford County). He was a member of the Joint Committee to Study Mandates on Local Government, 1995–97; Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee, 1995–99 (education subcommittee; health subcommittee); Executive Nominations Committee, 1995–99; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1995–99; and Joint Committee on Protocol. He was the chair of the Harford County Delegation, 1998–99.{{citation needed |date=June 2021 |reason=details on committee/district}}

=Harford County Executive=

Craig ran for Harford County Executive in 1998 against then-Delegate James Harkins. Harkins defeated Craig in the Republican primary and was subsequently re-elected in 2002. Harkins resigned as County Executive to become Director of Maryland Environmental Service in 2005, and Craig was appointed by the County Council to fulfill the term. Craig was then elected as County Executive in 2006 and 2010. As mayor of Havre de Grace, Craig was elected president of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in 2005, and in 2010 as County Executive, he was elected by his peers as president of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). He is the first elected official to have served as president of both organizations.

2014 Maryland gubernatorial candidacy

David Craig announced his candidacy for governor of Maryland on July 3, 2013. His position platform included phasing out the income tax in Maryland.{{cite news|last=Kunkle|first=Frederick|title=GOP governor candidate David Craig unveils plan to eliminate Md. personal income tax|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gop-governor-candidate-david-craig-unveils-plan-to-eliminate-md-personal-income-tax/2014/02/18/d85d4caa-98be-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=March 12, 2014|date=February 19, 2014|archive-date=October 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028100256/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gop-governor-candidate-david-craig-unveils-plan-to-eliminate-md-personal-income-tax/2014/02/18/d85d4caa-98be-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html|url-status=live}} He was defeated by Larry Hogan in the Republican gubernatorial primary on June 24, 2014.{{cite news|title=Brown, Hogan win Md. gubernatorial contests|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/marylanders-go-to-the-polls-tuesday-for-primary-elections-for-governor-other-offices/2014/06/23/8a545e48-faef-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=June 24, 2014|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171354/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/marylanders-go-to-the-polls-tuesday-for-primary-elections-for-governor-other-offices/2014/06/23/8a545e48-faef-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html|url-status=live}}

Election results

2006 race for Harford County Executive - Harford County{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2006/results/general/local_office_Harford_County.html|title=Harford County Executive Results|publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections|access-date=November 4, 2007|archive-date=March 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305222818/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2006/results/general/local_office_Harford_County.html|url-status=live}} Retrieved on Nov. 3, 2007

::Voters to choose one:

class="wikitable"

!Name

!Votes

!Percent

!Outcome

|David R. Craig, Rep.

|46,121

| 52%

| Won

|Ann C. Helton, Dem.

|42,442

| 47.9%

| Lost

Write-ins

|75

| 0.1%

| Lost

1998 race for Harford County Executive - Harford County - Republican primary{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/09/16/harkins-wins-nod-in-harford-gop-race-primary-1998/|title=Harkins wins nod in Harford GOP race Primary 1998|publisher=Baltimore Sun|access-date=June 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065634/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-09-16/news/1998259074_1_harford-county-harkins-county-executive|url-status=live}}

::Voters to choose one:

class="wikitable"

!Name

!Votes

!Percent

!Outcome

|James Harkins, Rep.

|8,324

| 56%

| Won

|David R. Craig, Rep.

|6,378

| 43%

| Lost

|Vedell Pace, Rep.

|184

| 1%

| Lost

1994 race for Maryland State Senate – District 34 - Harford County{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1994/results_1994/gasse.html|title=State Senate Results|publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections|access-date=November 4, 2007|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201617/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1994/results_1994/gasse.html|url-status=live}} Retrieved on Nov. 3, 2007

::Voters to choose one:

class="wikitable"

!Name

!Votes

!Percent

!Outcome

|David R. Craig, Rep.

|17,444

| 54%

| Won

|Habern W. Freeman, Dem.

|14,676

| 46%

| Lost

1990 race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 34 - Harford County{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1990/results_1990/gahod.html|title=House of Delegates Results|publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections|access-date=November 4, 2007|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924094330/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1990/results_1990/gahod.html|url-status=live}} Retrieved on Nov. 3, 2007

::Voters to choose three:

class="wikitable"

!Name

!Votes

!Percent

!Outcome

|Rose Mary Hatem Bonsack, Dem.

|13,373

| 19%

| Won

|Mary Louise Preis, Dem.

|13,045