Michael D. Smigiel Sr.

Michael D. Smigiel Sr. (June 18, 1958 – August 28, 2022) was an American politician who was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, where he represented District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. He was first elected in 2002 along with fellow Republicans Richard Sossi and Mary Roe Walkup after the legislative boundaries were redrawn.[1] Prior to 2002, District 36 had a separate representative for Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties. After combining the districts, Smigiel won the seat previously occupied by former Elkton Mayor, James Crouse. Crouse was appointed to the seat in July 2001 following Governor Parris Glendenning's appointment of longtime Elkton Delegate Ronald A. Guns to the Public Service Commission.[2][3] In 2006, he defeated Democratic challenger Mark Guns for reelection. In the 2006 election, the voting method returned to voting for a representative for each county.[4]

Michael D. Smigiel Sr.
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 36th district
In office
January 8, 2003 – January 14, 2015
Preceded byJames G. Crouse
Succeeded byJefferson L. Ghrist
ConstituencyUpper Eastern Shore of Maryland
Personal details
Born(1958-06-18)June 18, 1958
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedAugust 28, 2022(2022-08-28) (aged 64)
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionAttorney

Education

Smigiel attended Elgin Community College in Elgin, Illinois. There he received his A.A. degree in psychology and history in 1982. After community college, he went to undergraduate school at Northern Illinois University, where he got his B.A. in political science in 1985. In 1989, he received his J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law. Michael served as president of his law school class.

Career

After high school, Smigiel served in the United States Marine Corps from 1975 until 1979. After college, Smigiel was admitted to Maryland Bar in 1989 and worked thereafter as an attorney. He was also a member of the Cecil County Bar Association, where he served as chair of the ethics committee and as a member of the board of directors. He also belonged to the Maryland Association of Justice.

Smigiel was also the founder of Mediation, Inc., and alternative dispute resolution center. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Bainbridge Naval Training Center Historical Association, Inc.

In the legislature

In the Maryland General Assembly, Smigiel held the position of Minority Parliamentarian and was on the Judiciary Committee where he was a member of the criminal justice subcommittee and was active on several work-groups. He was previously a Deputy Minority Whip from 2003 to 2006 and a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee.[5] Smigiel served as Vice Chair of the Juvenile subcommittee, and was the Vice Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation representing the nine counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In addition, Smigiel was the founder and chairperson of the Maryland House of Delegates Tea Party Caucus.

Legislative notes
  • in 2014 Co-Sponsored legislation to cut off the National Security Agency's water and electricity if the agency continued to collect electronic data without specific warrants.[6][7]
  • in 2013 Co-Sponsored legislation to require a 2/3rds vote in the General Assembly to raise taxes[8]
  • in 2013 Sponsored a bill to repeal the use of speed cameras[9]
  • in 2013 Co-Sponsored legislation to impose larger penalties on local governments found to have violated Maryland's open meeting law[10]
  • in 2012 Co-sponsored bill to require health insurance carriers to provide coverage of Telemedicine services[11]
  • in 2011 Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to make appropriations subject to petition for a referendum, which are currently exempt under Maryland law[12]
  • in 2010 Co Sponsored a 'Taxpayers Bill of Rights' constitutional amendment which would have required certain new taxes be placed to a popular vote, limited increases in the state budget to the amount of inflation plus annual population increase
  • voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)[13]
  • voted against the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)[14]
  • voted for slots in 2005 (HB1361)[15]

Task Force, Boards and Commissions

In 2012, Smigiel was appointed by Maryland legislative leaders to a task force to study the impact of a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling regarding the liability of owners of pit bulls and landlords that rent to them.[16]

Congressional Run

In 2016, Smigiel sought the Republican nomination for Maryland's 1st congressional district, challenging incumbent Andy Harris in the party primary. Smiegel claimed that he felt "betrayed" by Harris and other Republicans, and attacked the incumbent from a conservative position on education, state powers, free markets, and taxation.[17] He was overwhelmingly defeated by Harris.[18][19]

Death

Smigiel died at the age of 64 from a heart disease on August 28, 2022.[20]

Election results
  • 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36 Cecil County[21]
Voters to choose one per county:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Michael D. Smigiel Sr., Rep. 17,764   53.4%    Won
Mark Guns, Dem. 15,475   46.6%    Lost
  • 2002 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36[21]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Richard Sossi, Rep. 19,098   19.0%    Won
Michael D. Smigiel Sr., Rep. 19,216   19.1%    Won
Mary Roe Walkup, Rep. 28,230   28.0%    Won
Wheeler R. Baker, Dem. 17,575   17.5%    Lost
James G. Crouse, Dem. 16,329   16.2%    Lost
Other Write-Ins 277   0.3%    

References and notes
  1. "2002 Gubernatorial Election". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland Board of Elections. December 2, 2002. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  2. "1998 Gubernatorial Election". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland Board of Elections. October 24, 2000. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  3. "Maryland House of Delegates, Appointments by Governor to". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 14, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  4. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland Board of Elections. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  5. "Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 11, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  6. "House Bill 1074 Fourth Amendment Protection Act" (PDF). mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. February 6, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  7. Jackson, Alex (February 12, 2014). "Kipke, other delegates withdraw support of proposal to cut off NSA utilities". The Capital. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  8. "House Bill 363 Constitutional Amendment" (PDF). mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  9. "GAM-HB0251 Summary 2013 Regular Session". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly.
  10. "House Bill 331" (PDF). mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  11. "House Bill 1149" (PDF). mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  12. "BILL INFO-2011 Regular Session-HB 10". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly.
  13. "2007 Regular Session - Vote Record 0690". Maryland Legislative Information System. Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Archived from the original on January 24, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  14. "BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 359". Maryland Legislative Information System. Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  15. "2005 Regular Session - Vote Record 0152". Maryland Legislative Information System. Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Archived from the original on April 25, 2005. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  16. Dresser, Michael (June 19, 2012). "Pitbull Panel Looks to One Standard for All Breeds". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  17. Holland, Liz (April 25, 2016). "Andy Harris not worried about GOP challenges in primary". The Daily Times. Salisbury, Maryland. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  18. "MD-GOP-House-Contested". The Washington Post. Associated Press. April 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  19. Bollinger, Josh (April 27, 2016). "Rep. Harris wins Republican nomination". Cecil Whig. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019.
  20. Lash, Steve (August 30, 2022). "Ex-Del. Mike Smigiel, whose affection crossed party lines, dies at 64". The Daily Record. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  21. "House of Delegates Results". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
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