Charles I. Ecker

Charles Isaac Ecker
County Executive of Howard County, Maryland
In office
December 1990 – December 1998
Preceded by Elizabeth Bobo
Personal details
Born (1928-12-08)December 8, 1928
Uniontown, Maryland
Died October 21, 2015(2015-10-21) (aged 86)
Political party Republican
Profession Councilman, Superintentdent
Website Howard County Government

Charles Issac Ecker (December 8, 1928 - October 21, 2015) was the former County Executive of Howard County, Maryland.[1][2]

Education and History

Born in Uniontown, Maryland, December 8, 1928. Attended Westminster High School. Worked in feed mills and Lehigh Portland Cement Co. as a laborer. Served in U.S. Navy, 1945-47. University of Maryland; Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), B.A. (biology & physical education), 1951; University of North Carolina, M.E.D. (physical education), 1955, and Ph.D. (education administration). In 1956 he returned to a family bakery business and carnival prize supply business. In 1964 He worked for the Carroll County, Maryland school system after writing a paper on Gymnasium efficiency. He became the President, Association of School Business Officials, 1971-72. In 1984 he was a finalist for the Howard County Public School Superintendent, losing to Micheael E. Hickey. Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 1996. Board of Directors, American Lung Association of Maryland, 1998-. Member, Executive Committee (at large), Maryland Council on Economic Education, 2003. Trustee Alumni Award, McDaniel College, 2010. Ecker was married with two children, eleven grandchildren.[3]

School Superintendent

Dr. Ecker served as Assistant Superintendent of schools.[4] After Dr. Ecker became Superintendent of Carroll County Schools. In 2006 He gained attention for banning the book The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things for language, starting a student petition against the book ban.[5]

Political activity

Dr. Ecker was the County Executive for Howard County from 1990-1998. Councilman Darrel Drown recommended Ecker for a candidate against incumbent Elizabeth Bobo. Ecker changed from Democratic to Republican party to run for the position.[6] Ecker approved the loan started before his term to renovate the historic Savage Mill.[7] Early in his term, he removed an 18 month building restriction prior to implementing an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance.[8] In 1994, Ecker implemented the first use of self-insurance of the county to settle the case of the death of Carl Jonathan Bowie at Oakland Mills High School.[9]

In 1998 Ecker ran for Governor of Maryland against Ellen R. Sauerbrey.[6]

Member, Baltimore Regional Council of Governments, 1990–92; Governor's Task Force on School Construction, 1992–93; Baltimore Metropolitan Council, 1992-98 (chair, 1997–98). Board of Visitors, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical System, 1992-. Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Howard County, 1963-67. Director of Business Affairs, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Prince George's County, 1967-74. Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Howard County, 1974-89. Co-Chair, Economic and Workforce Development Task Force of Commission on the Future of Howard Community College, 1998-99. Co-Chair of the Ryland Homes Rouse sponsored Howard County Vision group.[10]

Superintendent of Schools, Carroll County, 2002-10 (interim superintendent of schools, 2000-02 & former assistant superintendent of schools).[11]

Member, Task Force to Study Public School Facilities, 2003; Governor's Commission on Quality Education, 2004-05 (vice-chair, subcommittee on global best-practices in education); Task Force on Comparable Testing Methods for the Maryland High School Assessments, 2004–06; Public School Labor Relations Board, 2011-.

Election history

Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1994 Howard County Executive General Charles I. Ecker[12] Republican 64% Susan B. Gray Democratic 36%  
1998 Maryland Governor Primary Charles I Ecker[13] Republican 17.2% Ellen Sauerbrey Republican 82.8%  

References

  1. ↑ Egbert Tellegen, Maarten Wolsink. Society and Its Environment: An Introduction. p. 143.
  2. ↑ "Charles I. Ecker, former Howard County executive, has died". The Baltimore Sun. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Maryland Manual Online". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "HPSS board Minutes 1979" (PDF). Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Gina Davis (7 December 2005). "Book banning spurs protest Carroll students seek to get novel returned to school libraries". The Baltimore Sun.
  6. 1 2 Scott Wilson (30 August 1998). "In Md., Stuck on Stumping; Charles Ecker's GOP Bid for Governor Is a Testament to His Will". The Washington Post.
  7. ↑ "Howard County Mill-to-Mall Developers Ask for Break on Loan". The Washington Post. 20 November 1997.
  8. ↑ "Howard County Abandons Growth Limits". The Washington Post. 34 January 1991. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ↑ James M. Coram (9 August 1994). "Police brutality lawsuit cost county $30,000 before settlement reached".
  10. ↑ Pinnie L Ross (21 May 1999). "Howard County Vision for the Future". Baltimore Afro-American.
  11. ↑ Charles Schelle (13 June 2010). "Ecker's final school board meeting is picture perfect Retiring superintendent praised by staff, officials". Carrol Eagle.
  12. ↑ "HOWARD COUNTY; Ecker Reelected; Republicans to Control Council". The Washington Post. 9 November 1994.
  13. ↑ "1998 Electioon Results". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
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