John Astle is an American politician from Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

 and a member of the Democratic Party

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

. He is currently serving in his 4th term in the Maryland State Senate

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 District 30 in Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...

.

Background

Astle was born in Charles Town, West Virginia and grew up in Barboursville. He graduated in 1966 from Marshall University

Marshall University

Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....

 in Huntington, West Virginia

Huntington, West Virginia

Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...

 and attended the Catholic University of America. He joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve

United States Marine Corps Reserve

The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...

 in 1961 and received a regular commission in the Marine Corps through its Platoon Leaders Class program upon graduation from Marshall. He was a Naval Aviator flying helicopters and left active duty with the rank of Captain. He also flew the Presidential helicopter for three and a half years.

He retired from the Marine Corps Reserves as a Colonel after 30 years of service. He saw combat in Vietnam, earning 34 Air Medals, and was recalled to active duty for Desert Storm.

Political career

Astle was originally elected to the Maryland House of Delegates

Maryland House of Delegates

The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...

 in 1982. He was elected to the State Senate in 1994 and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

Election results

• 1990 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – District 30

Voters to choose three:

Name	Votes	Percent	Outcome
John C. Astle, Dem.	18,009	23%	Won
Aris Allen Aris T. Allen Aris T. Allen was an American politician who was the first African American chair of the Maryland Republican party and the first to run for a state-wide office in Maryland.- Background :... , Rep.	16,951	22%	Won
Michael E. Busch Michael E. Busch Michael E. Busch is the current Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States. Busch has been a member of the House since 1987, and Speaker since January 2003... , Dem.	16,104	18%	Won
Edith Segree, Dem.	14,341	18%	Lost
Phillip Bissett, Rep.	13,321	17%	Lost