Mary Beth Carozza

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Mary Beth Carozza
Carozza in 2020
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 38th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byJim Mathias
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 38C district
In office
January 14, 2015 – January 9, 2019
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded byWayne A. Hartman
ConstituencyLower Eastern Shore of Maryland
Personal details
Born (1961-02-13) February 13, 1961 (age 63)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Political partyRepublican
Alma materCatholic University of America (BA, MA)
ProfessionConsultant
Signature

Mary Beth Carozza (born February 13, 1961) is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 38. She previous represented District 38C in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2019.[1]

Background[edit]

Carozza was born on February 13, 1961, in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] Her family moved to the Eastern Shore when she was in the fifth grade[2] and spent her summers working in her parents' business, Beefy's.[3] She attended Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland and received a B.A. in political philosophy and an M.A. in American government from the Catholic University of America in 1983.[1]

For most of her career prior to her election to the legislature, she worked as a staffer for Congressional Republicans, including Senators William Cohen and Susan Collins, and U.S. Representatives Mike DeWine, Dave Hobson and Steve Stivers. She also worked as the Deputy Chief of Staff under Governor Robert Ehrlich,[1] where she got to know Larry Hogan, Ehrlich's appointments secretary.[4]

In 2013, Carozza filed to run for state delegate in the newly created 38C district.[5] She was the only Republican to declare her candidacy for the seat.[6] She defeated Democrat Judy Davis in the general election with 74 percent of the vote.[7]

In the legislature[edit]

Carozza was sworn in as a member of House of Delegates on January 12, 2015, and appointed to the House Appropriations Committee.[1]

In November 2017, Carozza, with the backing of Governor Hogan, announced her candidacy to the Maryland Senate, seeking to challenge Democratic state senator Jim Mathias, a top Republican target, in the 2018 state senate elections.[4][8] She defeated Mathias in the general election, receiving 53 percent of the vote.[9]

Carozza in the Maryland Senate, 2023

Carozza was sworn in as a member of the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019.[1] She currently serves as the policy and communications chair of the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus.[10]

Committee assignments[edit]

Maryland Senate
  • Member, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, 2019–present (alcohol subcommittee, 2019–present; environment subcommittee, 2019–present)
  • Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2019–present
  • Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2019–present
  • Member, Senate Small Business Work Group, 2019–present
Maryland House of Delegates
  • Member, Appropriations Committee, 2015–2019 (health & human resources subcommittee, 2015–2017; oversight committee on personnel, 2015–2019; health & social services subcommittee, 2017–2019)
  • Joint Committee on Legislative Information Technology and Open Government, 2015–2019

Other memberships[edit]

  • Maryland Watermen's Caucus, 2019–present
  • House Chair, Worcester County Delegation, 2015–2019
  • Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2015–present
  • Women Legislators of Maryland, 2015–present

Political positions[edit]

Agriculture[edit]

Carozza introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would exempt farm structures used for agritourism activities from certain requirements typically applied to commercial buildings.[11] The bill received a favorable report from the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.[12]

Alcohol[edit]

Carozza introduced legislation in the 2018 legislative session that would allow Worcester County to increase its beer production from 15,500 gallons to 31,000 gallons each year. The bill passed and was signed into law in March 2018.[13]

Carozza introduced legislation in the 2019 legislative session that would decrease the permitted proximity of liquor stores to churches, schools, public libraries, and youth centers in Somerset County from 300 feet to 200 feet.[14] The bill passed and became law without Governor Hogan's signature on May 25, 2019.[15]

In March 2021, Carozza voted in favor of legislation that would continue the practice of selling beer, wine, and spirits through carryout or delivery for off-site consumption. The bill passed and became law.[16]

Carozza introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session that would abolish Somerset County's alcohol dispensary system, which requires that liquor be purchased through county-run stores, and create a $5,000 license fee for business owners that want to sell liquor.[17]

Animal rights[edit]

In January 2022, the Maryland Humane Society Legislative Fund gave Carozza a score of 100 percent in their annual legislative scorecard.[18]

Crime[edit]

Following a string of false bomb threats made against schools and other public facilities across Delmarva in early 2016, Carozza introduced legislation that would strengthen punishments for those who make fake bomb threats.[19] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on May 19, 2016.[20]

Following several serious boating incidents in Ocean City, Maryland, Carozza introduced legislation in the 2017 legislative session that would ban bow riding.[21][22]

Carozza introduced legislation in the 2017 legislative session that would increase the penalties for causing life-threatening injuries while operating a vehicle negligently.[23] The bill was reintroduced during the 2019 and 2021 legislative sessions.[24][25] The bill passed and became law.[26][27]

Following several troubling motorized special events in Ocean City, Carozza introduced legislation during the 2018 legislative session that would allow for the creation of special event enforcement zones to enforce enhanced fines and penalties on reckless drivers.[28] She introduced legislation aimed at strengthening the penalties for violations in these special event zones during the 2019 and 2021 legislative sessions.[29][30][31]

Education[edit]

Carozza opposed legislation introduced during the 2019 legislative session that would allow Maryland public schools to start before Labor Day.[32] The Maryland General Assembly voted to override Hogan's veto on the bill in March 2019.[33]

Carozza opposed legislation introduced during the 2021 legislative session that would give collective bargaining rights to full- and part-time employees at all of the state's community colleges.[34] She also questioned legislation that expands required training for school resource officers to include restorative approaches and prevents officers from enforcing discipline except to prevent or intervene in a situation where "serious bodily injury with an imminent threat of serious harm" is at stake, referring to the 2018 shooting at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland.[35]

Environment[edit]

In 2015, Carozza spearheaded an effort to encourage the United States Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the inlet of Ocean City, Maryland, arguing that the shallow water in the inlet puts the economy of Worcester County in jeopardy.[36][37] Following Carozza's request, the Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to dredge the inlet in August 2015.[38] During the 2016 legislative session, she introduced legislation that would authorize the use of hydraulic dredging to catch hard-shell clams between the Verrazano Bridge and the Maryland-Virginia state line.[39]

Carozza opposed legislation introduced in the 2017 legislative session that would boost the state's renewable energy standards. The Maryland General Assembly voted to override Governor Hogan's veto of the bill.[40]

Carozza introduced legislation during the 2018 legislative session that would move the proposed wind farm in Ocean City further from the shore. The measure was killed by the House Economic Matters Committee.[41] In 2021, she urged the Maryland Public Service Commission to move a proposed wind farm off the coast of Ocean City farther offshore, insisting that the turbines would damage views from the shore, jeopardizing tourism, real estate values, and the local economy.[42]

In 2018, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters gave Carozza a score of 80 percent on its annual legislative scorecard.[43]

Carozza introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would prohibit the deliberate release of balloons into the stratosphere.[44] The bill passed and became law on May 30, 2021.[45]

Healthcare[edit]

During a debate on legislation that would require businesses to provide paid sick leave to most of its employees, Carozza introduced an amendment to the bill that would increase the threshold for eligibility from 90 days to 120 days. The amendment was rejected by the Maryland House of Delegates.[46][47]

Following the death of local resident Chris Trimper, who suffered an extreme allergic reaction during a reception at the Ocean Downs Casino, in October 2019,[48] Carozza introduced legislation during the 2020 legislative session that would allow restaurants to carry and administer EpiPens during emergency situations.[49] The bill passed unanimously and was signed by Governor Hogan on March 19, 2020.[50]

Immigration[edit]

During her 2018 state senate campaign, Carozza said that she would vote against any legislation that would make Maryland a sanctuary state.[4]

Carozza opposed legislation introduced in the 2021 legislative session that would ban local jails from housing detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[51] The bill passed the Maryland General Assembly but received a veto from Governor Hogan in May 2021;[52] the General Assembly overrode the veto in December 2021.[53]

Marijuana[edit]

During a debate on legislation that would establish that smoking marijuana in a public place as a civil offense, Carozza introduced an amendment that would make it a misdemeanor to smoke marijuana in certain public places, including the beach and boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland. The House of Delegates approved the amendment and the bill passed the legislation with the amendment in place by a vote of 90-48,[54] but Governor Hogan vetoed the bill in May 2015.[55]

Minimum wage[edit]

During a debate on legislation introduced during the 2019 legislative session that would raise the Maryland minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2028, Carozza introduced an amendment that would slow the increase of the minimum wage overall and apply a 20 percent lower regional wage in parts of the state outside of Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City. Her amendment failed by a vote of 18-29.[56]

Policing[edit]

In June 2021, following the release of a viral video showing Ocean City police officers exerting force against a group of Black teenagers on the boardwalk, Carozza made a statement defending the Ocean City police, saying that the individuals detained in the incident were arrested for multiple violations including disorderly conduct, failure to obey a police order, obstructing and hindering, second-degree assault, and resisting arrest.[57][58]

Redistricting[edit]

In June 2021, Carozza urged members of the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission to adopt single-member legislative districts and to keep the Eastern Shore whole in the redistricting process.[59] She opposed the congressional map introduced by the Maryland Legislative Redistricting Committee during the 2021 special legislative session.[60]

Electoral history[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates District 38C Republican Primary Election, 2014[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Beth Carozza 2,803 100%
Maryland House of Delegates District 38C General Election, 2014[62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Beth Carozza 11,611 73.9%
Democratic Judy H. Davis 4,100 26.1%
Other Write-Ins Other Write-Ins 3 0.0%
Maryland Senate District 38 Republican Primary Election, 2018[63]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Beth Carozza 8,095 100%
Maryland Senate District 38 General Election, 2018[64]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Beth Carozza 25,731 52.6%
Democratic Jim Mathias 23,098 47.3%
Other Write-Ins Other Write-Ins 44 0.1%

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Maryland State Senate". Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  2. ^ Ravina, Rachel (November 1, 2018). "Election Day 2018: Who's running and where you can vote" (PDF). Bayside OC. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Green, Steven (October 31, 2018). "Election Preview: Carozza: I Can Be A Stronger Voice For The Shore'". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Darden, B.J. (November 19, 2017). "Carozza, Accompanied by Hogan, Makes Mathias Challenge Official". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "OC Businessman Weighing Run At New Delegate Seat". The Dispatch. October 11, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Sheriff Re-Elected, Delegate District Primary Decided". The Dispatch. June 26, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "General Election Vote Tallies; Mathias In Lead For Senate; Incumbent Shockley Defeated; James Tops In Ocean City". The Dispatch. November 5, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "State Rep. Mary Beth Carozza Announces State Senate Bid". WBOC-FM. November 19, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Davis, Josh; Ravina, Rachel (November 8, 2018). "Carozza topples Mathias in senate race". Bayside OC. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 3, 2020). "Under New Management, Senate GOP Caucus Announces Leadership Positions". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  11. ^ Sharpe, Charlene (January 26, 2022). "Worcester Officials Voice Support For Agritourism Bill". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Soper, Shawn (February 10, 2022). "Worcester County Agritourism Bill Passes Senate Committee". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Maryland Law Doubles Seacrets Distillery Buyback Limit". WBOC-FM. March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "Somerset County May Change Alcohol Proximity Regulations". WBOC-FM. April 24, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "Legislation - SB0338". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  16. ^ Soper, Shawn (March 25, 2021). "Off-Premise Alcohol Sales Headed To Permanent Status". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  17. ^ Cortese, Doug (February 22, 2022). "Alcohol Dispensary System Could End in Somerset County". WBOC-FM. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  18. ^ Kurtz, Josh (January 7, 2022). "Nearly Two-Thirds of Md. Lawmakers Get Purr-fect Scores From Animal Rights Group". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  19. ^ Russo, Bryan (January 21, 2016). "Legislation Eyed To Localize Prosecution Of Bomb Threat To Impacted Jurisdictions". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Bomb Threat Prosecution Bill Signed into Md. Law". WBOC-FM. May 19, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  21. ^ Soper, Shawn (December 8, 2016). "Proposed Reg Would Ban Bow-Riding In State Waters; Change Likely To Take Effect Before Summer". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  22. ^ "Bow Riding Ban Effort Derailed Temporarily; Legislature Will Have To Approve Quickly For Change This Summer". The Dispatch. March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Soper, Shawn (February 16, 2017). "Negligent Driving Bill Stems From Worcester Tragedy". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  24. ^ Soper, Shawn (January 31, 2019). "Negligent Driving Bill Introduced". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  25. ^ Soper, Shawn (January 21, 2021). "Senator Taking Another Shot At Wade's Law Legislation". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  26. ^ Soper, Shawn (March 25, 2021). "State Senate, House Likely To Approve Wade's Law". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  27. ^ "Legislation - SB0017". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  28. ^ Soper, Shawn (January 11, 2018). "Special Event Zone Idea Advances With Legislation Planned In Annapolis". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  29. ^ Soper, Shawn (March 7, 2019). "Strong OC Support For Revised Special Event Zone Bill". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  30. ^ Soper, Shawn (February 6, 2020). "Enhanced Event Bill Includes Exhibition Driving". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  31. ^ Soper, Shawn (March 19, 2020). "Tougher Special Event Bill Passed". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "Debate Over Back to School Start Date Continues". WBOC-FM. February 13, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  33. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Gaines, Danielle E. (March 28, 2019). "Dems Strike Back, Overriding Hogan's Vetoes". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  34. ^ Gaines, Danielle E.; Gaskill, Hannah; Shwe, Elizabeth (December 6, 2021). "Senate Votes to Override Hogan's Veto of Parole Reform Bill, More than a Dozen Other Measures". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  35. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (March 31, 2021). "Lawmakers Restructure the Role of School Police and Rethink School Disciplinary Measures". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  36. ^ "Dredging Letter Of Intent Planned". The Dispatch. May 7, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "More Inlet Dredging Called Critical By County, Fishermen". The Dispatch. April 9, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  38. ^ "Dredging Planned for Ocean City Inlet". WBOC-FM. June 23, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Russo, Bryan (February 18, 2016). "Legislative Digest, Hydraulic Clam Dredging A Hot Issue In Annapolis". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  40. ^ "Maryland House Votes to Override Renewable Energy Bill Veto". WBOC-FM. January 31, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  41. ^ Kurtz, Josh (June 2, 2021). "Winds of Change: Source of Power and Struggle". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  42. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 29, 2021). "Ocean City Officials Make Last-Ditch Effort on Offshore Wind, But They're Outnumbered at Hearing". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  43. ^ Kurtz, Josh (September 18, 2018). "LCV Scores Show Good, Bad and Ugly of Lawmakers' Support for Green Issues". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  44. ^ Soper, Shawn (February 25, 2021). "Balloon Bill Breezes House, Lands In Senate Committee". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  45. ^ "Legislation - HB0391". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  46. ^ Soper, Shawn (March 9, 2017). "House Rejects Seasonal Clause For Paid Sick Leave Legislation". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  47. ^ Russo, Bryan (April 7, 2016). "Paid Sick Leave Bill Clears House, Heads To Senate; Changes Spark Major Concerns For Resort Operations". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  48. ^ Soper, Shawn (November 5, 2019). "UPDATED: After Local's Death From Allergic Reaction, OC Council Member Suggests Law Change On EpiPens In Private Establishments; Senator Researching Potential Chris's Law". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  49. ^ Soper, Shawn (February 4, 2020). "Bill Would Allow EpiPens In Some Maryland Food Service Establishments". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  50. ^ Soper, Shawn (March 19, 2020). "Approved Bill Allows Restaurants To Carry EpiPens". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  51. ^ Sharpe, Charlene (April 1, 2021). "Legislation Banning Jails From Housing ICE Detainees Advances". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  52. ^ Soper, Shawn (May 27, 2021). "Governor Vetoes Bill With Major Impact On County Jail". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  53. ^ Sharpe, Charlene (December 9, 2021). "Veto Override Carries Major County Jail Impact". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  54. ^ "Legislative Loophole On Pot Smoking In Public Targeted". The Dispatch. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  55. ^ "Governor Slaps Veto On Public Pot Smoking Law". The Dispatch. May 28, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  56. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (March 14, 2019). "One-Stop Shopping: A Roundup of Wednesday's Major Developments". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  57. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (June 14, 2021). "Top Lawmakers Call Use of Force By Ocean City Police "Disturbing"". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  58. ^ Soper, Shawn (June 17, 2021). "Mayor, Senator Defend Ocean City Police's Use Of Force; Local NAACP President Seeks Third-Party Investigation". The Dispatch. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  59. ^ Leckrone, Bennett (June 9, 2021). "Redistricting Commission Urged To Adopt Single-Member Delegate Districts At First Public Hearing". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  60. ^ "Maryland General Assembly Approves New Congressional Map". WBOC-FM. December 9, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  61. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  62. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  63. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  64. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 1, 2022.

External links[edit]