M.C. Keegan-Ayer
M.C. Keegan-Ayer | |
|---|---|
| Frederick County Councilmember, Ward 3 | |
| In office December 1, 2014 – December 1, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Bridgewater College |
Mary Catherine Keegan-Ayer[1] (known professionally as M.C. Keegan-Ayer) is an American politician. She represents district 3 on the Frederick County Council.
Education and professional career[edit]
Keegan-Ayer graduated from Bridgewater College with a degree in education.[2] After working as a first-grade teacher for two years, she worked on Capitol Hill in public policy and lobbying for American workers.[2] She worked part-time for the campaign of Congresswoman Beverly Byron.[2]
Keegan-Ayer served as president of West Frederick Middle School's Parent Teacher Student Association, where she asked the state of Maryland to fund upgrades to schools' technology[3] school renovations,[4] and expanding overcrowded schools.[5]
Political career[edit]
Frederick County Council[edit]
2014 campaign[edit]
Keegan-Ayer filed to run for the district 3 seat on the newly created Frederick County Council.[6]
Keegan-Ayer said she was running for Council in order to increase the civility and engagement between the county's government and its residents.[7] Keegan-Ayer said that the Council should only allow development where there is or will be adequate infrastructure to support the development.[7] Keegan-Ayer said she believes that the county's government must approve a budget that prioritizes spending to protect the health, safety and welfare of the county's citizens.[7] Keegan-Ayer stressed communication and collaboration both within the government and between the government and residents.[7] Keegan-Ayer said that educational funding is critically important for a successful county.[7]
Keegan-Ayer's candidacy was endorsed by the Frederick County Teachers Association,[8] and the Sierra Club's Maryland chapter.[9]
Keegan-Ayer won the Democratic primary election,[10] receiving 43 percent of the vote.[11] She advanced to the general election, where she appeared on the ballot with Denny Shafer who had won the Republican nomination.[10]
Keegan-Ayer won the general election,[12] receiving 56 percent of the vote.[13]
First term[edit]
Keegan-Ayer was sworn into office on December 1, 2014.[14] The Council voted to name her vice president of the Council.[15][16]
In 2015, the Council considered whether the county's budgeted expenses should be cut in order to allow for a property tax rate decrease of 1.5 percentage points.[17] Keegan-Ayer did not support the proposal, saying that the county should not cut education, firefighters, or sheriffs in order to reduce property taxes.[17] Keegan-Ayers also did not support a proposal to reduce the county's budget for snow-removal.[18] Instead, Keegan-Ayers proposed a decrease in road-striping and traffic-signal upgrades, eliminated a new position at the county's board of elections, and not to replace a 19-year-old camera truck used by the water and sewer department, all of which amounted to a $615,000 reduction to the budget.[18] Keegan-Ayer's budget amendment was approved by the Council.[18]
In 2016, Keegan-Ayer proposed a budget amendment to reduce the budget by $80,000 by eliminating marketing and promotional materials for the Office of Economic Development.[19] Keegan-Ayer also proposed an amendment to cut $30,300 from the budget of the Division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management for new trucks.[19]
Along with Councilmember Jessica Fitzwater, Keegan-Ayers introduced a bill to repeal an ordinance designating English as the county's official language.[20] Keegan-Ayers said the county ordinance does not change anything for the county government because local and federal laws require county forms to be made available in multiple languages.[21] Keegan-Ayers said the ordinance sends a message of intolerance to individuals and businesses who are considering moving to the county.[20] The bill to repeal the ordinance passed.[22]
Keegan-Ayer introduced a bill to allow cultivation of medical marijuana in greenhouses on properties with at least 25 acres of land.[23] The bill was opposed by the Frederick County Farm Bureau opposed growing medical marijuana in any agricultural area, and the Agriculture Business Council and the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board thought medical marijuana should only be grown in commercial-zoned areas.[24] When it looked like the bill would not pass, Keegan-Ayer withdrew it.[24]
Electoral history[edit]
2014[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | M.C. Keegan-Ayer | 1,133 | 43 | |
| Democratic | Sandra Reed | 558 | 21 | |
| Democratic | Dwaine Earl Robbins | 538 | 20 | |
| Democratic | Jesse Goode | 234 | 9 | |
| Democratic | Luis O. Mantilla | 173 | 7 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | M.C. Keegan-Ayer | 7,020 | 56 | |
| Republican | Denny Shafer | 5,403 | 43 | |
| Write-in | 11 | 0 | ||
References[edit]
- ↑ Christie, M.B. "Bell Atlantic Restructuring Moves Ahead: Changes Shift Some C & P Management Duties to Headquarters". The Washington Post. November 2, 1987. p. WB20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "M.C. Keegan-Ayer". Government of Frederick County, Maryland. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ Smoot-Kimble, Naomi. "West Frederick Middle hopes for early funds". The Frederick News-Post. April 5, 2005.
- ↑ Hinchcliffe, Kelly Ann. "Is West Frederick Middle safe?" The Frederick News-Post. March 9, 2006.
- ↑ "Rodgers, Bethany. Commissioners change APFO, zero out trailer-park tax". The Frederick News-Post. June 20, 2012.
- ↑ "On the ballot". The Frederick News-Post. February 25, 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "County Council District 3 candidate M.C. Keegan-Ayer". The Frederick News-Post. June 6, 2014.
- ↑ Rodgers, Bethany. "Afzali unwittingly draws crowd of eager reporters". The Frederick News-Post. April 11, 2014.
- ↑ Rodgers, Bethany. "Young, Gardner break bread together at Farm Bureau lunch". The Frederick News-Post. April 25, 2014.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Loos, Kelsi; Mullins, Patti Borda. "Voters pick County Council contenders". The Frederick News-Post. June 25, 2014.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial Primary Election, Frederick County, Maryland, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races, Official Final Results". Frederick County Board of Elections. July 8, 2014.
- ↑ Loos, Kelsi; Borda-Mullins, Patti. "At-large race favors Republicans in county council". The Frederick News-Post. November 5, 2014.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial General Election, Frederick County, Maryland, November 4, 2014, Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races, Official Results". Frederick County Board of Elections. November 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Six things to know this week". The Frederick News-Post. December 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Otis bests Shreve for County Council's top spot". The Frederick News-Post. December 2, 2014.
- ↑ "County Council of Frederick County Holds Historic First Meeting & Elects Officers". Targeted News Service. December 3, 2014.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Rodgers, Bethany. "Three County Council members look to cut spending, lower tax rates". The Frederick News-Post. April 29, 2015.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Rodgers, Bethany. "Frederick County Council advances budget with $615K in cuts". The Frederick News-Post. May 1, 2015.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Gaines, Danielle E. "Frederick County Council finishes work on budget amendments". The Frederick News-Post. May 3, 2016.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Loos, Kelly. "Bill introduced to repeal Frederick County's English-only ordinance". The Frederick News-Post. June 16, 2015.
- ↑ "2 council members work to repeal English-only ordinance". Associated Press. June 17, 2015.
- ↑ Loos, Kelsi. "Frederick County's English-only ordinance repealed". The Frederick News-Post. August 18, 2015.
- ↑ Gaines, Danielle E. "Sponsor says medical cannabis bill for ag areas won't go forward". The Frederick News-Post. October 4, 2016.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Gaines, Danielle E. "County struggles with solar, marijuana regs in ag land". The Frederick News-Post. July 14, 2016.
External links[edit]
 Current members of the Frederick County Council | ||
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| At-large |
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| District-level |
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a President b Vice President | ||
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