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Christopher Shank (Maryland)
Christopher B. Shank (b. June 30, 1972) is a former Republican member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 2 from 2011 to 2015. Shank resigned in January 2015 after being named to head the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention.[1]
Shank served in the Maryland House of Delegates, in which he was the Minority Whip, from 1999 to January 12, 2011.
Biography
Shank's professional career includes working as a Procurement Specialist with the Meadows Agency of Insurance, and Legislative Assistant of the Washington County Delegation.
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Shank served on these committees:
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Shank served on these committees:
House of Representatives committees (former)
- Rules & Executive Nominations
- Ways & Means
- Subcommittee on Transportation
Issues
Ban on atheists holding office
Washington and six other states have provisions in their state constitutions that ban those who don't believe in God from holding public office. A campaign by the Openly Secular coalition has pressed for those seven states to remove those bans from their constitution. According to the United States Supreme Court, such bans are unenforceable. A 1961 Supreme Court decision ruled unanimously in a Maryland case that no state can have a "religious test" for those holding public office. Shank told reporters in December, 2014, that he believes in pluralism but is against changing or removing the provision. "I think what they want is an affirmation that the people of the state of Maryland don't care about the Christian faith, and that is a little offensive," Shank told reporters.[2]
Elections
2014
- See also: Maryland State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Maryland State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 25, 2014. Incumbent Christopher Shank was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election.[3][4][5]
2012
Shank was running in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Maryland's 6th District. Shank sought the nomination on the Republican ticket.[6] The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run was January 11, 2012. The primary elections were held on April 3, 2012. Candidates Charles Bailey, Robert Garagiola, Milad Pooran, Mark Shriver, John Delaney, and Ron Little ran on the Democratic ticket. Shank faced opposition from David Brinkley, Robert Coblentz, Brandon Rippeon, Robin Ficker, Joseph Krysztoforski, Alexander Mooney, Bud Otis, Kathy Afzali, Peter James and incumbent Roscoe Bartlett on the Republican ticket.
2010
- See also: Maryland State Senate elections, 2010
Shank won election to the 2nd District Senate seat, and faced no opposition in the November 2 general election.[7]
In the September 14th primary election, Sharp defeated incumbent Donald Munson by a margin of 6,720 to 5,059.[8]
Across the country in 2010, state senate elections were held in 43 states. 1,167 state senate seats were at stake. In all 1,167 state senate districts with an election in 2010, only 19 challengers (12 Democrats and 7 Republicans) defeated an incumbent state senator. Shank was one of the 7 Republican challengers who defeated an incumbent Republican state senator.
| Maryland State Senate, District 2 (2010) General Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
 Christopher Shank (R)
|
21,319 | 71.6% | ||
| Donald Munson (Write-in) | 8,469 | 28.4% | ||
| Maryland State Senate, District 2 - Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Christopher Shank
|
6,478 | 57.5% | ||
| Donald Munson | 4,789 | 42.5% | ||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Christopher Shank ran unopposed for District 2B of the Maryland House of Delegates.[9]
Christopher Shank raised $63,143 for his campaign.[10]
| Maryland House of Delegates, District 2B | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Christopher Shank (R) | 9,606 | 99.0% | ||
| Write-Ins | 101 | 1.0% | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Endorsements
Congressional preference
2012
Shank endorsed David Brinkley (R) in the 6th Congressional District in 2012.[11]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Shank and his wife, Cindy, have two children. He has been Vice-President of the Washington County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and a member of the Cold Weather Homeless Shelter of Washington County, Holcim Plant Advisory Panel and Sharpsburg Lions Club.[12]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Christopher + Shank + Maryland + Senate
See also
- Maryland State Legislature
- Maryland State Senate
- Maryland Senate Committees
- Maryland Joint Committees
- Maryland State Senate District 2
External links
- Shank in the Maryland Manual
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1998
Footnotes
- ↑ Your4State.com, "Sen. Chris Shank Moves to Hogan Administration, Vacates Senate Seat," January 14, 2015
- ↑ Times News, "Tenn., 6 other states have bans on atheists holding office," December 18, 2014
- ↑ Maryland Secretary of State, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed March 3, 2014
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senate," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2014 Official General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Roll Call, "Roscoe Bartlett’s Chief of Staff Resigns After Reports of Run," accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "2010 General Election Official Results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Maryland State Board of Elections, "Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Shank, Christopher," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Brinkley for Congress, "David Brinkley Announces Candidacy for the 6th Congressional District Press Release," accessed February 15, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Christopher Shank's Biography," accessed March 24, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Donald Munson |
Maryland State Senate District 2 2011–2015 |
Succeeded by TBA |
| Preceded by - |
Maryland House of Delegates District 2B 1999–2011 |
Succeeded by Neil Parrott (R) |
