# Jim Hinebaugh

James Carlton Hinebaugh Jr. (born December 12, 1946) is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 1A in Garrett and Allegany counties. He previously served as a member of the Garrett County Board of Commissioners, representing District 3 from 2014 to 2022.

## Background

James Carlton Hinebaugh Jr. graduated from Southern Garrett High School. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in computer science and mathematics. In 1988, Hinebaugh graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Business Administration degree in public administration.
In 1966, Hinebaugh was activated in the United States Army and was deployed overseas for eight years, including service in Vietnam. He retired as a colonel in 1995.
In August 1995, Hinebaugh was appointed Director of the Garrett County Department of Economic Development. During his tenure, the department experienced numerous business expansions, a decrease in the unemployment rate from 13.7 percent in 1997 to 7.5 percent in 2011, and the creation of six industrial parks. He also helped establish the Garrett County Scholarships Program in 2006, which provides two years of free tuition at Garrett College to county high school graduates. He retired from this position on October 1, 2012.
In 2014, Hinebaugh ran for the Garrett County Board of Commissioners in District 3, challenging incumbent commissioner Bob Gatto. He defeated Gatto in the Republican primary, receiving 36.8 percent of the vote to Gatto's 33.3 percent. He won the general election with 47.7 percent of the vote.

## Garrett County Commissioner

Hinebaugh was sworn in as a member of the Garrett County Board of Commissioners on December 9, 2014. He won re-election to a second term in 2018.
In January 2019, Hinebaugh was elected on one-year term the Maryland Association of Counties board of directors. In December 2021, Hinebaugh was named to serve on the association's executive board.
In 2022, Hinebaugh filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 1A, seeking to succeed retiring state delegate Wendell R. Beitzel. He won the Republican primary on July 19, 2022, receiving 58.5 percent of the vote, and later won the general election on November 8.

## In the legislature

Hinebaugh was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

## Personal life

Hinebaugh is married to his wife Barbara. Together, they have four children, and live in Oakland, Maryland. Hinebaugh attends religious services at the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Oakland.

### Decorations and badges

Hinebaugh's decorations and medals include:
* Air Medal
* Bronze Star w/Combat V
* Defense Distinguished Service Medal
* Legion of Merit
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Valorous Unit Award
* Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry

## Electoral history

Garrett County Commissioner District 3 Republican primary election, 2014 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jim Hinebaugh | 1,486 | 36.8 |
| Republican | Bob Gatto (incumbent) | 1,346 | 33.3 |
| Republican | Dave Beard | 567 | 14.0 |
| Republican | Jeff Haines | 497 | 12.3 |
| Republican | Chad A. Maroney | 146 | 3.6 |
Garrett County Commissioner District 3 election, 2014 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jim Hinebaugh | 4,340 | 47.7 |
| Republican | Bob Gatto (write-in) | 1,703 | 18.7 |
| Independent | James R. "Smokey" Stanton | 1,423 | 15.6 |
| Libertarian | Bill Welch | 920 | 10.1 |
| Democratic | April Hebden | 699 | 7.7 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 21 | 0.2 |
Garrett County Commissioner District 3 Republican primary election, 2018 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jim Hinebaugh, Jr. | 1,302 | 38.9 |
| Republican | Bob Gatto | 1,221 | 36.4 |
| Republican | Fred Fox | 828 | 24.7 |
Garrett County Commissioner District 3 election, 2018 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jim Hinebaugh, Jr. | 8,031 | 82.3 |
| Republican | Bob Gatto (write-in) | 1,656 | 17.0 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 75 | 0.8 |
Maryland House of Delegates District 1A Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jim Hinebaugh Jr. | 3,900 | 58.5 |
| Republican | Tim Thomas | 2,184 | 32.7 |
| Republican | Andy Adams | 488 | 7.3 |
| Republican | Kenneth Linn Sisk | 98 | 1.5 |
Maryland House of Delegates District 1A election, 2022 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Jim Hinebaugh Jr. | 11,971 | 77.25 |
| Democratic | Robert Spear | 2,829 | 18.26 |
| Libertarian | Monique M. Mehring | 671 | 4.33 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 25 | 0.16 |