Ronald N. Young

Ronald N. Young (born 1940) was the mayor of Frederick, Maryland from 1974 to 1990. Young ran for the office of mayor again in 2005, defeating incumbent mayor Jennifer Dougherty in the Democratic primary before losing to Republican William J. Holtzinger in the general election.

Early years

Ronald Young was born in Frederick, Maryland and was raised in Frederick. He attended and graduated from Frederick High School. Young attended Frederick Community College and graduated with an Associate in Arts degree. He then attended the University of Maryland, College Park in College Park, Maryland and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government.

Young completed his formal education by earning a Masters of Education degree in administration and supervision from Western Maryland College (later McDaniel College) in Westminster, Maryland. Young became a teacher in the Frederick County Public Schools and taught at the Yellow Springs Elementary School from 1967 to 1973.

Young became involved in local politics in the late 1960's, primarily in the Frederick County Young Democrats organization along with several friends, among them Galen R. Clagett. Young and Clagett both ran for the Frederick City Board of Alderman in 1969, and Mr. Young was elected and served on the Board of Aldermen from 1970-1974 during mayor E. Paul Magaha's administration.

Mayor of Frederick

In 1973, Ron Young decided to run for the mayor of Fredeick. He defeated former mayor and serving alderman Donald B. Rice in the Democratic primary, and then defeated serving alderman Glenmore Rice in the general election. Young assumed the role of mayor in 1974 at the age of 34. Young was re-elected as mayor in 1977, 1981 and 1985. In 1989, he was defeated by Paul P. Gordon in the general election in a bitterly contested election, ending sixteen years of service as Frederick's mayor.

Among the many accomplishments achieved or begun during Young's years as mayor were the Carroll Creek flood control project, the Market Street underground wiring project, the Weinberg Center for the Arts, Harry Grove Stadium, Clustered Spires Golf Course, several parking garages and the revitalization of downtown Frederick.

Later Years

Young worked in commercial real estate, as a part-time college instructor at Frederick Community College, and as a consultant in the years immediately following his defeat as mayor.

In 1991, he accepted Governor William Donald Schaefer's request to work for the State of Maryland in the Maryland Department of Planning. Young later served under Governor Parris Glendening as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and served as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning until leaving in 2000 after a dispute with Mr. Glendening. Young was actively involved in the Smart Growth program while at the Department of Planning, and gave speeches across the country in support of Smart Growth.

In 2001, Young accepted the position of town manager of Indian Head, Maryland. He helped Indian Head to receive funding for many vital projects, and served until 2005, when he decided to make one more run for mayor of Frederick.

After his defeat for the mayoralty of Frederick City to William J. Holtzinger, Young maintains a semi-retired lifestyle. He is still involved in commercial real estate, consulting, novel-writing, and his true love, painting.