Mary Roe Walkup (born May 4, 1924) is an American former politician who was a delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates. She represented District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties.

Mary Roe Walkup
Delegate Maryland District 36
In office
January 11, 1995 – January 12, 2011
Preceded byC. Ronald Franks
Personal details
Born (1924-05-04) May 4, 1924 (age 99)
Kent County, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseHarry
Professionnurse

Background edit

First elected in 1994, she won one of two seats left open by R. Clayton Mitchell and C. Ronald Franks,[1] serving alongside Wheeler R. Baker and Ronald A. Guns.[2] In 1998, delegates were elected by county, in which case Walkup defeated Democratic challenger Clarence Hawkins for the seat in Kent County.[3] In 2002, the election returned to the District selecting three delegates from the list. She was one of three Republicans, the others being Richard Sossi and Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., that helped unseat incumbent Wheeler R. Baker.[4] Finally, in 2006, the election returned to voting for one candidate per county, and she won reelection by defeating Joan O. Horsey.[5]

Education edit

Walkup attended Kent County public schools. She graduated from the University of Maryland School of Nursing with her R.N. in 1945.

Career edit

After college, Walkup was a nurse at the University of Maryland Hospital. In 1978, she was elected to the Board of County Commissioners for Kent County, serving two terms, the second term as President.

Walkup has also been a lifelong advocate of environmental matters. She served for four years starting in 1982 as a delegate for the Legislative Committee on the Maryland Association of Counties. She is a charter member of Kent Conservation, Inc.,[6] as citizens' watchdog group founded in 1969 that focuses on environmental issues in Kent County.

Walkup is also a member of the Kent Chapter of the American Red Cross, Kent County Farm Bureau, the Chester River Association, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and the Maryland Conservation Council. In 1977, she received the Conservationist of the Year from the Maryland Wildlife Federation.[7]

In the legislature edit

As a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, Walkup served on the Economic Matters Committee beginning in 1995, and several other subcommittees.

Legislative notes edit

  • voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)[8]
  • voted for the Healthy Air Act in 2006 (SB154)[9]
  • voted for slots in 2005 (HB1361)[10]
  • voted for electric deregulation in 1999 (HB703)[11]
  • voted for income tax reduction in 1998 (SB750)[12]
  • voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)[13]

Election results edit

  • 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36 - Kent County[14]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Mary Roe Walkup, Rep. 19,430   59.0%    Won
Joan O. Horsey, Dem. 13,498   41.0%    Won
  • 2002 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36[14]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Richard Sossi, Rep. 19,098   19.0%    Won
Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., Rep. 19,216   19.1%    Won
Mary Roe Walkup, Rep. 28,230   28.0%    Won
Wheeler R. Baker, Dem. 17,575   17.5%    Lost
James G. Crouse, Dem. 16,329   16.2%    Lost
Other Write-Ins 277   0.3%    
  • 1998 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36 - Kent County[15]
Voters to choose one for each county:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Mary Roe Walkup, Rep. 17,720   58%    Won
Clarence A. Hawkins, Dem. 12,655   42%    Lost
  • 1994 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 36[16]
Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Mary Roe Walkup, Rep. 13,589   18%    Won
Wheeler R. Baker, Dem. 13,911   18%    Won
Ronald A. Guns, Dem. 14,915   20%    Won
W. Michael Newnam, Rep. 11,874   16%    Lost
Sharon Maenner Carrick, Rep. 11,350   15%    Lost
Allaire D. Williams, Rep. 10,796   14%    Lost

References and notes edit

  1. ^ Maryland State Board of Elections. "1990 Gubernatorial Election".
  2. ^ Maryland State Board of Elections. "1994 Gubernatorial Election".
  3. ^ Maryland State Board of Elections. "1998 Gubernatorial Election".
  4. ^ Maryland State Board of Elections. "2002 Gubernatorial Election".
  5. ^ Maryland State Board of Elections. "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates".
  6. ^ "Kent County Community Information Database". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  7. ^ "Mary Roe Walkup, Maryland State Delegate".
  8. ^ "BILL INFO-2007 Regular Session-HB 359".
  9. ^ "2006 Regular Session - Vote Record 0942".
  10. ^ "2005 Regular Session - Vote Record 0152".
  11. ^ "1999 Regular Session - Vote Record 0870".
  12. ^ "1998 Regular Session - Vote Record 1229".
  13. ^ "2007 Regular Session - Vote Record 0690".
  14. ^ a b "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on Sept. 30, 2007
  15. ^ "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on Sept. 30, 2007
  16. ^ "House of Delegates Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved on Sept. 30, 2007

External links edit