Craig Zucker

Craig Zucker
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2011
Personal details
Born 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 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, Montgomery Village 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.

Background

Zucker was born in Englewood, 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, his son Benjamin 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 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.

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."[6]

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. [7]

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Herman Taylor |5352 |  16.3% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Karen Montgomery |4678 |  14.5% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Anne Kaiser |4280 |  13.3% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Craig Zucker |3953 |  12.3% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Allan Mulligan |2970 |  9.2% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Robert “Bo” Newsome |2391 |  7.4% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Holly Reed |2217 |  6.9% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |A. Michael Kelly |2151 |  6.7% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Michael Dupuy |1420 |  4.4% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Mike Cafarelli |1137 |  3.5% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Peter Esser |848 |  2.6% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Harold Huggins |794 |  2.5% |   Lost |}[8]

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.[9]

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Anne Kaiser (incumbent) |6380 |  24.1% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Craig Zucker |6216 |  23.5% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Eric Luedtke |3696 |  14% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jodi Finkelstein |3154 |  11.9% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Robert "Bo" Newsome |2834 |  10.7% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Gerald Roper |1660 |  6.3% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Neeta Datt |1288 |  4.9% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Vanessa Ali |1244 |  4.7% |   Lost |}[10]

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.[11]

{| class="wikitable"

|- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Anne Kaiser (incumbent) |23503 |  21.5% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Craig Zucker |22148 |  20.2% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Eric Luedtke |21165 |  19.3% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Republican}} |Patricia Fenati |14866 |  13.6% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Republican}} |Henry Kahwaty |14152 |  12.9% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Republican}} |Maria Peña-Faustino |13639 |  12.5% |   Lost |}[12]

References

  1. ↑ "House of Delegates: CRAIG J. ZUCKER". Maryland Stae 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. ↑ "Freshman legislators aren't shunning spotlight". The Gazette=. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Meet Craig - Maryland Delegate Craig J. Zucker - District 14". Friends of Craig Zucker. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "County Wide Results - Legislative District 14". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "Meet Craig - Maryland Delegate Craig J. Zucker - District 14". Friends of Craig Zucker. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  11. ↑ "District 14 team looks forward to getting down to business". The Gazette. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  12. ↑ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Montgomery County Board of Elections. Retrieved 12 March 2011.

External links

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