David R. Craig
Encyclopedia
David R. Craig is the Harford County
Executive and was sworn in on July 7, 2005. He was preceded by Jim Harkins who resigned to become director of Maryland Environmental Services.
. He received his B.A. from Towson State College in 1971, then his M.A. from Morgan State University
in 1983.
As the Craig children grew up, their parents encouraged them to study and to participate in the community through church, clubs and sports. David volunteered his time to help with his children’s activities. He coached his children’s Courtney and Pamela and Randy’s soccer teams from “rec” through their graduation from Havre de Grace High School. Similarly, he supported his son by being a leader in Randy’s Boy Scout troopand serving on the Boy Scouts of America’s Harford District Board. Randy, in turn, worked hard and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In 2007, the Harford District awarded David the Harford District Good Scout Award and, in 2009, the Baltimore Area Council gave him the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award the Baltimore Area Council can bestow on a non-scout. These awards recognize David’s commitment to strong youth programs.
David Craig also commits to education. David spent thirty-four years in the Harford County Public School System as a teacher and assistant principal. Because of his experience, David understands the connection between education and individual success, and he strives to build a strong educational system for Harford County’s children. As County Executive, David supported the creation of high school magnet programs in Math & Science, Homeland Security, Agricultural Sciences, and Medical Arts. These programs will help Harford’s students to effectively compete in the new global economy.
As County Executive, David Craig advocated for constructing schools to replace crowded, rundown buildings. David established and implemented a plan to support the forward funding of six newly constructed and renovated schools.
School construction highlights not only David Craig’s commitment to education, but also his commitment to creating an environment that allows our local economy to grow and thrive. David understands that to attract new business, Harford County must offer a strong infrastructure which includes, among other things, modern school buildings. His commitment to improving the county’s infrastructure has positioned the county to attract new businesses, jobs for its citizens, and economic opportunity for all of Harford.
Having a life-long commitment to public service, David Craig brings vast experience in municipal and state government to the County Executive’s office. At a young age, he served his home town of Havre de Grace as a member of the City Council and later was elected the city’s mayor. After David proved himself at the local level, his responsibilities expanded to the state level when he was elected State Delegate and, later, State Senator. As County Executive, David maintained his influence at the state level when he was elected President of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in 2005, and in 2010 he was elected by his peers as President of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). He is the first elected official to have served as President of both organizations. He currently serves on the Executive Board of MACo as immediate Past-President of that organization.
Even as David Craig commits to initiatives for the future, he promotes his native Harford County’s agriculture heritage. He led the effort to make the County’s agriculture preservation program more competitive in the real estate market. As a result, Harford County ranks as the tenth Most Successful for Land Preservation in the entire country. Always aware of the economic impact Agriculture has on Harford County, David supports efforts to boost AG tourism and in doing so, created a successful, nationally recognized “Buy Local” campaign.
David Craig knows that taxpayers expect him to commit to resourceful stewardship of their tax dollars. In response to that expectation, David directed his administration to look for ways to reduce costs while still offering effective services to Harford County residents. Over the last three years, County Executive David Craig’s administration reduced the county budget by 22%, twice lowered the property tax rate, and twice reduced the property tax cap to 5%. In 2011, the budget is 5% smaller than the 2010 budget, yet it is a budget that maintains 2010 county services, fully funds education, and reduces the property tax by 2.2 cents, reaching the constant yield for the first time since charter government. His aim is to get the county’s tax rate to under a $1.
At a time when other Maryland counties worry about solvency, Harford County maintains a solid balance sheet demonstrated by its upgrade to a Triple A bond rating, by two of the top rating agencies in the country. These agencies recognized David’s skillful handling of the county’s finances when they described Harford County as having “Strong Financial Management” and “prudent planning of future infrastructure development.”David Craig also recently caught the attention of well known columnist, Barry Rascovar of The Gazette who credited David as being “a fierce fiscal conservative” and a “longtime cost-cutter.”
David Craig’s experience and leadership have helped him keep his commitments to family, education, public service, strong local economy, and sound money management.
In 2010, Holding true to these commitments and principles, Craig was soundly re-elected by the voters of Harford County to serve a second term.
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
Executive and was sworn in on July 7, 2005. He was preceded by Jim Harkins who resigned to become director of Maryland Environmental Services.
Education
David Craig attended Havre de Grace High SchoolHavre De Grace High School
Havre de Grace Senior High School is a four-year public high school in Havre de Grace in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The school is located near the southeast corner of Harford County where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay...
. He received his B.A. from Towson State College in 1971, then his M.A. from Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
in 1983.
Career
Call David Craig committed. First, he commits to his family. He married his high school sweetheart, Melinda (Blevins) Craig. Celebrating 40 years of marriage, they have three children; in November of 2010, the Craigs welcomed their eighth grandchild into the family.As the Craig children grew up, their parents encouraged them to study and to participate in the community through church, clubs and sports. David volunteered his time to help with his children’s activities. He coached his children’s Courtney and Pamela and Randy’s soccer teams from “rec” through their graduation from Havre de Grace High School. Similarly, he supported his son by being a leader in Randy’s Boy Scout troopand serving on the Boy Scouts of America’s Harford District Board. Randy, in turn, worked hard and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In 2007, the Harford District awarded David the Harford District Good Scout Award and, in 2009, the Baltimore Area Council gave him the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award the Baltimore Area Council can bestow on a non-scout. These awards recognize David’s commitment to strong youth programs.
David Craig also commits to education. David spent thirty-four years in the Harford County Public School System as a teacher and assistant principal. Because of his experience, David understands the connection between education and individual success, and he strives to build a strong educational system for Harford County’s children. As County Executive, David supported the creation of high school magnet programs in Math & Science, Homeland Security, Agricultural Sciences, and Medical Arts. These programs will help Harford’s students to effectively compete in the new global economy.
As County Executive, David Craig advocated for constructing schools to replace crowded, rundown buildings. David established and implemented a plan to support the forward funding of six newly constructed and renovated schools.
School construction highlights not only David Craig’s commitment to education, but also his commitment to creating an environment that allows our local economy to grow and thrive. David understands that to attract new business, Harford County must offer a strong infrastructure which includes, among other things, modern school buildings. His commitment to improving the county’s infrastructure has positioned the county to attract new businesses, jobs for its citizens, and economic opportunity for all of Harford.
Having a life-long commitment to public service, David Craig brings vast experience in municipal and state government to the County Executive’s office. At a young age, he served his home town of Havre de Grace as a member of the City Council and later was elected the city’s mayor. After David proved himself at the local level, his responsibilities expanded to the state level when he was elected State Delegate and, later, State Senator. As County Executive, David maintained his influence at the state level when he was elected President of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in 2005, and in 2010 he was elected by his peers as President of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). He is the first elected official to have served as President of both organizations. He currently serves on the Executive Board of MACo as immediate Past-President of that organization.
Even as David Craig commits to initiatives for the future, he promotes his native Harford County’s agriculture heritage. He led the effort to make the County’s agriculture preservation program more competitive in the real estate market. As a result, Harford County ranks as the tenth Most Successful for Land Preservation in the entire country. Always aware of the economic impact Agriculture has on Harford County, David supports efforts to boost AG tourism and in doing so, created a successful, nationally recognized “Buy Local” campaign.
David Craig knows that taxpayers expect him to commit to resourceful stewardship of their tax dollars. In response to that expectation, David directed his administration to look for ways to reduce costs while still offering effective services to Harford County residents. Over the last three years, County Executive David Craig’s administration reduced the county budget by 22%, twice lowered the property tax rate, and twice reduced the property tax cap to 5%. In 2011, the budget is 5% smaller than the 2010 budget, yet it is a budget that maintains 2010 county services, fully funds education, and reduces the property tax by 2.2 cents, reaching the constant yield for the first time since charter government. His aim is to get the county’s tax rate to under a $1.
At a time when other Maryland counties worry about solvency, Harford County maintains a solid balance sheet demonstrated by its upgrade to a Triple A bond rating, by two of the top rating agencies in the country. These agencies recognized David’s skillful handling of the county’s finances when they described Harford County as having “Strong Financial Management” and “prudent planning of future infrastructure development.”David Craig also recently caught the attention of well known columnist, Barry Rascovar of The Gazette who credited David as being “a fierce fiscal conservative” and a “longtime cost-cutter.”
David Craig’s experience and leadership have helped him keep his commitments to family, education, public service, strong local economy, and sound money management.
In 2010, Holding true to these commitments and principles, Craig was soundly re-elected by the voters of Harford County to serve a second term.
Election results
- 2010 Race for Harford County Executive - Harford County
-
- Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome David R. Craig, Rep. 67,972 79.96% Won Mark Fisher , Con. 16,368 19.26% Lost Write-In's 665 0.78% Lost
- Voters to choose one:
- 2006 Race for Harford County Executive - Harford County
-
- Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome David R. Craig, Rep. 46,121 52% Won Ann C. Helton, Dem. 42,442 47.9% Lost Write-In's 75 0.1% Lost
- Voters to choose one:
- 1994 Race for Maryland State Senate – District 34 - Harford County
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- Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome David R. Craig, Rep. 17,444 54% Won Habern Freeman, Dem. 14,676 46% Won
- Voters to choose one:
- 1990 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 34 - Harford County
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- Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome Rose Mary Hatem Bonsack Rose Mary Hatem BonsackRose Mary Hatem Bonsack is an American politician who represents district 34 in the Maryland House of Delegates.-Background:Delegate Hatem Bonsack was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 1933. Before becoming a politician, she was a physician...
, Dem.13,373 19% Won Mary Louise Preis Mary Louise PreisMary Louise Preis is an American politician who represented district 34 in the Maryland House of Delegates. She was first elected in 1990 and served until 1999.-Early life and education:...
, Dem.13,045 19% Won David R. Craig, Rep. 12,031 18% Won William H. Cox Jr., Dem. 10,296 15% Lost David M. Meadows, Rep. 10,069 15% Lost Cecil W. Wood, Rep. 9,840 14% Lost
- Voters to choose three: