Wendell R. Beitzel

Wendell R. Beitzel
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 1A district
Assumed office
January 10, 2007
Preceded by George C. Edwards
Personal details
Born (1943-01-17) January 17, 1943
Accident, Maryland
Political party Republican

Wendell R. Beitzel (born January 17, 1943) was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006 to represent District 1A, which covers the western Maryland counties of Garrett and Allegany County. He defeated Bill Aiken for the seat vacated by George C. Edwards, who ran for election as State Senator.

Education

Beitzel graduated from Fairmont State College in 1964 with his B.S. (biology). He later attended Frostburg State College to get his M.S. (management), graduating in 1978. He returned to Frostburg State University, and attained his M.B.A. in 1988.

Career

Beitzel served in U.S. Army from 1965-68. He was a microbiologist for the National Institute of Health from 1968-71. He was part owner of the Point View Inn & Motel from 1973–78, the Starlite Motel & Restaurant from 1978–83, and the Point View Inn & Motel from 1981-2003. He is President of Beitzel Enterprises, Inc., has been a farmer since 1983, and was also a Director of Infrastructure Development, D.C. Development LLC, 2003-06.

In his legislative biography, Beitzel identifies himself as the President of Beitzel Enterprises, Inc.[1] According to the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation, the corporate charter for Beitzel Enterprises was forfeited on October 1, 2010 for not filing the required annual property tax return for 2009. As of May 2015, the foreiture is still outstanding and the required return and/or taxes have not been filed.[2] The corporation's charter had also been forfeited previously in 1989.

Rural Legacy Controversy

Beitzel was the subject of criticism in 2011 when he received $427,000.00 in state funds for agreeing not to develop farm land he owned. The deal actually cost the state of Maryland $455,000, since they also contributed fees for appraisal and other professional services, totaling $28,000.00. Garrett County citizens and journalists felt that receiving this money from the state, while serving as a state delegate, was suspicious. The action drew further criticism recently, as Beitzel pushed to have preservation easements changed, allowing him and other large property owners to open their preserved land up to natural gas drilling.[3]

Legislative Record

Even though Garrett County has a large number of citizens at or below the poverty level and is receiving aid from various assistance programs, in March 2014 he voted against raising the minimum wage. The bill would have raised MD state minimum wages from $7.25 p/hour to $10.10 p/hour. The House of Delegates voted 89 to 46 for the legislation, with Beitzel being one delegate who voted against it, and spoke out against a wage increase for Garrett Counties' ailing working class.[4]

In 2016 Beitzel opposed legislation that would prohibit carrying firearms and deadly weapons on Maryland college campuses. Beitzel "voiced opposition to this bill during a meeting with Frostburg students on a visit to the Maryland State House. Beitzel said that the Constitutional right to bear arms should not be violated." [5]

Campaign Fundraising Irregularities

In February 2016, the Washington Post ran an article [6] reporting that 1 in 10 Maryland legislators had improperly solicited campaign donation while in session, which is prohibited by a state ban on this activity. Beitzel was reported as one legislator violating the ban through his website, however his donation page was taken down later in the session. According to The Post "The public criticism sent other lawmakers scrambling to scrub their online presences of references to donations."

"Government ethics advocates say the fundraising ban is in place for good reason. Legislators cannot accept donations with one hand and vote on issues related to that donor with the other,” said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, director of Common Cause Maryland. “Even if the delegate or senator does return it, there is still a transaction where a donor’s name came into the legislator’s possession, and that can influence a legislator’s vote.”

Marcellus Shale Controversy

Beitzel said he has been supporting the practice for drilling and as a landowner served to gain from drilling. “I’ve been criticized from potentially benefitting financially from (drilling),” said Beitzel, who added he would benefit more than those who had Marcellus Shale on their property.[7]

The issue of Marcellus Shale gas development has been very controversial in Beitzel's district. In a September 2012 interview with the Daily Record, he said " I think Western Maryland … has just been really [mistreated] by our state government and our legislators.” He described a bill to prevent gas drilling until a study ordered by Governor Martin O'Malley was finished "“a big waste of legislative time."[8]

He often publicly criticizes environmentalists and people who speak out against fracking and natural gas development. In a January 2014 legislative newsletter he stated "The anti-fracking people, 75 more or less strong, showed up on the opening day of session to let off some hot air. We needed some in Annapolis that day, it was a little cold."

In March 2015 the Maryland Legislature debated a bill HB449[9] that would provide for a three-year period to study the health effects of fracking. A panel of experts would study the environmental and public health risks of hydraulic fracturing. Supporting the gas industry's concerns about the bill, Beitzel said "That commission is a travesty"[10] and has argued repeatedly that additional studies and regulations would deter gas development in Western Maryland and was not business friendly. Beitzel offered several amendments to the bill which failed on the House floor before a final veto-proof vote in favor of the health study and moratorium. Beitzel's comments and actions resulted in hundreds of complaints from Western Maryland residents and businesses.

In a WCBC radio interview [11] posted online on April 9, 2015, Beitzel further explained his opposition to creating the panel of health experts by stating "The makeup of the panel was created in such a fashion that I felt it was just so slanted to the one side that they would get the results they wanted". He finally voted for a version of the bill that did not include public health considerations, stating in an interview on WCBC radio about the final bill "it was not really a bill that was going to cause a whole lot of harm".[12] Beitzel did not explain how considering the public health implications of fracking would possibly cause harm.

Beitzel pushed for an amendment[13] to this bill that would have exempted the Texas Eastern gas field located in the town of Accident, Garrett County, Maryland. In testimony to the Maryland Department of the Environment[14] on August 20, 2012, Beitzel stated "You know, I have two farms. I'm probably the biggest landowner in the Maryland House of Delegates, and, sure, you know, one of my farms, I could lease it. It's not leased. I could lease one of my farms to Texas Eastern. They already own the gas company and they're storing the gas under it."

Beitzel's campaign contributors include several energy related companies, including the out-of-state Exxon Mobil Corporation of Houston, Texas.[15]

A coalition of property rights and gas development advocates was formed in Western Maryland in late 2014, the Energy and Property Rights Coalition (EPRC).[16] Beitzel was instrumental in forming this group. Businesses in Western Maryland report that he actively solicited their membership and involvement. EPRC advocates for minimal regulation of fracking.[17] Beitzel has never publicly explained his involvement in this organization nor his support for their positions.

Beitzel's 2015 end of session newsletter blamed the cause of the fracking opposition on "competition between abundant, low cost gas and other hydrocarbon energy now being produced from tight shale formations and renewable energy sources." The newsletter further questioned government tax credits and subsidies for renewable energy.

Deep Creek 2014

Despite Beitzel's objections to renewable energy subsidies, his record in the legislature often shows support for subsidies to selected local projects and programs. Through Beitzel's efforts, in 2013 Garrett County was awarded $1 million from the state’s capital budget for upgrades to a man-made whitewater course on Marsh Mountain (ASCI). Delegate Beitzel "was instrumental in securing the funding through Gov. Martin O’Malley’s capital budget".[18] “Hopefully, this 2014 event will really set the stage for a lot of future activity and growth in this adventure sports arena here in Garrett County,” said Beitzel.[18]

Beitzel was an ex-officio member of the Deep Creek 2014 Whitewater World Championships Event Organizing Committee.[19] Despite the massive investment of government monies in infrastructure and event operations, the event committee ran up a $2.4 million operating deficit. This deficit was later paid by Garrett County government from local tax revenues. The deficit spending was very controversial at the time as the county was also facing budget deficit problems, including the possibility of school closings and teacher layoffs. The Board of Garrett County Commissioners also sit as the Board of Directors for the Adventure Sports Center indicating some county responsibility for the deficit spending.

Affiliation with ALEC

Delegate Beitzel has been affiliated with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). He has not disclosed this relationship on his General Assembly bio. In October 2010 he was a member of ALEC's Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force.[20]

According to Common Cause, "Through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), some of the nation's largest and richest companies invest millions of dollars each year to pass state laws putting corporate interests ahead of the interests of ordinary Americans. ALEC’s membership includes some 2,000 state legislators and corporate executives and lobbyists. Meeting behind closed doors, usually at posh resorts where their corporate sponsors pick up the tab, ALEC legislators and lobbyists sit side-by-side and vote as equals to draft "model" state laws touching everything from public education to prison administration, voting rights and environmental protection."[21] Beitzel's campaign contributors include several energy related companies, including the out-of-state Exxon Mobil Corporation of Houston, Texas.[15]

Beitzel sponsored legislation in the 2015 Maryland General Assembly HB1017 that would have required an election judge to establish a voter's identity and verify the voter's address before someone may vote in Maryland.[22] The legislation appeared to have been based on ALEC model bill language. It failed to receive a favorable report in the assembly's legislative committee and was never enacted.

Open Meetings Act Compliance Complaint

According to IRS records, Delegate Beitzel is a board member of the Garrett County Development Corporation. According to the IRS Form 990 prepared by the Corporation, its main purpose is to promote economic development in Garrett County.[23] From time to time it receives and disburses government grants and funding. In 2010 and 2011, the Corporation met in private with state and county officials to develop a county economic development strategic plan, which was later adopted by the county and posted on their website.[24] After numerous inquiries and questions by members of the public, the Corporation insisted that its work is exclusively private and that it does not function as a public body. It refused to open its meetings to the public.

The issue of state and county government officials meeting in private with the Development Corporation to develop a county policy is controversial. The actions led to a formal complaint being filed with Maryland's Open Meetings Compliance Board.[25] Despite being a board member of the corporation, Delegate Beitzel has been silent on the matter of ensuring that Development Corporation meetings are opened to the public if public business is conducted.

Election results

Voters to choose one:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Wendell R. Beitzel, Rep. 6,985   56.3%    Won
Bill Aiken, Dem. 5,406   43.5%    Lost

References and notes

  1. ↑ http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14614.html
  2. ↑ http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/charter.html
  3. ↑ http://patch.com/maryland/towson/bp--western-maryland-farm-causes-a-stink-in-annapolis
  4. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/how-the-maryland-house-voted-on-the-minimum-wage-bill-today/2014/03/07/7e42ee90-a63e-11e3-9cff-b1406de784f0_story.html
  5. ↑ http://thebottomlinenews.com/fsu-usm-voice-support-for-bill-prohibiting-weapons-on-campus/
  6. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-lawmakers-run-afoul-of-fundraising-ban-on-online-donations/2016/02/11/1be028cc-d07a-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html
  7. ↑ http://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/prelegislative-talk-drilling-at-the-core-of-garrett-concerns/article_845b301a-3083-506e-8de3-f531343ba76d.html
  8. ↑ http://thedailyrecord.com/2012/09/09/a-bid-to-keep-fracking-on-hold/
  9. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?id=hb0449&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2015rs
  10. ↑ http://somd.com/news/headlines/2015/19207.shtml
  11. ↑ http://www.wcbcradio.com/?news=two-fracking-moratorium-bills-under-consideration
  12. ↑ http://www.wcbcradio.com/?post_type=news&p=21091
  13. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2015RS/amds/bil_0009/hb0449_65362401.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Land/mining/marcellus/Documents/Meetings/Meeting_08-20-2012_Transcript.pdf
  15. 1 2 https://campaignfinancemd.us/Public/ViewFiledReports
  16. ↑ http://mylandourenergy.com/
  17. ↑ http://mylandourenergy.com/uploads/3/5/5/5/3555934/energy_opposition_to_proposed_mde_oil_and_gas_regulations.pdf
  18. 1 2 http://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/one-year-countdown-begins-for-deep-creek/article_38c97878-2721-5aaf-9364-f7a4791e94e3.html
  19. ↑ https://www.garrettcounty.org/resources/commissioners/pdf/Final-Deep-Creek-2014-Report.pdf
  20. ↑ http://www.commoncause.org/issues/more-democracy-reforms/alec/whistleblower-complaint/original-complaint/National_ALEC_Exhibit_4_CIED_2010_SNPS_DC.pdf
  21. ↑ http://www.commoncause.org/issues/more-democracy-reforms/alec/
  22. ↑ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb1017&tab=subject3&ys=2015RS
  23. ↑ http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/52-0956893/garrett-county-development-corporation.aspx
  24. ↑ http://www.gcedonline.com/
  25. ↑ https://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/board.htm
  26. ↑ "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on Sept, 01 2007

External links

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