ACCIDENT, MD — Today, Delegate Wendell R. Beitzel (R, District 1A) announced that he has filed all of the necessary paperwork with the Maryland State Board of Elections to become a candidate for the office of Delegate for District 1A.

“I have been honored to serve the people of Garrett and Allegany Counties for the past three years,” stated Beitzel. “Though we’ve done a lot, there is a real need to keep a qualified and experienced leader in the District 1 Delegate position to provide the best representation possible for Western Maryland.”

Beitzel, who began his tenure as a member of the House Health and Government Operations Committee in 2007, is now a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he is also assigned to the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee.

As a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee, Delegate Beitzel worked with the Committee’s Chairman to secure a subsidy in 2007 to alleviate the increased cost of Medical Malpractice insurance for Garrett County’s doctors who deliver babies. Work is ongoing to seek a long term solution for this problem.

Also, Beitzel had taken the lead against a proposal to place wind turbines on state property. He has since sponsored legislation that would impose development standards for commercial wind turbines in Garrett and Allegany Counties as well as for Maryland.

“I am proud to call Garrett County my home. As such, we cannot simply give blanket approval to wind turbine development without consideration of possible negative environmental impacts and harm to neighboring properties,” commented Beitzel.

Delegate Beitzel has also stood up for gun rights in Maryland. Beitzel spoke several times during debate on legislation… (more)