Bob Duckworth

Robert P. Duckworth (born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American politician who resides in Crofton, Maryland. (As of 2005), Duckworth is serving his third-term as a Republican elected Clerk of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

As one of his job duties as Clerk of the Circuit Court, Duckworth conducts thousands of marriages a year. He has stated that he considers this the best part of his job. Prior to being elected Clerk, Duckworth was a long-time Deputy Clerk.

In the 1980s Duckworth's hometown of Crofton and county of Anne Arundel constituted the 4th Congressional District. In 1990, Duckworth ran for the seat, won the Primary, but lost to incumbent Congressmen Tom McMillan. The region then was split up and became part of the 1st Congressional District in the 1990s. In 1992, Duckworth ran for an open seat but lost in the Republican Primary election to Wayne Gilchrest, who continues to hold the seat.

After 2000, the County was then split into four districts, and the Crofton portion became part of the 3rd Congressional District. In 2002, Duckworth filed suit in federal court to overturn Governor Parris Glendening's Congressional redistricting plan. The suit was later denied in U.S. District Court. Duckworth appealed to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and, on a question of first impression before the court of whether bizarrely drawn Congressional Districts could be unconstitutional, all 3 judges affirmed the lower court on different grounds.

In 2003, Duckworth announced his candidacy for the 3rd Congressional District seat, then held by long-time incumbent Ben Cardin. He garnered support from the state party to push out David Boschert who had previously announced that he was running. With little opposition, Duckworth easily won the Republican Primary. With 8 months to campaign and greater funds than any challenger candidate, Duckworth seemingly had a good opportunity to challenge Cardin. Ultimately, however, he garnered 34% of the total vote and a disappointing 47% in his county, which he had previously won in other races by large margins.

In 2006, Duckworth actively worked to preserve the state's current definition of marriage, which is defined in statute law as valid only between a man and a woman. He testified before the House Judiciary Committee to encourage passage of an amendment that would make this definition a part of the Maryland Constitution. The amendment did not pass.

In 2006, it is believed that Duckworth may make another run for the 3rd Congressional District seat vacated by Ben Cardin. Or, it has long been speculated that Duckworth would one day run for Anne Arundel County Executive, though he has not sought the office to this date.

Duckworth is one of the largest donors to Republican candidates. As of May 2005, he donated to: George W. Bush, Paul Rappaport, Nancy Almgren, Tom Angelis, David G. Boschert, Scott Conwell, Bob Costa, Ron Dillon, Jr., Bob Ehrlich, Bill Frank, Terry Gilleland, Paul Goetzke, Janet Greenip, Dirk Haire, Michael Malone, Tony McConkey, Herb McMillan, Larry Myers, Albert Nalley, Victoria Nelson, John Pilkins, Ed Reilly, Richard Sossi, Cathleen Vitale, and Dave Wayson. Duckworth’s donor list amounts to a who’s who in recent County politics.

Duckworth is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, graduating with a B.A. in political science. He is a veteran who served in the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division.

ources

* [http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml Federal Election Commission Campaign Finance Reports and Data]
* [http://www.elections.state.md.us/campaign_finance/database/index.html Maryland State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Database]
* [http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinion.pdf/021936.P.pdf Duckworth v. State Board of Elections et al.]

External links

* [http://www.bobduckworth.com/ Friends of Bob Duckworth]
* [http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/jud/html/msa13103.html Duckworth biography, from the Maryland Archives]
* [http://www.clerk-anne-arundel.net/ Clerk of the Circuit Court Site]