Kathy Afzali

Afzali was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Kathy_Afzali|title=Kathy Afzali|website=Ballotpedia|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}} She is a graduate of Mount St. Mary's University. She was a columnist for the Frederick News-Post from 2003 to 2006.

Afzali was sworn in as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates on January 12, 2011. She was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee and to its Election Law and Education subcommittees. She served as the Ranking Republican on Ways and Means. She is also a member of the Women Legislators of Maryland.{{Cite web|url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa15443.html|title=Kathryn L. Afzali, Maryland State Delegate|date=June 26, 2022|website=Maryland Manual On-Line|publisher=Maryland State Archives}}

By the end of Afzali's first legislative session in Annapolis, she sponsored or co-sponsored forty-nine bills.{{Cite web|url=http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/sponsors/afzali.htm|title=BILLS SPONSORED BY-AFZALI - 2012 Regular Session|last=|date=|publisher=General Assembly of Maryland}}

{{Main|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland#District 6}}

Governor Martin O'Malley proposed, and Maryland General Assembly adopted, a redistricting plan that reconfigured Republican incumbent U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's 6th congressional district to one that Barack Obama won in the 2008 United States presidential election. The previous version of the district had President Obama at 40%, while the newly redrawn district had President Obama at 56%.{{cite news |date=November 18, 2011 |title=GOP candidates lining up to take on Bartlett -- With primary in April, TV ads already airing |first=C. Benjamin |last=Ford |url=http://www.gazette.net/article/20111118/NEWS/711189645/1034/gop-candidates-lining-up-to-take-on-bartlett&template=gazette |publisher=Gazette.net - Maryland Community News Online |access-date=March 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122201706/http://www.gazette.net/article/20111118/NEWS/711189645/1034/gop-candidates-lining-up-to-take-on-bartlett%26template%3Dgazette |archive-date=November 22, 2011}}

On January 11, 2012, believing that Bartlett would be retiring, Afzali announced her intention to run for the GOP nomination to represent Maryland's 6th congressional district.{{Cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/03/28/two-gop-lawmakers-seek-to-replace-bartlett/ |author=John Fritze |title=Two GOP lawmakers seek to replace Bartlett |work=The Baltimore Sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522095533/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-03-28/news/bs-md-sixth-district-gop-20120328_1_bartlett-maryland-s-6th-district-gop-candidates |date=March 28, 2012 |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/10/metro-briefs-696157594/?page=all#pagebreak |access-date=2012-03-30 |newspaper=Washington Times |title=Metro Briefs - GOP's Afzali in, Mooney out for Bartlett's seat |date=January 10, 2012}} Bartlett eventually decided to run for reelection. He won the primary election with 44% of the vote in a crowded field but went on to lose the general election.

{{Main|2018 Maryland county executive elections#Frederick County}}

Afzali won the Republican primary on June 26, 2018 with 42.7 percent of the vote.{{cite news |last1=Etzler |first1=Allen |last2=Lavin |first2=Nancy |title=Afzali claims Republican nomination for county executive |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_2018/afzali-claims-republican-nomination-for-county-executive/article_727f9676-ed3e-5709-a937-9918b70b1413.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627083324/https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_2018/afzali-claims-republican-nomination-for-county-executive/article_727f9676-ed3e-5709-a937-9918b70b1413.html |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |url-status=live}} She was defeated by incumbent Democratic County Executive Jan Gardner in the general election, receiving 43.1 percent of the vote to Gardner's 52.1 percent.{{cite news |last1=Bohnel |first1=Steve |title=Gardner wins second term as county executive |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/elections/gardner-wins-second-term-as-county-executive/article_093f64cb-b0d6-5feb-a932-23eb94ad6c43.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107105019/https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/elections/gardner-wins-second-term-as-county-executive/article_093f64cb-b0d6-5feb-a932-23eb94ad6c43.html |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle |title=A Blue Wave — Among Top County Leaders |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/11/07/a-blue-wave-among-top-county-leaders/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626202351/https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/11/07/a-blue-wave-among-top-county-leaders |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |url-status=live}} After her loss, Afzali stepped down from the Frederick County Republican Central Committee.{{cite news |last1=Bohnel |first1=Steve |title=Political Notes: Afzali steps down from Republican Central Committee |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/county/political-notes-afzali-steps-down-from-republican-central-committee/article_f226a371-8e80-5b40-be31-8d71ec9990f3.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=January 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126094440/https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/county/political-notes-afzali-steps-down-from-republican-central-committee/article_f226a371-8e80-5b40-be31-8d71ec9990f3.html |archive-date=January 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Afzali is a member of the Grace Community Church of Frederick. She is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association of America.{{cite news |last1=Rodgers |first1=Bethany |title=Political Notes: Afzali bears arms |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/terms/printview/local/political_notes/political-notes-afzali-bears-arms/article_173b873f-9e7d-54e0-bc16-b54f0a8cfc23.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=September 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626202402/https://www.fredericknewspost.com/terms/printview/local/political_notes/political-notes-afzali-bears-arms/article_173b873f-9e7d-54e0-bc16-b54f0a8cfc23.html |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |url-status=dead}}

Her first successful piece of legislation was a honey standard which passed unanimously through both chambers and has been used as a model in other states.{{Cite web|url=http://elections.baltimoresun.com/candidates/kathy-afzali/|title=Baltimore Sun Election Center|last=|date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506173851/http://elections.baltimoresun.com/candidates/kathy-afzali/|archive-date=May 6, 2015}}

She introduced a Farm Estate Tax bill that eliminated state inheritance taxes for family farms.

Afzali has sponsored legislation to increase sanctions on drunk drivers with multiple offenses,{{Cite news|url=http://www.calvertbeacon.com/governor-to-sign-hb-430-on-drunk-driving/|title=Governor to Sign HB 430 on Drunk Driving|last=|date=April 28, 2015|work=Calvert Beacon|location=Solomons, Maryland}} and was responsible for "Anayah's Law", which allows Child Protective Services to be relieved of its obligation to reunite children with their parent if the parent has committed "severe physical abuse" against the child.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-house-approves-anayahs-law-to-keep-kids-out-of-dangerous-homes/2015/03/05/830e2d4e-c353-11e4-9271-610273846239_story.html|title=Md. House approves 'Anayah's Law' to keep kids out of dangerous homes|last=Wiggins|first=Ovetta|date=March 5, 2015|work=The Washington Post|department=Maryland Politics|location=Washington, D.C.}}

In her second year, she pushed for legislation to require a photo ID when voting in the state of Maryland.

In 2013, she co-sponsored legislation that would make cyber-bullying a child a misdemeanor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.localdvm.com/news/lawmakers-working-hard-to-prevent-cyber-bullying/205677208|title=Lawmakers Working Hard to Prevent Cyber Bullying|last=|date=February 27, 2013|work=LocalDVM|publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting|location=Hagerstown, Maryland}}

During the 2018 legislative session, Afzali introduced legislation to ban telemarketers and others from falsifying the origin of their calls and establish a penalty for providing false location information.{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Caller ID Spoofing Is Target of Maryland Bill |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/02/06/caller-id-spoofing-is-target-of-maryland-bill/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 6, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Loos |first1=Kelsi |title=Spoof call ban advances to Senate committee |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/spoof-call-ban-advances-to-senate-committee/article_cd8e2382-757e-5f56-ae01-85b1edc818d4.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=April 3, 2018}}

Afzali endorsed Mitt Romney for president on September 8, 2011.{{cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=John |title=Romney lists two dozen Md. supporters |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-politics/post/romney-lists-two-dozen-md-supporters/2011/09/08/gIQAL8KWCK_blog.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=The Washington Post |date=September 8, 2011}} Afzali endorsed Ted Cruz for president on April 21, 2016.{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle |title=Political Notes: Cruisin' with Cruz |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/political-notes-cruisin-with-cruz/article_6bfcaa9e-1940-527b-8d40-640ebbb70d85.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=April 21, 2016}}

In 2018, Afzali voted to sustain Governor Larry Hogan's veto on a bill to required employers with 15 or more employees to provide earned sick leave.{{cite news |last1=Loos |first1=Kelsi |title=House overrides governor's veto on paid sick leave, criminal history rule for college applications |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/house-overrides-governors-veto-on-paid-sick-leave-criminal-history-rule-for-college-applications/article_d430e1bf-2731-5c34-8c91-45dcedace5a7.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=January 11, 2018}}

In 2018, Afzali testified in support of legislation to extend tax credits to police officers in high-crime neighborhoods to transit police.{{cite news |last1=Loos |first1=Kelsi |title=Committee to consider extending tax credit to transit police |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/committee-to-consider-extending-tax-credit-to-transit-police/article_b8727f4c-fd45-5780-ad59-2563ad2b41da.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=March 28, 2018}}

During her county executive campaign, Afzali said that she would freeze property taxes in her first 100 days. She also said that she supported "slower growth" with less high-density development to keep the county from having to raise taxes.{{cite news |last1=Loos |first1=Kelsi |title=County's Republican hopefuls debate at Hood College |url=https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/countys-republican-hopefuls-debate-at-hood-college/article_e4c27750-bd1e-5c9c-b0cf-fa01e74e024f.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=Frederick News-Post |date=April 23, 2018}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 4A Republican Primary Election, 2010{{cite web

| title = Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2010/results/Primary/gen_results_2010_1_01604A.html }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kathy Afzali

|votes = 3,454

|percentage = 22.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kelly M. Schulz

|votes = 3,399

|percentage = 22.13

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Paul S. Stull

|votes = 3,393

|percentage = 22.09

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dino E. Flores, Jr.

|votes = 2,759

|percentage = 18.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = John L. "Lennie" Thompson, Jr.

|votes = 2,354

|percentage = 15.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 4A Election, 2010{{cite web

| title = Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2010/results/General/gen_results_2010_2_01604A.html }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kelly Schulz

|votes = 16,952

|percentage = 32.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kathy Afzali

|votes = 16,683

|percentage = 31.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan P. Trout

|votes = 9,678

|percentage = 18.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Bonita Riffle Currey

|votes = 6,993

|percentage = 13.3

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

|party = Unaffiliated

|candidate = Scott L. Guenthner

|votes = 2,150

|percentage = 4.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Other Write-Ins

|votes = 162

|percentage = 0.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 4 Election, 2014{{cite web

| title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/General/gen_results_2014_2_01604.html }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kelly Schulz

|votes = 33,753

|percentage = 31.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kathy Afzali

|votes = 31,128

|percentage = 28.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = David E. Vogt III

|votes = 27,313

|percentage = 25.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Gene Stanton

|votes = 16,493

|percentage = 15.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Other Write-Ins

|votes = 346

|percentage = 0.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Frederick County Executive Republican Primary Election, 2018{{cite web

| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Frederick County

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_by_county_110.html }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kathy Afzali

|votes = 6,898

|percentage = 42.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kirby Delauter

|votes = 5,250

|percentage = 32.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Regina M. Williams

|votes = 4,000

|percentage = 24.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Frederick County Executive Election, 2018{{cite web

| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Frederick County

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_by_county_11-1.html }}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jan H. Gardner

|votes = 55,692

|percentage = 52.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kathy Afzali

|votes = 46,063

|percentage = 43.1

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

|party = Unaffiliated

|candidate = Earl Henry Robbins, Jr.

|votes = 4,944

|percentage = 4.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Other Write-Ins

|votes = 104

|percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

• [http://delegatekathyafzali.com/ Official web site]
• [http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa15443.html Maryland State web site]

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Category:Republican Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates

Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:Mount St. Mary's University alumni

Category:American women in business

Category:21st-century American women journalists

Category:21st-century American journalists

Category:Women state legislators in Maryland

Category:People from Middletown, Maryland

Category:American United Methodists

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly