Jefferson L. Ghrist
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 36th district
Assumed office
January 14, 2015
Preceded byMichael D. Smigiel Sr.
President of the Caroline County Board of Commissioners
In office
January 2, 2014 – December 2, 2014
Preceded byWilbur Levengood, Jr.
Succeeded byLarry C. Porter
In office
December 7, 2010 – January 1, 2012
Preceded byRoger L. Layton
Succeeded byWilbur Levengood, Jr.
Vice President of the Caroline County Board of Commissioners
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 2, 2014
Preceded byWilbur Levengood, Jr.
Succeeded byWilbur Levengood, Jr.
Personal details
Born (1975-03-14) March 14, 1975
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMichele
Children2

Jefferson L. Ghrist (born March 14, 1975) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 36 since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the Caroline County Board of Commissioners from 2006 to 2014.

Background

Ghrist was born on March 14, 1975. He graduated from North Caroline High School and later attended Chesapeake College and Salisbury University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1997. After graduating, Ghrist worked as an assistant store manager at Home Depot[1] and as a real estate agent.[2]

Ghrist was first elected to the Caroline County Board of Commissioners in 2006. He served as the board's president of the Caroline County Board of Commissioners from 2010 to 2012,[3] and again in 2014.[1][4] Ghrist briefly ran for Congress in Maryland's 1st congressional district in 2010, challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Frank Kratovil, but dropped out in December 2009 and endorsed state senator Andy Harris.[5]

In the legislature

Ghrist in the Appropriations Committee, 2023

On October 29, 2013, Ghrist filed paperwork to run for election to one of the three District 36 seats in the House of Delegates.[6] In the primary, he edged out incumbent delegate Michael D. Smigiel Sr. with 17 percent of the vote and by a margin of 144 votes,[7] and went on to win the general election with 24.1 percent of the vote.[8] Ghrist was sworn in on January 14, 2015,[1] and is the first state delegate from Caroline County since Robert Thornton in 1994.[2][9] He has served as a member of the Appropriations Committee during his entire tenure, and as deputy minority whip from 2019 to 2021, and as the minority parliamentarian since 2022.[1]

Personal life

Ghrist is married to his wife, Michele, whom he met in high school and married soon after graduating college.[10] Together, they have two children[11] and live in Ridgely, Maryland.[12]

Political positions

Ghrist is a fiscal conservative[13] who supports limited government[14] and increasing state funding to local jurisdictions[13] while reducing taxes.[2] During his tenure as county commissioner, he voted to cut Caroline County's budget by thirteen percent by reducing payrolls and employee pensions.[6]

Education

Ghrist opposes the Blueprint for Maryland's Future,[15][16] saying that its costs will be a "disaster" for school systems and students[17] and predicting that counties would have to raise taxes to pay for it.[18] During the 2023 legislative session, he introduced the Right to Learn Act, which would allow students attending failing schools to change schools and expand the state's private school voucher program.[19][20]

Environment

Ghrist supports "pragmatic, scientifically-supported" environmental laws, but opposes environmental legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly.[6] In 2019, he opposed a bill to establish the Oyster Advisory Commission to develop policy recommendations on protecting oyster habitats, predicting that it would kill Maryland's oyster farming industry.[21] During the 2022 legislative session, Ghrist opposed a bill that would move pesticide regulation from the Maryland Department of Agriculture to the Maryland Department of the Environment.[22]

Gun policy

During the 2021 legislative session, Ghrist opposed a bill that would require background checks on all gun sales, which he said would "destroy the rural way of life".[23][24]

Marijuana

In 2018, Ghrist said that he opposed the legalization of recreational marijuana, calling marijuana a "gateway drug".[25] In 2023, Ghrist said he voted for Question 4 to legalize recreational marijuana.[19]

Social issues

During the 2023 legislative session, Ghrist introduced legislation that would prohibit foreign governments from buying agricultural land in Maryland.[26]

Transportation

Ghrist supports reducing state funding for rural public transportation.[14] He supports building a second Chesapeake Bay Bridge and supports setting aside money for the project ahead of its construction, saying that he hoped project planners would avoid "the same mistake" Baltimore legislators made by not setting aside money for the Red Line before Governor Larry Hogan cancelled it.[27]

Electoral history

Caroline County Commissioner at-large Republican primary election, 2006[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Ghrist 1,128 24.0
Republican John W. Cole (incumbent) 1,065 22.7
Republican Roger L. Layton (incumbent) 1,013 21.6
Republican Franklin W. Prettyman 819 17.4
Republican Ellery Adams 674 14.3
Caroline County Commissioner at-large election, 2006[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John W. Cole (incumbent) 4,456 19.2
Republican Roger L. Layton (incumbent) 4,444 19.2
Republican Jeff Ghrist 4,193 18.1
Democratic Marty Gangemi (incumbent) 3,931 17.0
Democratic James Phelps 3,574 15.4
Democratic James Brown 2,584 11.1
Caroline County Commissioner at-large election, 2010[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Ghrist (incumbent) 5,505 21.9
Republican Larry C. Porter 5,303 21.1
Republican Wilbur Levengood Jr. 4,816 19.2
Democratic Marty Gangemi 4,230 16.9
Democratic James Brown 2,371 9.5
Democratic Terenda V. Thomas 2,200 8.8
Write-in 659 2.7
Maryland House of Delegates District 36 Republican primary election, 2014[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jay A. Jacobs (incumbent) 6,796 26.8
Republican Steven J. Arentz (incumbent) 6,372 25.1
Republican Jefferson L. Ghrist 4,307 17.0
Republican Michael D. Smigiel Sr. (incumbent) 4,163 16.4
Republican Alan McCarthy 2,067 8.1
Republican J. D. Uhler 1,048 4.1
Republican Rod Heinze 641 2.5
Maryland House of Delegates District 36 election, 2014[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jay A. Jacobs (incumbent) 33,579 29.7
Republican Jefferson L. Ghrist 27,259 24.1
Republican Steven J. Arentz (incumbent) 25,516 22.6
Democratic Irving Pinder 14,045 12.4
Democratic Robert Alan Thornton Jr. 12,184 10.8
Write-in 313 0.3
Maryland House of Delegates District 36 election, 2018[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steven J. Arentz (incumbent) 29,092 22.6
Republican Jay A. Jacobs (incumbent) 28,897 22.5
Republican Jefferson L. Ghrist (incumbent) 27,087 21.1
Democratic Crystal Woodward 16,032 12.5
Democratic Michael Ian Welker 14,201 11.0
Democratic Keirien Taylor 13,246 10.3
Write-in 72 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 36 election, 2022[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jay A. Jacobs (incumbent) 36,249 32.9
Republican Jefferson L. Ghrist (incumbent) 35,640 32.3
Republican Steven J. Arentz (incumbent) 35,541 32.2
Write-in 2,854 2.6

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jefferson L. Ghrist, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov.
  2. 1 2 3 Holt, Dustin (November 4, 2014). "Ghrist to become first Caroline resident delegate in 20 years". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Eilenberg, Robin Clark (December 11, 2012). "A New Set of Officers Among County Council Members and Commissioners". Conduit Street. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Wilbur Levengood, Jr., County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland". msa.maryland.gov.
  5. ↑ Divilio, Daniel (December 21, 2009). "Ghrist drops out of congressional race". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Andrews, Abby (October 29, 2013). "Ghrist to seek District 36 seat". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  7. ↑ Mattix, Cheryl (July 9, 2014). "Smigiel officially defeated in District 36 GOP primary". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  9. ↑ Wolf, Alex (November 5, 2014). "Caroline County gets rare delegate seat as Republicans sweep 36th District". The Star Democrat. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Jenna (January 13, 2015). "Meet the 2015 Maryland General Assembly's sizable freshman class". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  11. ↑ Andrews, Abby (December 2, 2014). "Ghrist bids farewell for new role". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  12. ↑ Evans, John (July 8, 2009). "Ghrist exploring run for Congress". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Bollinger, Josh (June 20, 2014). "DISTRICT 36: Ghrist wants to bring fiscal conservatism". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Divilio, Daniel (August 31, 2011). "Decker: 'Government ... should be very limited'". The Star Democrat. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ Gaines, Danielle E. (March 4, 2020). "With Funding Amendments, Education Reform On Fast Track In House". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  16. ↑ Spector, Candice (March 9, 2020). "House passes controversial education reform bill". The Star Democrat. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ Brady, Mackenzie (December 8, 2022). "Kirwan a struggle for Kent County; 36th District delegation talks with Commissioners". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ McGee, Trish (January 9, 2020). "School funding, hospital are priorities for 36th District". The Star Democrat. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Hubbard, Matt (April 19, 2023). "Cecil County delegates talk wins, challenges and losses of '23 legislative session". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  20. ↑ Wood, Pamela (February 22, 2023). "Republican lawmakers hope to save BOOST private school tuition program". Baltimore Banner. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ Divilio, Daniel (April 25, 2019). "Delegation raises concerns over 'War on the Shore'". The Star Democrat. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  22. ↑ Bellmyer, Jane (February 1, 2022). "Legislators vow to fight for Cecil County's farmers at Cecil County Young Farmers' Legislative Breakfast". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  23. ↑ Gaines, Danielle E. (February 11, 2021). "With House Votes, Expanded Background Checks for Gun Sales Become Law, Digital Ad Tax Moves to Senate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  24. ↑ Wood, Pamela (February 11, 2021). "Maryland to require background checks of private sales of shotguns, rifles after overriding Hogan veto". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  25. ↑ Tabeling, Katie (May 15, 2018). "State, county candidates share opinions on Cecil issues". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  26. ↑ Goldstein, Adam (March 18, 2023). "Limits on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland gain support in Congress, despite skepticism". Maryland Matters. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  27. ↑ Bollinger, Josh (February 16, 2016). "Shore lawmakers: Bay Bridge won't wait". Cecil Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Caroline County Election Returns". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  29. ↑ "Caroline County Election Returns". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  30. ↑ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for Caroline County". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  31. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  32. ↑ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  33. ↑ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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