Timothy R. Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Timothy Ferguson was a Republican State Senator in Maryland
.
to represent District 4, which covers parts of Carroll and Frederick Counties. In that election, he defeated Democratic challenger George Littrell, a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates
.
In 1998, Ferguson ran for reelection defeating Democrat George Hayes Littrell Jr. with 55% of the vote.
In 2002, Ferguson ran for reelection, but was overwhelmingly defeated by fellow Republican and former Maryland Delegate
David R. Brinkley
in the primary election. Brinkley went on to defeat Timothy Schlauch in the general election.
in Essex, Maryland
. He graduated #1 in his vocational class of design-drafting. He later attended Broome County Community College
in Broome, New York
where he majored in Computer-Aided-Design. Broome Community College is part of the SUNY
two-year college program.
He earned a Private Pilot's License in 1985 while working for Sundstrand Corporation in Rockford, Illinois.
He was fully trained in 2008 as a Lean Six-Sigma "Green Belt." He earned a "CMIIC" certification from the Institute of Configuration Management in March 2009 and a "CMIIP" certification in November 2009. He has spoken at ICM Annual conferences and formed a corporation, ARTIS Professionals, LLC, for consultation and implementation of program acquisition process improvements and configuration management.
, and the Chamber of Commerce. He also is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association
.
While working in the State Senate, Ferguson was a member of the Executive Nominations Committee from 1995 until 2000, and the Judicial Proceedings Committee from 1995 until 2003. In addition, he was a member of the Joint Committee on Investigation from 1995 until 2003 and the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families from 1999 until 2003. Finally, he was chair of the Frederick County Delegation from 1999 until 2003.
Despite his lifetime membership in the NRA, Ferguson has been labeled by some as supporting gun-control. This claim most likely stems from a proposed filibuster
, which Ferguson declined on a gun-control bill in order to have pro-gun amendments put in place. According to Ferguson and others the bill would have easily defeated the filibuster in its original form leaving pro-gun advocates with no concessions. This led to criticism from NRA spokesman Greg Costa in 2002.
THE COMPLEXITIES OF SENATE FILIBUSTERS:
Regarding the proposed Senate filibuster in 2000, the original "Smart Gun" legislation pushed by Governor Glendening would have prohibited new handguns being sold in Maryland without technology identifying the owner of the gun prior to being functional. As an engineer, Senator Ferguson appeared on my local and statewide media outlets decrying the feasibility of such legislation, citing electro-mechanical data refuting the legislation. The legislation didn't force the "Smart Gun" technology on police forces in the state, and pro-gun Senators used that omission in the bill as proof that a "Dumb Gun" was more dependable for purposes of self-defense.
Out of 47 Maryland Senators, 21 signed on to a filibuster against the "Smart Gun" legislation. At that time, it took 16 Senators to sustain a filibuster. When the Democrat majority had the "Smart Gun" bill removed from the committee where Ferguson had it bottled up, and where it would have died, the bill hit the floor of the Senate where it was immediately amended into a "Child Safety-Lock Handgun" bill and all the "Smart Gun" provisions were deleted. At that point, 7 of the Senators who previously promised a filibuster changed their mind, leaving 14 Senators (including Ferguson) ready to filibuster.
Ferguson crafted 4 major pro-gun amendments, adopted by the 14 remaining pro-gun Senators unanimously, and the pro-gun Senate caucus agreed to forego a filibuster if the pro-gun amendments were accepted by the Democratic majority. They were accepted and Ferguson spoke against the bill and voted against the bill. The major Ferguson amendments were: 1) Placing 2 engineers on the Handgun Roster Board; Restoring the NRA to the list of handgun trainers and deleting provisions for mandated State testing of handgun competency.
Senator Ferguson was also a tireless advocate for Juvenile Justice issues. He was responsible for major criminal justice legislation while serving on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. He authored the "Christopher's Law" bill which allowed Judges the option of sentencing a repeat child sex offender to life in prison without parole. This landmark legislation was signed into law by Governor Glendening in 2002. It was the first time a "Life Without Parole" statute was added to the Maryland Criminal Code in 16 years.
He has always worked as an engineering consultant, both in systems or product design and Configuration Management. As of 2007, he is a Configuration Manager for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, located in Crystal City, Virginia, and he resides in southern Anne Arundel county, Maryland, near Dunkirk.
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...
.
Background
In 1994, Timothy Ferguson was first elected to the Maryland State SenateMaryland 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...
to represent District 4, which covers parts of Carroll and Frederick Counties. In that election, he defeated Democratic challenger George Littrell, a former member of 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 1998, Ferguson ran for reelection defeating Democrat George Hayes Littrell Jr. with 55% of the vote.
In 2002, Ferguson ran for reelection, but was overwhelmingly defeated by fellow Republican and former Maryland Delegate
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...
David R. Brinkley
David R. Brinkley
David R. Brinkley is a Republican State Senator in Maryland, United States.-Early life, education, and pre-political career:...
in the primary election. Brinkley went on to defeat Timothy Schlauch in the general election.
Education
Ferguson attended Eastern Vocational-Technical High SchoolEastern Technical High School
Eastern Technical High School is a 1997, 2009, and 2010 Maryland Blue Ribbon High School a 2010 National Blue Ribbon High School, and a 1999 USDE New American High School located in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland. Along with their regular classes, students enrolled at this magnet school...
in Essex, Maryland
Essex, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 39,078 people, 15,952 households, and 10,336 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,104.1 people per square mile . There were 16,997 housing units at an average density of 1,785.1 per square mile...
. He graduated #1 in his vocational class of design-drafting. He later attended Broome County Community College
Broome Community College
Broome Community College is a SUNY two-year college in Broome County, New York. The college was founded in 1946 and went through several name changes. The school is located in Binghamton, New York...
in Broome, New York
Broome, New York
----Broome is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 947 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Broome.The Town of Broome is on the eastern border of the county, southwest of Albany.- History :...
where he majored in Computer-Aided-Design. Broome Community College is part of the SUNY
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
two-year college program.
He earned a Private Pilot's License in 1985 while working for Sundstrand Corporation in Rockford, Illinois.
He was fully trained in 2008 as a Lean Six-Sigma "Green Belt." He earned a "CMIIC" certification from the Institute of Configuration Management in March 2009 and a "CMIIP" certification in November 2009. He has spoken at ICM Annual conferences and formed a corporation, ARTIS Professionals, LLC, for consultation and implementation of program acquisition process improvements and configuration management.
Career
Ferguson was a member of the South Carroll Republican Club, serving as President in 1992. http://community.carr.org/fullrecord.asp?record=987 Outside of his political work, he was a member of the Farm Bureau, the Jaycees, the 4-H4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
, and the Chamber of Commerce. He also is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
.
While working in the State Senate, Ferguson was a member of the Executive Nominations Committee from 1995 until 2000, and the Judicial Proceedings Committee from 1995 until 2003. In addition, he was a member of the Joint Committee on Investigation from 1995 until 2003 and the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families from 1999 until 2003. Finally, he was chair of the Frederick County Delegation from 1999 until 2003.
Despite his lifetime membership in the NRA, Ferguson has been labeled by some as supporting gun-control. This claim most likely stems from a proposed filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
, which Ferguson declined on a gun-control bill in order to have pro-gun amendments put in place. According to Ferguson and others the bill would have easily defeated the filibuster in its original form leaving pro-gun advocates with no concessions. This led to criticism from NRA spokesman Greg Costa in 2002.
THE COMPLEXITIES OF SENATE FILIBUSTERS:
Regarding the proposed Senate filibuster in 2000, the original "Smart Gun" legislation pushed by Governor Glendening would have prohibited new handguns being sold in Maryland without technology identifying the owner of the gun prior to being functional. As an engineer, Senator Ferguson appeared on my local and statewide media outlets decrying the feasibility of such legislation, citing electro-mechanical data refuting the legislation. The legislation didn't force the "Smart Gun" technology on police forces in the state, and pro-gun Senators used that omission in the bill as proof that a "Dumb Gun" was more dependable for purposes of self-defense.
Out of 47 Maryland Senators, 21 signed on to a filibuster against the "Smart Gun" legislation. At that time, it took 16 Senators to sustain a filibuster. When the Democrat majority had the "Smart Gun" bill removed from the committee where Ferguson had it bottled up, and where it would have died, the bill hit the floor of the Senate where it was immediately amended into a "Child Safety-Lock Handgun" bill and all the "Smart Gun" provisions were deleted. At that point, 7 of the Senators who previously promised a filibuster changed their mind, leaving 14 Senators (including Ferguson) ready to filibuster.
Ferguson crafted 4 major pro-gun amendments, adopted by the 14 remaining pro-gun Senators unanimously, and the pro-gun Senate caucus agreed to forego a filibuster if the pro-gun amendments were accepted by the Democratic majority. They were accepted and Ferguson spoke against the bill and voted against the bill. The major Ferguson amendments were: 1) Placing 2 engineers on the Handgun Roster Board; Restoring the NRA to the list of handgun trainers and deleting provisions for mandated State testing of handgun competency.
Senator Ferguson was also a tireless advocate for Juvenile Justice issues. He was responsible for major criminal justice legislation while serving on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. He authored the "Christopher's Law" bill which allowed Judges the option of sentencing a repeat child sex offender to life in prison without parole. This landmark legislation was signed into law by Governor Glendening in 2002. It was the first time a "Life Without Parole" statute was added to the Maryland Criminal Code in 16 years.
He has always worked as an engineering consultant, both in systems or product design and Configuration Management. As of 2007, he is a Configuration Manager for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, located in Crystal City, Virginia, and he resides in southern Anne Arundel county, Maryland, near Dunkirk.
Election results
- 2002 Primary Race for Maryland State Senate – District 4
Name Votes Percent Outcome David R. Brinkley David R. BrinkleyDavid R. Brinkley is a Republican State Senator in Maryland, United States.-Early life, education, and pre-political career:...
, Rep.5,559 52.8% Won Timothy R. Ferguson, Rep. 4,005 38.1% Lost David P. Gray, Rep. 958 9.1% Lost
- 1998 Race for Maryland State Senate – District 4
Name Votes Percent Outcome Timothy R. Ferguson, Rep. 18,978 55% Won George Hayes Littrell Jr., Dem. 15,656 45% Lost
- 1994 Race for Maryland State Senate – District 4
Name Votes Percent Outcome Timothy R. Ferguson, Rep. 15,975 52% Won George Hayes Littrell Jr., Dem. 14,496 48% Lost
External links
- http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/former/html/msa12165.html