Jason C. Buckel
Jason Buckel | |
---|---|
Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates | |
Assumed office April 13, 2021 | |
Whip | Haven Shoemaker Jesse Pippy |
Preceded by | Nic Kipke |
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 1B district | |
Assumed office January 14, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Kevin Kelly |
Personal details | |
Born | Jason Cord Buckel November 3, 1971 Allegany County, Maryland, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Children | 1 |
Residence(s) | Cumberland, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | George Mason University (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD) |
Signature | |
Jason Cord Buckel (born November 3, 1971) is an American politician, and the minority leader in the Maryland House of Delegates. He has represented District 1B since 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1]
Early life and career
Buckel was born in
Buckel became involved with politics in 2006, when he became a member of the Maryland Republican Party.[1] In 2012, Buckel led the Allegany County campaign for Alex Mooney's exploratory bid in Maryland's 6th congressional district.[2] In February 2014, he filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates, seeking to unseat incumbent Delegate Kevin Kelly.[3] He defeated Kelly in the general election, receiving 58.9 percent of the vote.[4]
In the legislature
Buckel was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. From 2017 to 2018, he served as the Chief Deputy Minority Whip for the House Republican Caucus,[1] and as the Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates since April 2021.[5]
In 2016, Buckel filed to run for delegate for the Republican National Convention, representing Marco Rubio. He received 1.8 percent of the vote in the primary election.[6]
On April 10, 2023, less than 10 minutes before the legislature adjourned
Committee assignments
- Member, Ways and Means Committee, 2015–present (election law subcommittee, 2015–2017; finance resources subcommittee, 2015–2019; revenues subcommittee, 2017–present; racing & gaming subcommittee, 2020–present)
- Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2019–present
- Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2021–present
- Legislative Policy Committee, 2021–present
- Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2021–present
- Spending Affordability Committee, 2021–present
- Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission, 2021–present
- Consent Calendars Committee, 2021–present
- House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Work Group, 2021–present
- Member, Tax Credit Evaluation Committee, 2017–2021
- Work Group to Address Police Reform and Accountability in Maryland, 2020
Other memberships
- House Chair, Allegany County Delegation, 2016–present
- Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, 2014–present
West Virginia annexation letter
In October 2021, he was one of five Maryland state legislators from Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties who sent a pair of letters to West Virginia officials asking about annexation of Western Maryland to West Virginia.[11][12] These letters caused a local uproar, with Allegany County officials calling the request a political stunt, an embarrassment and unneeded distraction.[13] Following criticism from local officials and some constituents, Buckel and State Senator George Edwards issued a letter withdrawing support for the secession proposal.[14]
Legal affairs
In December 2021, harassment charges were filed against Buckel in relation to his pending divorce. The complaint detailed more than three dozen messages sent by Buckel through
In August 2023, WBFF reported that Buckel was under investigation for making death threats against a police officer who was dating his ex-wife. According to the police report, Buckel unexpectedly encountered his ex-wife and her boyfriend at a music festival at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, and became alert after noticing his son was not with them. He then began texting his ex-wife to ask where his son was, and approached an off-duty officer and said he would "put a bullet" in her boyfriend's head. The investigation was closed after Allegany County detectives interviewed Buckel about the incident, and no criminal charges were filed. In a statement to WBFF, Buckel disputed claims that he threatened her boyfriend.[17]
Political positions
Elections
Buckel opposed legislation introduced during the 2022 legislative session that banned regulated lobbyists from contributing from their personal funds to a candidate with the intent of influencing action from the candidate, questioning the bill's constitutionality amid the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC decision.[18]
Energy
Buckel disagreed with Governor Larry Hogan's decision to support a ban on fracking in Maryland, saying that it would have brought jobs to Allegany and Garrett counties.[19]
Gun policy
Buckel does not support gun control regulations, saying that the government "does not have a right" to regulate firearms.[20]
In March 2022, during a debate on a bill that would ban sales of privately made firearms, Buckel introduced an amendment that would strengthen convictions for people convicted of firearm theft. The amendment was rejected on a vote of 50–80.[21]
Housing
During the 2024 legislative session, Buckel opposed legislation to give tenants the right of first refusal if the property owner of their residence seeks to sell the property, saying that it would disincentivize developers from building in Maryland.[22]
Immigration
Buckel opposed legislation introduced in the 2021 legislative session that prohibited state and local governments from providing records or data to
Justice
Buckel introduced legislation in the 2015 legislative session that would block law clinics from fighting against Maryland state agencies in court.[24] The bill received an unfavorable report from the House Appropriations Committee.[25]
Buckel opposed legislation introduced during the 2021 legislative session that would remove the Governor of Maryland from the parole process for people serving life sentences. The Maryland General Assembly voted to override Governor Hogan's veto on the bill during its special legislative session on December 7, 2021.[26] Buckel also opposed legislation that would prohibit life without parole sentences for juvenile offenders, and introduced an amendment during the debate on the bill that would have banned it from applying to past offenses. The amendment was rejected in a 52–83 vote.[27]
Labor
Buckel opposes right-to-work laws, calling them "not necessary and not feasible." He also supports providing workers with prevailing wages on government projects.[28]
Marijuana
Buckel opposes
Redistricting
Buckel supports using single-member districts in the Maryland House of Delegates.[31]
In August 2015, Buckel was appointed to the Maryland Redistricting Reform Commission by Governor Larry Hogan.[32]
In July 2021, Buckel was appointed to the Maryland Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission, which consisted of the leaders of each chamber of the Maryland General Assembly.[33] He objected to the maps adopted by the commission over country splits.[34] He later introduced an amendment that would switch the legislative redistricting panel's maps with those proposed by the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission. The amendment was rejected in a 43–93 vote.[35][36] Buckel also opposed the legislative maps passed by the General Assembly in January 2022, saying that the legislative panel's map was drawn for partisan gain.[37] He also opposed congressional maps passed by the General Assembly in March 2022.[38]
Taxes
Buckel opposes introducing any new taxes,
In April 2021, Buckel voted against legislation that would allow counties to set local income taxes at different rates for lower-income and wealthy residents.[39]
In March 2022, Buckel voted against legislation that would extend a tax on
Transportation
Buckel supports restoring highway user funds, saying that much of the funding is now being used for mass transit projects in metropolitan areas.[20]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason C. Buckel | 1,972 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason C. Buckel | 6,664 | 58.9% |
Republican | Kevin Kelly | 4,623 | 40.9% |
N/A | Other Write-ins | 21 | 0.2% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Republican | Wendell Beitzel (Trump) | 31,647 | 17.2% |
Republican | Joeylynn Hough (Trump) | 29,402 | 15.9% |
Republican | Barrie S. Ciliberti (Trump)
|
29,402 | 15.9% |
Republican | Neil C. Parrott (Cruz )
|
15,439 | 8.4% |
Republican | Michael Hough (Cruz) | 14,809 | 8.0% |
Republican | Brett Wilson (Cruz) | 13,878 | 7.5% |
Republican | Jake Shade (Kasich) | 13,036 | 7.1% |
Republican | Jason C. Buckel (Rubio) | 3,291 | 1.8% |
Republican | William Joseph Wivell (Carson )
|
3,112 | 1.7% |
Republican | Dave Caporale (Rubio) | 3,018 | 1.6% |
Republican | Mike McKay | 2,832 | 1.5% |
Republican | Erich Bean (Rubio) | 2,319 | 1.3% |
Republican | Laura Gabrielle Lightstone (Carson) | 2,197 | 1.2% |
Republican | Doro Bush Koch (Bush) | 1,999 | 1.1% |
Republican | Henry M. Ramirez (Bush) | 1,712 | 0.9% |
Republican | Marc A. Antonetti (Fiorina) | 1,320 | 0.7% |
Republican | Ignacio E. Sanchez (Bush) | 1,169 | 0.6% |
Republican | Ruth Marie Umbel (Christie) | 1,131 | 0.6% |
Republican | Daniel F. C. Crowley | 997 | 0.5% |
Republican | Robert Mitchell Wolfe (Fiorina) | 981 | 0.5% |
Republican | Kimberly Euler | 786 | 0.4% |
Republican | Cynthia Houser | 771 | 0.4% |
Republican | Billy Shreve | 766 | 0.4% |
Republican | Linda Lee Seibert | 642 | 0.3% |
Republican | Sandra Marie Myers | 623 | 0.3% |
Republican | Billy Shreve | 766 | 0.4% |
Republican | Scott L. Wolff | 600 | 0.3% |
Republican | Robert Schaefer | 570 | 0.3% |
Republican | Josephine J. Wang (Christie) | 551 | 0.3% |
Republican | Patricia A. Reilly | 549 | 0.3% |
Republican | Ryan Richard Miner | 471 | 0.3% |
Republican | Laura Patallo Sanchez | 378 | 0.2% |
Republican | Donna Buser Wallizer | 357 | 0.2% |
Republican | Therese Marie Shaheen | 346 | 0.2% |
Republican | Darren Wigfield | 336 | 0.2% |
Republican | Lawrence T. Di Rita | 287 | 0.2% |
Republican | Monica L. Stallworth | 247 | 0.1% |
Republican | Eric Salzano | 168 | 0.1% |
Republican | William S. Richbourg | 135 | 0.1% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason C. Buckel | 3,196 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jason C. Buckel | 8,074 | 62.6% |
Republican | Penny Lyn Walker | 4,826 | 37.4% |
N/A | Other Write-ins | 5 | 0.0% |
References
- ^ a b c d "Jason C. Buckel, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Mooney Names Coordinators For Congressional Bid". WJZ-TV. January 5, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Bieniek, Matthew (November 4, 2014). "Buckel defeats Kelly, McKay leads Scarpelli". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- Baltimore Banner. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Gaskill, Hannah (April 11, 2023). "Maryland House erupts in chaos with just moments left in session as disgruntled Republicans shout at speaker". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ a b Cox, Erin (April 11, 2023). "Md. Republicans demanded the speaker step aside. Black lawmakers demand an apology". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Wood, Pamela (October 22, 2021). "Western Maryland lawmakers ask West Virginia officials to 'consider adding us' to their state". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 23, 2021 – via MSN.
- ^ Gawel, Anna (October 22, 2021). "West Virginia governor would welcome 3 Western Md. counties with 'open arms'". WTOP-FM. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "President Shade Comments, Oct.21, 2021 Board of Commissioners Meeting RE Letter to State of WV". Allegany County Government. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Edwards, Buckel withdraw support for secession efforts". WCBC (AM). October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Collins, Gary (August 14, 2023). "Maryland GOP leader faced investigation for alleged comments about killing ex-wife's new boyfriend". WBFF. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Larry, Greg (October 23, 2018). "Candidates for Md. House of Delegates spar over fracking". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ a b c Bieniek, Matthew (October 6, 2014). "Candidates agree on key issues". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Bieniek, Matthew (February 24, 2015). "Law school dean concerned by law clinic bill". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Bieniek, Matthew (March 13, 2015). "Law clinic bill voted down in House committee". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Bieniek, Matthew (August 14, 2014). "Candidates discuss stands on labor, other issues". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Bienek, Matthew (October 7, 2014). "Candidates discuss marijuana laws". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Witte, Brian (February 23, 2022). "Recreational Marijuana Bill Advances In Maryland House". WJZ-TV. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Buckel named to the Maryland Redistricting Reform Commission". Cumberland Times-News. August 25, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Bieniek, Matthew (July 28, 2014). "Local candidates oppose tobacco tax hike proposal". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Poll shows support for increased tobacco tax — Rural areas least supportive". Cumberland Times-News. February 19, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2022.