“Please be informed that I have decided not to seek reelection to the Maryland House of Delegates for District 1A for a fifth term in 2022. After considerable deliberation and consultation with family members and friends, I have concluded it is time to retire after serving out my fourth term as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
I first ran to seek election to the House of Delegates in 2006 after the former Delegate George Edwards, now Senator Edwards, announced his intention to seek election to become Senator. I won the Republican primary over four other Republicans seeking the position and handily won the general election over my Democratic opponent in the 2006 election. In 2010, 2014, and again in 2018 I won reelection with no opposition from my party and successfully overcame challenges from the Democratic opponents. Upon completion of this term I will have served a total of 16 years as the Delegate for District 1A, which comprises all of Garrett County and a large portion of Allegany County, primarily the George’s Creek area.
My first committee assignment after being sworn in in January of 2007 was the Health and Government Operation Committee, HGO. Shortly thereafter I requested to be moved to the Appropriations Committee when an opening became available. Since receiving that appointment I have stayed on the Appropriation Committee. In the Appropriations Committee I received assignments to the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee, Capital Budget Subcommittee and the Personnel Oversite Committee. In addition, I currently serve on the House Rules Committee, Spending Affordability Committee and for some time served on the Audit Committee. All of these committees and sub-committees have a large influence on matters pertaining to the area of the State that I represent.
I am the Chairman of the Western Maryland Delegation, Chair of Garrett County House Delegation, Co-chair of the Maryland Rural Maryland Caucus, co-chair of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and Minority Whip in the Appropriations Committee. I am also a member of Republican Caucus, Veterans Caucus, and represent the Maryland House of Delegates on the Maryland Tourism Development Board, and held the position as chairman of the Allegany County Delegation for more than two terms. One does not serve in a vacuum and even though I am very proud of what I was able to accomplish during my time in office as a Delegate,
I want to use this opportunity to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to those that helped alone the way. Frist and foremost, I want to thank all of citizens of Allegany and Garrett counties who voted for and supported me, which provided the opportunity to become a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. It has been a distinct honor and privilege to serve you here in the district and in Annapolis as a member of the Maryland House of Delegate and as a former County Commissioner.
This never would have happened without the advice, support and consent of my wife and partner, Ruth, who endured the pressures on a spouse of a politician serving in the capacity of this office. I do not think she ever expected this when she said “I do” to a young Army solider in Germany way back many years ago. Thanks you Ruth for sticking with me! Of course, a very special expression of gratitude goes out to my children, Chris, Tanya, to Ted, and our grandchildren, to my dad and mom, Ernest and Lena Beitzel and all of my ten siblings and their spouses. Someone told me that if I could get all of the Beitzel’s to vote for me I could not lose! It is impossible to express my genuine appreciation to Marta Schroyer, the Treasurer for my campaign committee, who has been with me for my entire political career as Delegate and County Commissioner.
I also want to thank the Garrett County and Allegany County Republican Central Committees, and the Republican Women’s Clubs of both counties, who have been instrumental in my success to win elections. During the course of my tenure I have been blessed with great legislative staff personnel. They have provided enormous legislative support and constituent services during sessions and through the interims. I started out with Brandon Butler as chief of staff, there were several in between, and I cannot say enough about my current chief of staff, Ben Reichard. Know that all of you have my appreciation. And then there is my friend and colleague, Senator Edwards. He opened the door for me when he ran to become Senator, and has just been tremendous to partner with to successfully pass impactful legislation and work on the budget process to benefit the district that we serve. Thank you George. Looks like we will go out together!”
