Karen S. Montgomery
Encyclopedia
Karen Slater Montgomery is an American politician and artist from the state of Maryland
. A Democrat
, she is currently serving as the state senator for the Maryland State Senate
from Maryland's 14th District, which includes parts of Silver Spring, Burtonsville, Olney, Barnesville, Brookeville, Laytonsville, and Damascus in Montgomery County
in the Washington, D.C.
suburbs. She was elected in 2010 to the Maryland State Senate
and in 2002 and 2006 to the Maryland House of Delegates when she represented the 14th District.
and later a Master of Fine Arts
degree from the George Washington University
. She would serve as a part time faculty member in the Fine Arts Department at George Washington University until 1987, also working at the Art Barn and the National Building Museum
. In 1987, Montgomery switched careers to work in the non-profit sector for a number of organizations including the Olney Theatre Center, Arts for the Aging, and the Arthritis Foundation
, from which she retired in 1999. Both prior to and since her election to public office, Montgomery has volunteered with a variety of community organizations related to the arts, women's issues, and people with developmental disabilities.
She is married and has three grown children. One of her children has autism
, which has driven Montgomery's involvement in community organizations that serve people with developmental disabilities, and her political advocacy related to the issue.
led to the creation of a new district in Montgomery County, Maryland
, called District 14. Montgomery was one of twelve candidates in the Democratic primary election for the district's three house seats. She finished in second place and won the general election for the seat as well.
During her first term, Montgomery served on the Environmental Matters Committee, and served on a commission on sustainable forestry appointed by the Governor. Following her re-election in 2006, she moved to the Health and Government Operations Committee. There, she has worked on a number of issues related to health care, including funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration, support for veterans with behavioral health needs, and shortages in the state's health care workforce. She has also served in leadership positions in the Women Legislators of Maryland, the caucus of female legislators in the General Assembly.
Inspired by her son who has autism, Montgomery has been an advocate for better services for people with developmental disabilities. She has argued for better access to early intervention service for young children with autism. In 2009, Montgomery worked to limit state budget cuts to mental health programs and services to people with developmental disabilities. These programs were under threat due to a budget deficit in the state related to the late 2000s recession
.
In addition to her work on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, Montgomery has been active on health care, good government, and environmental issues. She has been the lead sponsor of a bill that would create a single payer universal health care system in the state of Maryland. In 2008, she introduced a bill giving certain property owners the right to install solar panels despite historic designations on their properties. Montgomery also worked to ensure that touch screen voting machines had a voter-verifiable paper record for use in recounts.
In the 2010 elections, Montgomery challenged incumbent Senator Rona E. Kramer
in the Democratic primary and defeated her by less than 200 votes. Herman L. Taylor, Jr. also left the House of Delegates that year, leaving two Delegate seats open in District 14. Craig Zucker
and Eric Luedtke
won the two open House of Delegates seats in November of 2010.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she is currently serving as the state senator for the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
from Maryland's 14th District, which includes parts of Silver Spring, Burtonsville, Olney, Barnesville, Brookeville, Laytonsville, and Damascus in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
suburbs. She was elected in 2010 to the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
and in 2002 and 2006 to the Maryland House of Delegates when she represented the 14th District.
Education and professional life
Montgomery earned her undergraduate degree from Towson UniversityTowson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
and later a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree from the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. She would serve as a part time faculty member in the Fine Arts Department at George Washington University until 1987, also working at the Art Barn and the National Building Museum
National Building Museum
The National Builders Museum, in Washington, D.C., United States, is a museum of "architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning"...
. In 1987, Montgomery switched careers to work in the non-profit sector for a number of organizations including the Olney Theatre Center, Arts for the Aging, and the Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the largest national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the prevention, control and cure of arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the United States....
, from which she retired in 1999. Both prior to and since her election to public office, Montgomery has volunteered with a variety of community organizations related to the arts, women's issues, and people with developmental disabilities.
She is married and has three grown children. One of her children has autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, which has driven Montgomery's involvement in community organizations that serve people with developmental disabilities, and her political advocacy related to the issue.
Political career
In 2000, the reapportionment of Maryland state legislative districts following the United States CensusUnited States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
led to the creation of a new district in Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, called District 14. Montgomery was one of twelve candidates in the Democratic primary election for the district's three house seats. She finished in second place and won the general election for the seat as well.
During her first term, Montgomery served on the Environmental Matters Committee, and served on a commission on sustainable forestry appointed by the Governor. Following her re-election in 2006, she moved to the Health and Government Operations Committee. There, she has worked on a number of issues related to health care, including funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration, support for veterans with behavioral health needs, and shortages in the state's health care workforce. She has also served in leadership positions in the Women Legislators of Maryland, the caucus of female legislators in the General Assembly.
Inspired by her son who has autism, Montgomery has been an advocate for better services for people with developmental disabilities. She has argued for better access to early intervention service for young children with autism. In 2009, Montgomery worked to limit state budget cuts to mental health programs and services to people with developmental disabilities. These programs were under threat due to a budget deficit in the state related to the late 2000s recession
Late 2000s recession
The late-2000s recession, sometimes referred to as the Great Recession or Lesser Depression or Long Recession, is a severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008. The Great Recession has affected the entire world...
.
In addition to her work on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, Montgomery has been active on health care, good government, and environmental issues. She has been the lead sponsor of a bill that would create a single payer universal health care system in the state of Maryland. In 2008, she introduced a bill giving certain property owners the right to install solar panels despite historic designations on their properties. Montgomery also worked to ensure that touch screen voting machines had a voter-verifiable paper record for use in recounts.
In the 2010 elections, Montgomery challenged incumbent Senator Rona E. Kramer
Rona E. Kramer
Rona E. Kramer is an American politician from Maryland, a member of the Democratic Party, and a former member of the Maryland State Senate. She finished serving her 2nd term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 14 in Montgomery County in 2010. She was defeated in the 2010...
in the Democratic primary and defeated her by less than 200 votes. Herman L. Taylor, Jr. also left the House of Delegates that year, leaving two Delegate seats open in District 14. Craig Zucker
Craig Zucker
Craig Zucker 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...
and Eric Luedtke
Eric Luedtke
Eric Luedtke is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected in 2010 to the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 14 in Montgomery County, which includes parts of Burtonsville, Silver Spring, Olney, Sandy Spring, Brookeville, and Damascus...
won the two open House of Delegates seats in November of 2010.