OCEAN CITY — Among the 12 freshmen delegates named to the all-important House Appropriations Committee in Annapolis was Delegate-Elect Mary Beth Carozza from District 38C.
While Carozza will, at least initially, be a foot soldier on the Appropriations Committee, her appointment is considered a significant score for the Lower Shore and the district she represents, which includes Worcester and a portion of Wicomico County.
For years, Delegate Norm Conway had been chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which largely controls the purse strings for state expenditures on the Lower Shore and across Maryland, but the long-time Democrat was swept up in the Republican landslide in November. His loss was significant for the Lower Shore because of his considerable influence as chair of the Appropriations Committee, but Busch appointed Carozza to the committee on Friday with the full support of House Minority Leader Nic Kipke (R-Anne Arundel).
“I am encouraged Speaker Busch appointed Delegate-Elect Carozza to the House Appropriations Committee and I am delighted Mary Beth will serve there,” said Kipke this week. “She is in a key position to work on the priorities of the Shore while being a responsible steward of Maryland taxpayer dollars as we meet the challenge of closing the state’s $1.2 billion deficit.”
Carozza’s appointment to the Appropriations Committee is even more important because of another change on the political landscape on the Eastern Shore following the election in November. Long-time Eastern Shore Delegate Addie Eckardt also served on the committee, but won a Senate seat in November. Busch was clearly aware of the changes in the political landscape on the Lower Shore when he made his committee appointments last Friday.
The Appropriations Committee, like all House committees, was balanced to reflect the demographic, geographic and party make-up of the House of Delegates following the election. After receiving news of her appointment to the Appropriations Committee, Carozza this week was clearly pleased with her assignment.
“I am excited and looking forward to the challenge of serving our shore community on the House Appropriations Committee,” she said on Monday. “I am committed to putting Maryland’s fiscal house in order while supporting our shore priorities by focusing on cost-effective, efficient and outcome-based results.”
While Carozza will be a freshmen member of the committee, she is certainly no stranger to politics after serving for 28 years in senior leadership positions in the state and federal government. The Ocean City native served as Deputy Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs in President George Bush’s administration and served as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich. She also served as Deputy Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 2003.
Carozza has hit the ground running after a long campaign in the months leading up to the November election and has spent the time since continuing her efforts learn the ins and outs of her district. For example, some of the highlights of her post-election activities include participating in Veterans Day ceremonies in Worcester and Salisbury University; the Ocean City, Berlin and Salisbury Christmas Parades; meetings with the superintendents of Worcester and Wicomico public schools; and school visits to the Seaside Christian Academy and Decatur High School.
Carozza has also participated in the Ocean City Prayer Breakfast and Ocean City’s Light Up Downtown festivities; met with local business and economic development leaders; met with the Delmarva Poultry Industry; the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce; Wor-Wic Community College; and SU.
Her post-election activities also include preparation for the upcoming General Assembly session next month including a two-day bipartisan orientation in Annapolis with other Delegates-Elect and a three-day bipartisan bus tour with other new legislators, which included both public and private sector stops.
“It’s been a whirlwind since Election Day, between the community events and meetings, Christmas parades, Annapolis orientation and bi-partisan bus tour with other new legislators from across the state,” she said on Monday.