Brian Chisholm
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Serving with Nic Kipke and Rachel Muñoz
Preceded byMeagan Simonaire
ConstituencyDistrict 31B (2019–2023)
31st district (2023–present)
Personal details
Born
Brian Alan Chisholm

(1970-11-07) November 7, 1970 (age 53)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKristie
Children1
Residence(s)Severna Park, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materClemson University
OccupationMortgage Banker

Brian Alan Chisholm (born November 7, 1970) is an American politician who represents northern Anne Arundel County in the Maryland House of Delegates. A member of the Republican Party, he represented District 31B from 2019 to 2023, afterwards representing the 31st district.[1]

Early life and education

Chisholm was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from Severna Park High School in Severna Park, Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Clemson University.[1]

Political career

Chisholm was a member of the Pension Oversight Commission of Anne Arundel County, Maryland from 2015 to 2018. He was vice-chair of the commission from 2017 to 2018.[1]

In 2014, Chisholm ran for election to one of two District 31B seats in the Maryland House of Delegates, but came in fourth in a field of eight candidates in the Republican primary. On October 19, 2017, he announced that he would again run for the House of Delegates,[2] and, together with incumbent and fellow Republican Nic Kipke, won.[3] He is running for re-election in 2022.[4]

As of June 2022, Chisholm is a member of the following committees:[1]

Personal life

Chisholm currently lives in Severna Park, Maryland and works as a mortgage banker. He is married and has one child.[1]

Chisholm co-owns, with Delegate Sid Saab, a fitness gym in Severna Park.[5][6] In February 2021, a former employee filed a lawsuit against the two lawmakers, alleging that she was retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment by another co-worker.[7]

Political positions

COVID-19 pandemic

In April 2020, Chisholm sent a letter to the Maryland Department of Health asking the agency to publicly release more information about COVID-19 outbreaks in elder care facilities.[8]

In May 2020, Chisholm attended a Reopen Maryland rally to protest COVID-19 restrictions put into place through executive orders by Governor Larry Hogan.[9]

Chisholm introduced legislation during the 2021 legislative session that would provide a property tax credit to businesses in Anne Arundel County that were affected by the state's COVID-19 emergency declarations. The bill received a favorable report from the Anne Arundel County Delegation,[10] but stalled in committee.[11]

Criminal justice

In July 2020, Chisholm organized a "Back the Blue" rally in Annapolis,[12] which he said was separate from the Black Lives Matter movement.[13]

In 2021, Chisholm opposed legislation that would remove the governor of Maryland from the Maryland Parole Commission, and introduced an amendment that would require inmates serving a life sentence to get "unanimous agreement" from the state's parole board to be released. His amendment was rejected in a 91–41 vote.[14]

Education

In April 2023, Chisholm sent a letter to State Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury accusing the Maryland State Department of Education of hiding scores from failing scores by altering data files available on the department's website. An investigation conducted by the state inspector general found no evidence of these claims.[15]

Electoral reform

In 2021, Chisholm opposed legislation that would allow register voters to opt-in to an absentee ballot list instead of reapplying for mail-in ballots before statewide elections, introducing an amendment that would require voters to have a government-issued ID to vote. His amendment was rejected.[16]

Taxes

In 2021, Chisholm opposed legislation that would allow Maryland counties to set up a progressive income tax, introducing an amendment that would have required counties to lower the tax on lower income brackets if officials opt to increase the tax for higher income brackets. His amendment was rejected.[17]

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 31B Republican Primary Election, 2014[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nicholaus R. Kipke 3,920 31.0
Republican Meagan C. Simonaire 3,075 24.3
Republican Gus Kurtz 1,779 14.1
Republican Brian A. Chisholm 1,607 12.7
Republican Faith M. Loudon 1,017 8.1
Republican Don Dwyer, Jr. 890 7.0
Republican Paul William Drgos, Jr. 230 1.8
Republican David Lee Therrien 111 0.9
Maryland House of Delegates District 31B Republican Primary Election, 2018[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nicholaus R. Kipke 4,579 43.2
Republican Brian Chisholm 4,119 38.9
Republican John R. Leopold 1,030 9.7
Republican David Therrien 863 8.1
Maryland House of Delegates District 31B Election, 2018[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Chisholm 20,573 33.2
Republican Nicholaus R. Kipke 20,434 33.0
Democratic Karen Patricia Simpson 11,257 18.2
Democratic Harry E. Freeman 9,602 15.5
Write-in Others 49 0.1

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Brian A. Chisholm". Maryland Manual On-Line. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Cook, Chase (October 19, 2017). "Severna Park Republican announces run for District 31B delegate seat". Capital Gazette. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Cook, Chase (June 26, 2018). "Leopold comeback ends as Kipke, Chisholm have majority lead in delegate race". Capital Gazette. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Munro, Dana (February 23, 2022). "Severna Park Del. Brian Chisholm runs for reelection in District 31". Capital Gazette. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Seiss, Jane (October 2, 2018). "New RockWell Fitness Owners Plan Improvements At Community Gym". Severna Park Voice. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Hernández, Arelis; Wiggins, Ovetta (January 9, 2019). "Meet the freshman class of the Maryland General Assembly". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  7. ^ DuBose, Brooks (February 26, 2021). "Two Anne Arundel delegates sued by former gym employee who claims she was fired after reporting sexual harassment". The Baltimore Sun. Capital Gazette. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  8. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (April 26, 2020). "House Republicans Press Hogan Administration for Data on Prisons, Nursing Homes". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (May 15, 2020). "Protesters at Annapolis Reopen Rally Call for an End to 'Tyranny'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  10. ^ Sanchez, Olivia (February 12, 2021). "Anne Arundel state delegation votes to support business property tax credits during state of emergency". The Baltimore Sun. Capital Gazette. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Sanchez, Olivia (March 22, 2021). "General Assembly crossover deadline arrives as Anne Arundel lawmakers work to pass bills". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  12. ^ "Maryland delegates organize rally to support police in Annapolis". The Baltimore Sun. Carroll County Times. July 21, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  13. ^ DuBose, Brooks (July 23, 2020). "Maryland Republicans delegates host Back the Blue rally in Annapolis to support law enforcement". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  14. ^ Leckrone, Bennett (March 3, 2021). "House of Delegates Moves Forward with Reform to De-Politicize Parole Decisions". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  15. ^ Reed, Lillian (May 9, 2023). "Maryland State Department of Education did not cover up test scores from failing schools, inspector finds". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Leckrone, Bennett (March 4, 2021). "House Rejects Republicans' Amendments to Expanding Absentee Ballot List". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Maryland Matters Staff (April 8, 2021). "Bills on the Move: Procurement Reform, Local Tax Rates, Transit Funding, Balloons". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  19. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  20. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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