Edward Pipkin
Encyclopedia
Edward Joseph Pipkin, Jr. (born November 1, 1956) is a Republican member of the Maryland State Senate
, representing Maryland's 36th Senate district, and was first elected in 2002. Prior to his election to the state senate, he worked in the field of business finance, trading bonds in New York City
. He also founded an environmental group known as "Citizens Against Bay Dumping," during which he was successful in lobbying for legislation that banned irresponsible disposal of dredge spoils in the Chesapeake Bay
. Pipkin currently lives in Elkton, Maryland
. In 2004, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate against Barbara Mikulski
. Then, in 2008, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Maryland's 1st congressional district
, against incumbent Wayne Gilchrest
and State Senator Andy Harris, losing the primary to Andy Harris.
, and went to Dundalk High School
. He initially attended Salisbury University
, but ultimately received his B.A. from Roanoke College
. He received an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia
.
Pipkin's daughter, Meredith Pipkin, is an pair skater.
Since his arrival to the Senate, Pipkin has authored legislation that include creating a task force to bring broadband internet to his eastern shore constituents; creating a committee that will ensure responsible handling of taxpayer dollars by the state government; and advocating for an elected school board in Cecil County to increase public involvement in public schools.
Pipkin was re-elected in 2006 with 63.7% of the vote.
.
He ran a series of ads during the campaign with his self-coined slogan "who knew" that attacked Mikulski's policies. This led Mikulski, who was already considered a favorite, to hold a debate with Pipkin.
on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
, and has fought to reduce the problem. In 2005, he proposed a set of bills, which ultimately failed to pass, in that year's Maryland General Assembly
session, known as the "Bay Bridge Users' Bill of Rights". The bills would have, among other things, made various modifications to the governing board of the Maryland Transportation Authority
(MdTA),
banned trucks from the bridge when one of its dual spans is carrying two-way traffic,
and waived tolls whenever backups extended beyond a certain point.
Later that year, Pipkin was one of the 22 citizens appointed by Governor Robert Ehrlich to serve on the Bay Bridge Task Force
, to explore the possibility of building a new crossing of the Chesapeake Bay
.
In the 2006 Maryland General Assembly session, Pipkin once again tried to pass parts of the Bay Bridge Users' Bill of Rights, this time more successfully. Among the bills that passed that year included one that made various modifications to the governing board of the MdTA (e.g. addition of two appointed members; imposition of three term limit of service; lengthening of terms to four years, rather than three years; etc.).
Along with Delegate Mary Roe Walkup (R-Dist. 36), Pipkin also proposed a bill to remove the Baltimore County-Kent County
crossing from the list of crossing locations that could potentially be studied in the future).
However, that bill did not pass (nor did it pass when re-introduced in 2007).
Also during 2006, Pipkin worked collaboratively with MdTA to promote successful legislation (Senate Bill 168, signed into law as Chapter 24 of 2007 of the Laws of Maryland)
that doubled the amount of violations fines that could be issued for overweight tractor-trailers crossing the bridge.
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
, representing Maryland's 36th Senate district, and was first elected in 2002. Prior to his election to the state senate, he worked in the field of business finance, trading bonds in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He also founded an environmental group known as "Citizens Against Bay Dumping," during which he was successful in lobbying for legislation that banned irresponsible disposal of dredge spoils in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. Pipkin currently lives in Elkton, Maryland
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...
. In 2004, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate against Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
. Then, in 2008, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Maryland's 1st congressional district
Maryland's 1st congressional district
Maryland's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maryland. The district encompasses the entire Eastern Shore, including Salisbury, as well as parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties....
, against incumbent Wayne Gilchrest
Wayne Gilchrest
Wayne Thomas Gilchrest is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives who represented . In 2008, the moderate Gilchrest was defeated in the Republican primary by State Senator Andy Harris....
and State Senator Andy Harris, losing the primary to Andy Harris.
Personal life and family
Pipkin grew up in Dundalk, MarylandDundalk, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,306 people, 24,772 households, and 16,968 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,689.5 people per square mile . There were 26,385 housing units at an average density of 1,985.9 per square mile...
, and went to Dundalk High School
Dundalk High School
Dundalk High School is a four-year public high school in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The school was opened in 1959.-About the School:...
. He initially attended Salisbury University
Salisbury University
Salisbury University is a public university in Salisbury, Maryland.According to U.S. News and World Report's 2009 America's Best Colleges index, "In guidebooks and surveys by U.S...
, but ultimately received his B.A. from Roanoke College
Roanoke College
Roanoke College is an private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The college is located in Salem, Virginia, a suburban independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia...
. He received an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Pipkin's daughter, Meredith Pipkin, is an pair skater.
State Senate
Pipkin was elected to the State Senate in 2002 after defeating Democrat Walter M. Baker, who held that seat since 1979 and the chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Baker was the only state senator to vote for Pipkin's efforts to ban open bay dumping. Pipkin defeated Baker by 24 percentage points.Since his arrival to the Senate, Pipkin has authored legislation that include creating a task force to bring broadband internet to his eastern shore constituents; creating a committee that will ensure responsible handling of taxpayer dollars by the state government; and advocating for an elected school board in Cecil County to increase public involvement in public schools.
Pipkin was re-elected in 2006 with 63.7% of the vote.
U.S. Senate campaign
In the 2004 U.S. Senate election, Pipkin ran unsuccessfully against incumbent senator Barbara MikulskiBarbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
.
He ran a series of ads during the campaign with his self-coined slogan "who knew" that attacked Mikulski's policies. This led Mikulski, who was already considered a favorite, to hold a debate with Pipkin.
Voting record
In 2003, E.J. Pipkin sponsored a bill to return a tax credit to employers who provide daycare for their employees. In 2004, he sponsored a permanent repeal of the estate tax in Maryland. In 2006, E.J. Pipkin sponsored a reduction in state property taxes and a reduction in income taxes.Chesapeake Bay Bridge
As a resident of Stevensville, Pipkin himself has been affected by traffic congestionTraffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a major dual-span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland. Spanning the Chesapeake Bay, it connects the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the more urban Western Shore. The original span opened in 1952 and, at the time, with a length of , it was the world's longest...
, and has fought to reduce the problem. In 2005, he proposed a set of bills, which ultimately failed to pass, in that year's Maryland General Assembly
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
session, known as the "Bay Bridge Users' Bill of Rights". The bills would have, among other things, made various modifications to the governing board of the Maryland Transportation Authority
Maryland Transportation Authority
The Maryland Transportation Authority is an independent state agency responsible for financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining eight toll facilities, currently consisting of two toll roads, two tunnels, and four bridges in Maryland...
(MdTA),
banned trucks from the bridge when one of its dual spans is carrying two-way traffic,
and waived tolls whenever backups extended beyond a certain point.
Later that year, Pipkin was one of the 22 citizens appointed by Governor Robert Ehrlich to serve on the Bay Bridge Task Force
2005 Chesapeake Bay crossing study
The 2005 Chesapeake Bay crossing study was a study conducted by the state of Maryland in 2005 in order to explore the possibility of building a new crossing of the Chesapeake Bay...
, to explore the possibility of building a new crossing of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
.
In the 2006 Maryland General Assembly session, Pipkin once again tried to pass parts of the Bay Bridge Users' Bill of Rights, this time more successfully. Among the bills that passed that year included one that made various modifications to the governing board of the MdTA (e.g. addition of two appointed members; imposition of three term limit of service; lengthening of terms to four years, rather than three years; etc.).
Along with Delegate Mary Roe Walkup (R-Dist. 36), Pipkin also proposed a bill to remove the Baltimore County-Kent County
Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...
crossing from the list of crossing locations that could potentially be studied in the future).
However, that bill did not pass (nor did it pass when re-introduced in 2007).
Also during 2006, Pipkin worked collaboratively with MdTA to promote successful legislation (Senate Bill 168, signed into law as Chapter 24 of 2007 of the Laws of Maryland)
that doubled the amount of violations fines that could be issued for overweight tractor-trailers crossing the bridge.
Election results
- 2006 Race for Maryland State Senate – District 36
Name Votes Percent Outcome E. J. Pipkin, Rep. 27,101 63.7% Won Harry E. Sampson, Dem. 15,402 36.2% Lost Other Write-Ins 34 0.1% Lost
- 2004 Race for U.S. Senator
Name Votes Percent Outcome Barbara A. Mikulski, Dem. 1,504,691 64.8% Won E. J. Pipkin, Rep. 783,055 33.7% Lost Maria Allwine, Green. 24,816 1.1% Lost Thomas Trump, Const. 9,009 0.4% Lost Robert Gemmill, II, Rep. 204 0.1% Lost Ray Bly, Rep. 109 0.0% Lost Dennard A. Gayle-El, Sr., Rep. 47 0.0% Lost
- 2002 Race for Maryland State Senate – District 36
Name Votes Percent Outcome E. J. Pipkin, Rep. 24,827 62.5% Won Walter M. Baker Walter M. BakerWalter M. Baker was first elected to the Maryland Senate in 1979. He represented District 36, which covered Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Annes's, and Talbot counties.-Education:...
, Dem.14,898 37.5% Lost Other Write-Ins 27 0.1% Lost