Craig Zucker

Craig Jason Zucker (born March 23, 1975) is an American politician who serves in the Maryland Senate from the 14th Legislative District. The district 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.

Craig Zucker
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 14th district
Assumed office
February 4, 2016
Preceded byKaren S. Montgomery
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 14th district
In office
January 12, 2011 – February 4, 2016
Preceded byHerman L. Taylor Jr.
Karen S. Montgomery
Succeeded byPamela E. Queen
Personal details
Born
Craig Jason Zucker

(1975-03-23) March 23, 1975
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJenny
Children2
EducationSt. Thomas Aquinas College (BS)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Background

Zucker was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and raised in nearby Teaneck, New Jersey.[1] He earned his Bachelor of Science from St. Thomas Aquinas College and his master's degree in government from the Johns Hopkins University.[2] He lives in Brookeville, Maryland with his wife Jenny, their two sons and their dog Sophie.[3] Over the years, Zucker has been active in many community organizations, including the Greater Olney Civic Association, Shaare Tefila Congregation, the Olney Theatre Center for the Arts and the Manna Food Center. He also served on Maryland's Joint Task Force on Workplace Fraud.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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 served on the Capital Budget Subcommittee, and was the House Chair of the Joint Audit Committee.

2011 same-sex marriage debate

Zucker and the other District 14 Delegates were vocal supporters of the same-sex marriage 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
  • St. Thomas Aquinas College Alumni Hall of Fame, 2011.
  • Legislative Achievement of the Year, Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, 2012.
  • Public Service Award, Olney Theatre Center, 2014
  • Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, The Arc of Maryland, 2015.
  • Advocate of the Year, PACT: Kennedy Krieger Institute, Fighting for Families with Developmental Disabilities, 2015.
  • The Legislative Award, The Maryland State Medical Society, "For tireless efforts protecting and improving Medicaid on behalf of the patients and physicians of Maryland", 2015.
  • Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, The Arc of Maryland, 2016.
  • Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, The Arc of Maryland, 2017.
  • Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, The Arc of Maryland, 2018.
  • 2018 Legislative Champion, Women Legislators of Maryland.
  • Legislator of the Year Award, The Arc of Maryland, 2020.

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]

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]

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]

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. "Happy Birthday To Englewood Democrat Craig Zucker", Englewood Daily Voice, March 23, 2017. Accessed March 23, 2017. " A Democrat from Maryland's 14th district, he was born on March 23, 1975, in Englewood. Zucker was raised in Teaneck and began his career as a scheduling assistant to U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) in 1996."
  2. "House of Delegates: CRAIG J. ZUCKER". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. "Craig Zucker". Friends of Craig Zucker. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  4. "Brookeville Resident files for House of Delegates Run". The Gazette. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  5. "Craig J. Zucker". Maryland Manual. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  6. "Craig J. Zucker". Maryland Manual. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  7. "Freshman legislators aren't shunning spotlight". The Gazette=. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  10. "County Wide Results - Legislative District 14". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  11. "Meet Craig - Maryland Delegate Craig J. Zucker - District 14". Friends of Craig Zucker. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  12. "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 3 April 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  13. "District 14 team looks forward to getting down to business". The Gazette. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  14. "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
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