Craig Zucker

Craig Zucker

Maryland State Senator
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 14th district
Assumed office
February 4, 2016
Personal details
Born (1975-03-23) March 23, 1975
Englewood, New Jersey
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jenny
Children Ben, Sam
Residence Brookeville, Maryland
Religion Jewish
Website craigzucker.com

Craig Zucker (born March 23, 1975) is an American politician who serves in the Maryland State Senate from Maryland's 14th District, which includes parts or all of Silver Spring, Calverton, Colesville, Cloverly, Fairland, Burtonsville, Spencerville, Olney, Brookeville, Ashton, Sandy Spring, Brinklow, Laytonsville, Sunshine, Goshen, and Damascus in Montgomery County. He was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates on November 2, 2010, and sworn in on January 12, 2011, then re-elected in 2014 to his second-four year term. On February 4, 2016, he was sworn into the Maryland State Senate following the retirement of Senator Karen S. Montgomery.

Background

Zucker was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and raised in nearby Teaneck, New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Science from St. Thomas Aquinas College and his Master's degree in Government from the Johns Hopkins University.[1] He lives in Brookeville, Maryland with his wife Jenny, their two sons and their dog Sophie.[2] Over the years, Zucker has been active in many community organizations, including the Greater Olney Civic Association, the Olney Theatre Center for the Arts and the Manna Food Center. He also served on Maryland's Joint Task Force on Workplace Fraud.[3]

Career

Zucker has worked in public service since graduating from college in the mid 1990s. He began his career as a scheduling assistant to U.S. Senator Bill Bradley (D-New Jersey) in 1996. He then interned for U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan) in 1997, served as scheduler for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) in 1999, and was Legislative Director to Delegate Peter Franchot (D-Takoma Park) from 1999-2000. He went on to serve as Deputy District Director for U.S. Representative Albert R. Wynn from 2000 to 2004. After working for Congressman Wynn, Zucker worked for Service Employees International Union before becoming Deputy Chief of Staff to Comptroller Peter Franchot from 2007-10.[4]

House of Delegates

Zucker was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010 and sworn in on January 12, 2011. He was originally assigned to the House Appropriations Committee, the Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee and the Oversight Committee on Pensions.[5] In November 2012, he was appointed to serve additionally on the Special Joint Committee on Pensions and in 2013 was appointed Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Administration. After winning re-election, Zucker was promoted to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources on the House Appropriations Committee. He also sits on the Capital Budget Subcommittee, and is the House Chair of the Joint Audit Committee.[6]

2011 Marriage Equality Debate

Zucker and the other District 14 Delegates were vocal supporters of the marriage equality bill in 2011. He was quoted in March of that year as saying, "The District 14 Team and I can't wait to finally cast our yes votes."[7]

State Senate

After former Senator Karen Montgomery announced her retirement, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated Zucker to replace her. He was sworn in on February 4, 2016.[8]

Awards and Honors

Election Results

2002 Democratic Primary

In 2002, as a 27-year-old candidate, Zucker ran a competitive race for the Maryland House of Delegates in the newly created District 14. After losing by just 327 votes, he was asked by the District 14 Democratic winners to serve as the chair of their campaign. [9]

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- |Herman Taylor |5352 |  16.3% |   Won |- |- |Karen Montgomery |4678 |  14.5% |   Won |- |- |Anne Kaiser |4280 |  13.3% |   Won |- |- | Craig Zucker |3953 |  12.3% |   Lost |- |- |Allan Mulligan |2970 |  9.2% |   Lost |- |- |Robert “Bo” Newsome |2391 |  7.4% |   Lost |- |- |Holly Reed |2217 |  6.9% |   Lost |- |- |A. Michael Kelly |2151 |  6.7% |   Lost |- |- |Michael Dupuy |1420 |  4.4% |   Lost |- |- |Mike Cafarelli |1137 |  3.5% |   Lost |- |- |Peter Esser |848 |  2.6% |   Lost |- |- |Harold Huggins |794 |  2.5% |   Lost |}[10]

2010 Democratic Primary

In 2010, Zucker ran again for the House of Delegates after then-Delegates Herman L. Taylor, Jr. and Karen S. Montgomery decided to run for higher offices. This time Zucker was successful in the Democratic primary, coming in second just behind incumbent Delegate Anne Kaiser.[11]

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- |Anne Kaiser (incumbent) |6380 |  24.1% |   Won |- |- |Craig Zucker |6216 |  23.5% |   Won |- |- |Eric Luedtke |3696 |  14% |   Won |- |- |Jodi Finkelstein |3154 |  11.9% |   Lost |- |- |Robert "Bo" Newsome |2834 |  10.7% |   Lost |- |- |Gerald Roper |1660 |  6.3% |   Lost |- |- |Neeta Datt |1288 |  4.9% |   Lost |- |- |Vanessa Ali |1244 |  4.7% |   Lost |}[12]

2010 General Election

In the 2010 General Election, Democratic nominees Anne Kaiser, Eric Luedtke and Craig Zucker faced Republican nominees Patricia Fenati, Henry Kahwaty and Maria Peña-Faustino. All Democratic candidates won, with Zucker placing second.[13]

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- |Anne Kaiser (incumbent) |23503 |  21.5% |   Won |- |- |Craig Zucker |22148 |  20.2% |   Won |- |- |Eric Luedtke |21165 |  19.3% |   Won |- |- |Patricia Fenati |14866 |  13.6% |   Lost |- |- |Henry Kahwaty |14152 |  12.9% |   Lost |- |- |Maria Peña-Faustino |13639 |  12.5% |   Lost |}[14]

References

  1. ↑ "House of Delegates: CRAIG J. ZUCKER". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Craig Zucker". Friends of Craig Zucker. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Brookeville Resident files for House of Delegates Run". The Gazette. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  4. ↑ "Craig J. Zucker". Maryland Manual. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Craig J. Zucker". Maryland Manual. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  6. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=sponpage&tab=subject6&id=zucker&stab=01
  7. ↑ "Freshman legislators aren't shunning spotlight". The Gazette=. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  8. ↑ The Washington Times: Craig Zucker sworn-in as Maryland state senator one day before veto-override vote
  9. ↑ "Meet Craig - Maryland Delegate Craig J. Zucker - District 14". Friends of Craig Zucker. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "County Wide Results - Legislative District 14". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  11. ↑ "Meet Craig - Maryland Delegate Craig J. Zucker - District 14". Friends of Craig Zucker. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  12. ↑ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  13. ↑ "District 14 team looks forward to getting down to business". The Gazette. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
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