Ric Metzgar
Metzgar in 2020
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 6th district
Assumed office
January 14, 2015
Preceded byMichael H. Weir Jr.
Personal details
Born (1953-11-28) November 28, 1953
Essex, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children2

Richard W. Metzgar (born November 28, 1953) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the sixth district since 2015.

Early life and career

Metzgar was born and raised in Essex, Maryland, on November 28, 1953.[1] His father worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company and his mother owned a dry cleaning business and worked for the Maryland Republican Party.[2] Metzgar graduated from Kenwood High School and attended Northwest Bible College and later earned a clinical pastoral education certificate and from the Community College of Baltimore County.[1]

Metzgar is a small business owner, working as the general manager of G & W Motors from 1989 to 2015 and as the president of My Son's Parking, Inc. from 1994 to 1998.[1] He was also the owner of the original Essex Diner. Metzgar also started the Gateway Pastors and Churches Association and served as a ministry leader for several area churches and as an associate pastor at Essex Church of God from 2004 to 2014.[1][2]

In 2006 and 2010, Metzgar was an unsuccessful candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 6.[3][2] During his 2010 candidacy, he ran on a platform involving environmental and economic issues, including deregulation, pollution, and public safety.[2]

In the legislature

Metzgar in the Appropriations Committee, 2023

Metzgar was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates alongside Republicans Robin Grammer Jr. and Robert B. Long in the 2014 Maryland House of Delegates election, during which the three ran on a platform involving economic issues.[4] He was sworn in on January 14, 2015. Metzgar was a member of the Ways and Means Committee from 2015 to 2017, afterwards serving in the Health and Government Operations Committee until 2019. He has since served as a member of the Appropriations Committee.[1]

In July 2015, after Governor Larry Hogan announced that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Metzgar held a "Hogan Strong" vigil in Bel Air.[5]

Metzgar served as an alternative delegate for the 2020 Republican National Convention.[1] During the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, he endorsed state delegate Dan Cox, calling his opponent Kelly Schulz a "third term" of Governor Larry Hogan,[6] whom he criticized for disapproving of Cox and former President Donald Trump.[7]

Personal life

Metzgar is married and has two adult children.[1]

Political positions

Crime and policing

During his 2006 House of Delegates campaign, Metzgar said he would support strengthening Jessica's Law.[8]

In May 2015, following the beating of a Richard Fletcher, a 61-year-old Dundalk resident who intervened in a fight outside his home, Metzgar called for the closure of the Baltimore Community High School, where the perpetrators of the attack attended.[9] The Baltimore City Board of Education voted to close the school in January 2016.[10]

During the 2016 legislative session, Metzgar supported legislation that would require police to obtain a warrant to use a stingray phone tracker, which can locate a cellphone's user within six feet.[11]

During debate on the Juvenile Restoration Act, which abolished life without parole sentences for juveniles, in 2021, Metzgar supported an amendment that would make the bill not apply to people convicted of school shooting-related crimes. The amendment was rejected in a 51–83 vote.[12]

Environment

During the 2019 legislative session, Metzgar voted against the Clean Energy Job Act, a bill that expanded the state's clean energy mandates.[13] In 2023, he supported the POWER Act, which expanded the state's offshore wind energy goals.[14]

Health care

During the 2019 legislative session, Metzgar said he opposed the End-of-Life Option Act, which would have provided palliative care to terminally ill adults, citing his faith.[15] He supported a bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, a body tasked with making recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly on how to make prescription drugs more affordable.[16]

Social issues

During the 2020 legislative session, Metzgar supported legislation to allow sales of liquor in Baltimore County on Sundays.[17]

In October 2023, Metzgar participated in a protest against the Baltimore County Board of Education and its policies toward transgender students participating in school sports and using bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.[18]

Taxes

During his 2010 House of Delegates campaign, Metzgar said he supported repealing tax increases passed under the Martin O'Malley administration.[2]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 6 Republican primary election, 2006[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Dishon 1,701 32.1
Republican Ric Metzgar 1,504 28.4
Republican Paul M. Blitz 1,157 21.8
Republican Steven C. Brown 934 17.6
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2006[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Johnny Olszewski (incumbent) 18,769 22.9
Democratic Joseph J. Minnick (incumbent) 17,379 21.2
Democratic Michael H. Weir Jr. (incumbent) 17,117 20.9
Republican Steve Dishon 10,961 13.4
Republican Ric Metzgar 8,915 10.9
Republican Paul M. Blitz 8,765 10.7
Write-in 106 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 Republican primary election, 2010[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ric Metzgar 2,775 36.3
Republican Robert B. Long 2,584 33.8
Republican Carlton William Clendaniel 2,291 29.9
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2010[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Olszewski Jr. (incumbent) 16,278 20.2
Democratic Mike Weir, Jr. (incumbent) 14,618 18.2
Democratic Joseph "Sonny" Minnick (incumbent) 14,405 17.9
Republican Robert B. Long 12,999 16.2
Republican Ric Metzgar 12,480 15.5
Republican Carlton William Clendaniel 9,612 11.9
Write-in 79 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 Republican primary election, 2014[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert B. Long 2,139 24.4
Republican Ric Metzgar 1,707 19.5
Republican Robin Grammer Jr. 1,224 14.0
Republican Roger Zajdel 994 11.3
Republican Domenico "Dan" Liberatore 860 9.8
Republican Mitchell J. Toland, Jr. 701 8.0
Republican Carl H. Magee, Jr. 577 6.6
Republican Gary Sparks 450 5.1
Republican Jerzy Samotyj 122 1.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2014[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert B. Long 16,796 21.2
Republican Ric Metzgar 15,176 19.1
Republican Robin L. Grammer Jr. 14,582 18.4
Democratic Nicholas C. D'Adamo, Jr. 11,599 14.6
Democratic Michael H. Weir Jr. (incumbent) 11,503 14.5
Democratic Jake Mohorovic 9,526 12.0
Write-in 97 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2018[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert B. Long (incumbent) 18,291 19.7
Republican Robin L. Grammer Jr. (incumbent) 18,084 19.5
Republican Ric Metzgar (incumbent) 17,803 19.2
Democratic Nicholas C. D'Adamo, Jr. 12,847 13.9
Democratic Megan Ann Mioduszewski 12,213 13.2
Democratic Diane DeCarlo 12,000 12.9
Libertarian Michael J. Lyden 1,459 1.6
Write-in 59 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2022[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ric Metzgar (incumbent) 16,696 23.6
Republican Robin L. Grammer Jr. (incumbent) 16,344 23.1
Republican Robert B. Long (incumbent) 15,987 22.6
Democratic Megan Ann Mioduszewski 11,300 16.0
Democratic Jake Mohorovic III 10,109 14.3
Write-in 304 0.4

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Richard W. Metzgar". Maryland Manual On-Line. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lookingbill, Amy P. (March 30, 2010). "Metzgar announces candidacy for House of Delegates". The Avenue News. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ Barnhardt, Laura (September 8, 2006). "Crowd jams 6th District contest". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  4. ↑ Wood, Pamela (November 9, 2014). "GOP celebrates Dundalk wins: 'Nothing but R's down here'". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  5. ↑ Barker, Jeff (July 20, 2015). "Vigil held for Hogan as he enters second round of cancer treatment". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ Gaskill, Hannah (October 15, 2022). "Dan Cox upended the status quo in Maryland's Republican primary. Where will the election for governor take him?". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ Cox, Erin (July 17, 2022). "Md. Republicans love Trump and Hogan. Whose candidate will win Tuesday?". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  8. ↑ Barnhardt, Laura (October 21, 2006). "In 6th, veteran vs. newcomer". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wood, Pamela (May 19, 2015). "Dundalk lawmakers: Close Baltimore Community High School". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  10. ↑ Lettis, George (January 6, 2016). "Baltimore school board votes to close four schools". WBAL-TV. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ Dresser, Michael (March 10, 2016). "Police, civil libertarians clash over curbs on 'stingray' cellphone tracking". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ Leckrone, Bennett (March 31, 2021). "House Passes Bill to End Life Without Parole For Juvenile Offenders, Allow Re-Sentencings". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (August 10, 2021). "Josh Kurtz: Will Offshore Wind Industry's Coming Out Party Include Franchot?". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  14. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (April 11, 2023). "Offshore wind bill takes flight in session's final hours". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ Wood, Pamela (March 7, 2019). "Amid tears, bowed heads, Maryland House of Delegates approves legalizing medically assisted suicide". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. ↑ DePuyt, Bruce (February 13, 2019). "Proposal for Prescription Drug Board Gains More Bipartisan Support". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ Gaines, Danielle E. (March 7, 2020). "Friday's Legislative Roundup". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ Price, Lilly (October 11, 2023). "Protest over transgender student bathroom guidelines focal point of Tuesday's Baltimore County school board meeting". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 06". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  20. ↑ "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  21. ↑ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  22. ↑ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  23. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  24. ↑ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  25. ↑ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  26. ↑ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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