Charles R. Boutin

Charles Boutin (born March 7, 1942) was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 34A.

Charles R. Boutin
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 34A district
In office
January 13, 1999 – June 30, 2005
Succeeded bySheryl Davis Kohl
Mayor of Aberdeen
In office
1994–1998
Aberdeen City Council
In office
1992–1994
Personal details
Born (1942-03-07) March 7, 1942
Troy, New York
Political partyRepublican

Career

Charles Boutin was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1999 to represent District 34A, which covers portions of Harford and Cecil Counties. In and district that elected three candidates, he won the seat left open by Nancy Jacobs who ran for the Maryland State Senate. He shared this victory along with Democrats Mary-Dulany James and B. Daniel Riley.[1]

In 2002, the district was restructured to have only two representatives. All three candidates from the previous election ran, but only Boutin and Mary-Dulany James came out as winners.[2]

Boutin did not finish his term as he was appointed by Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) in 2005 to become a member of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC), the utility regulatory agency for the state, which he held until March 7, 2007, when, after allegations of exchanged e-mails with a suspected prostitute surfaced, he submitted his resignation.[3][4][5]

Governor Ehrlich appointed Sheryl Davis Kohl to replace Boutin as the Republican representative for District 34A.[6]

The PSC had been highly criticized by Democratic Baltimore mayor Martin O'Malley during the gubernatorial campaign for proposing an increase in electricity rates of more than 70%, making the PSC a hot issue. Many have stated that the problems with the electricity rates were out of the control of the PSC members and its chairman, Kenneth D. Schisler, as the Washington Post noted:

"Republicans said Schisler had been turned into a scapegoat for a situation that was largely out of his control. They argue that a failed effort at deregulating the electricity industry by the heavily Democratic legislature was responsible for the rate increases of recent years."[7] Boutin has since returned to practicing law.

Education

Boutin graduated from Siena College, the Catholic and Franciscan college in Loudonville, New York, in 1963 with a B.S. in economics. In 1970, he received his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Career

Boutine was admitted to Maryland Bar in 1972 and has since practiced as an attorney. He is a member of the Maryland State and Harford County Bar Associations.

In 1997, Boutin became a member of the Board of Education for Harford County and remained on the board until 1981. He served as president from 1979 until 1981. He was a member of the City Council for the City of Aberdeen, Maryland, from 1992 until 1994, when he was elected mayor for the City of Aberdeen. He was mayor until 1998, when he ran for the Maryland House of Delegates.

In addition to his legal and political work, he serves on the Board of Directors for the RipkenMuseum in Aberdeen, a position he has held since 1996. Boutin is also a member of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce .

His awards include the National Walmart award for Outstanding Leadership as a Small City Mayor, in 1997. He was also a finalist for the Outstanding Young Marylander by the Maryland Jaycees in 1979.

In the Maryland House of Delegates, Boutin served as Chief Deputy Minority Whip from 2003 until 2005. He was also a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee.

Legislative notes
  • voted for slots in 2005 (HB1361)

Election results
  • 2002 race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 34A - Cecil & Harford County[8]
Voters to choose two:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Charles R. Boutin, Rep. 11,182   34.8%    Won
Mary Dulany James, Dem. 10,947   34.1%    Won
B. Daniel Riley, Dem. 9,957   31.0%    Lost
Write-Ins 59   0.2%    Lost
  • 1998 race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36 - Harford County[9]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Mary Dulany James, Dem. 18,357   18%    Won
Charles R. Boutin, Rep. 17,844   18%    Won
B. Daniel Riley, Dem. 17,798   18%    Won
Robert E. Shaffner, Rep. 16,236   1%    Lost
Robin Walter, Dem. 15,370   15%    Lost
Michael Griffin, Rep. 15,207   15%    Lost

References and notes
  1. Maryland State Board of Elections
  2. Maryland State Board of Elections
  3. Washington Times - 2nd Ehrlich appointee resigns from PSC
  4. Justin Fenton (April 7, 2006). "PSC member used state account for sexual messages". Baltimoresun.com.
  5. Justin Fenton (April 8, 2008). "In e-mail, prostitute told friend she met with PSC member". baltimoresun.com.
  6. Maryland House of Delegates, Appointments by Governor to
  7. Top Utilities Regulator Resigns
  8. "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on November 3, 2007.
  9. "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on November 3, 2007.
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