# David R. Craig

David R. Craig (born June 12, 1949) is an American Republican Party politician from the State of Maryland who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maryland in 2014. He was appointed, and sworn in as Harford County Executive on July 7, 2005. Craig was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. Craig previously served in the Maryland State Senate from 1995 to 1999, representing Harford County, and from 1990 to 1994 in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was also elected mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989, and 2001 to 2005. Craig was a teacher and assistant principal in the Harford County Public School System for 34 years.

## Early life and education

Craig was born in 1949 in Havre de Grace, Maryland to Joseph E. Craig (1917–2011). He graduated Havre de Grace High School in 1967, and obtained a B.S. in History from Towson University in 1971 and a master's degree from Morgan State University.

## Personal life

Craig married his high school sweetheart, Melinda Lee Blevins, in 1971. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

## Teaching career

Craig spent 34 years in the Harford County Public School System as a teacher and assistant principal. He began teaching in 1971 at Edgewood Junior High School. He then taught at Havre de Grace Community School for seven years, and later at Magnolia Middle School, Aberdeen High School, and Edgewood High School.

## Political career
### Local government

Craig began his political career serving on the Havre de Grace City Council. Beginning in 1979, he was elected to three consecutive two-year terms. He was elected mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989 and 2001 to 2005. He resigned upon being sworn in as the Harford County Executive.

### Maryland House of Delegates

Craig was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1990, representing District 34 (Harford County). He was a member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1991–92; Ways and Means Committee, 1992–93 (education subcommittee); and Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1994. He was the vice chair of the Harford County Delegation in 1993.

### Maryland State Senate

Craig was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1994 and served until 1999, representing District 34 (Harford County). He was a member of the Joint Committee to Study Mandates on Local Government, 1995–97; Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee, 1995–99 (education subcommittee; health subcommittee); Executive Nominations Committee, 1995–99; Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1995–99; and Joint Committee on Protocol. He was the chair of the Harford County Delegation, 1998–99.

### Harford County Executive

Craig ran for Harford County Executive in 1998 against then-Delegate James Harkins. Harkins defeated Craig in the Republican primary and was subsequently re-elected in 2002. Harkins resigned as County Executive to become Director of Maryland Environmental Service in 2005, and Craig was appointed by the County Council to fulfill the term. Craig was then elected as County Executive in 2006 and 2010. As mayor of Havre de Grace, Craig was elected president of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in 2005, and in 2010 as County Executive, 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.

## 2014 Maryland gubernatorial candidacy

David Craig announced his candidacy for governor of Maryland on July 3, 2013. His position platform included phasing out the income tax in Maryland. He was defeated by Larry Hogan in the Republican gubernatorial primary on June 24, 2014.

## Election results

* 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-ins 75  0.1%  Lost
* 1998 race for Harford County Executive - Harford County - Republican primary
       Voters to choose one:
    Name Votes Percent Outcome James Harkins, Rep. 8,324  56%  Won David R. Craig, Rep. 6,378  43%  Lost Vedell Pace, Rep. 184  1%  Lost
* 1994 race for Maryland State Senate – District 34 - Harford County
       Voters to choose one:
    Name Votes Percent Outcome David R. Craig, Rep. 17,444  54%  Won Habern W. Freeman, Dem. 14,676  46%  Lost
* 1990 race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 34 - Harford County
       Voters to choose three:
    Name Votes Percent Outcome Rose Mary Hatem Bonsack, Dem. 13,373  19%  Won Mary Louise Preis, 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

## Legacy

The David Craig Park on Saint John Street in Havre de Grace was named after him.