Boyd Rutherford

Monica Rutherford

​

(m. 1987)​

Boyd Rutherford
9th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
In office January 21, 2015 –January 18, 2023
Children	3
Residence(s)	Columbia, Maryland, U.S.
Education	Howard University (BA) University of Southern California (MA, JD)

Boyd Kevin Rutherford (born April 1, 1957) is an American politician, businessman and attorney who served as the ninth lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023.

A member of the Republican Party, Rutherford was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as Associate Administrator in the U.S. General Services Administration, serving from 2001 to 2003. Rutherford then joined the administration of Governor Bob Ehrlich, serving as the Secretary of General Services from 2003 to 2006. He served as Assistant Secretary for Administration to the United States Department of Agriculture from 2006 to 2009. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life and education

Rutherford was born in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Howard University, which he earned in 1979. In 1990, Rutherford earned both a Juris Doctor degree and a master's degree in communications management from the University of Southern California.

Rutherford is a member of the State Bars of California and Maryland, as well as the District of Columbia bar. He has practiced law in Southern California, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. He has been serving since January 21, 2015. ^[3]

Career

Business career

In addition to his public service, Rutherford has a broad career in law and business. At the time of his election in 2014, Rutherford served as an attorney with the firm of Benton Potter & Murdock, which has offices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He served as Associate Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration; during his time there, he worked with small businesses in government and improving the agency. Rutherford served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services. He was responsible for over $900 million in annual contract administration, while finding creative ways to save the taxpayers of Maryland money and completing expansion of State buildings.

Additionally, following the resignation of Michael J. Harrison, ^[2] Rutherford was nominated by George W. Bush as Assistant Secretary for Administration for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where he was able to save millions of taxpayer dollars. ^{[4] [5]} He has also worked in information technology sales, and small and minority business development. Rutherford previously served on the Baltimore City Brownfields Redevelopment Council and on the Board of the Corridor Transportation Corporation. ^[6]

Political career and civic associations

Rutherford in October 2017.

Rutherford served on the Howard County Republican Central Committee from 1996 to 2002 and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2000. ^[7] From 2009 to 2011, Rutherford served as Chief Administrative Officer of the Republican National Committee.

Tenure as lieutenant governor

Rutherford is the third consecutive African American elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor in Maryland. ^{[8] [9]} While Governor Larry Hogan was going through treatment for lymphoma, Rutherford often acted as governor. ^{[10] [11]} In December 2015, he criticized fantasy football sites, voicing his opinion that they were gambling sites. As a candidate, Rutherford was noted as someone who would “make the trains run on time” and for his focus on making the government more effective. ^{[12] [13]}

Post-lieutenant gubernatorial career

Rutherford with Governor-elect Wes Moore, November 2022

Rutherford, who was seen as the likely Republican frontrunner in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, announced in April 2021 that he would not seek to succeed Governor Larry Hogan. ^[14] During the Republican primary, he endorsed former Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly M. Schulz. ^{[15] [16]} After Schulz was defeated by state delegate Dan Cox in the primary, Rutherford declined to endorse Cox and predicted that Democratic nominee Wes Moore would defeat him in the general election. ^[17]

In January 2023, Rutherford joined Columbia, Maryland, law firm Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny LLC as a government relations and lobbying personnel. ^[18] In March 2023, he published Rutherford's Travels, a book that documents his visits to all 76 Maryland state parks during his tenure as lieutenant governor. ^[19] In April 2023, Rutherford joined the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute at Towson University as its inaugural senior fellow. ^[20]

Personal life

Rutherford and his wife Monica live in Columbia, Maryland, and they have three adult children; one son and two daughters.

See also

• List of African-American Republicans
• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

References

1. "Presidential Nomination: Boyd Kevin Rutherford". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
2. "Nominations for USDA: Rutherford, Buchanan, Kesselman and Strachan | The United States Senate Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry". United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry . Retrieved 2020-12-07.
3. "BMore News". Archived from the original on November 5, 2014.
4. Sherman, Trey. "9 Things to Know About Md. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
5. "Benton, Potter & Murdock, P.C." Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
6. "Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford". governor.maryland.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
7. "Boyd K. Rutherford, Maryland Secretary of General Services". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
8. Cornish, Stephanie (October 22, 2014). "Who is Boyd Rutherford? - Afro" . Retrieved June 28, 2019.
9. Weiner, Rachel (November 17, 2015). "Black Republicans lament state of the GOP". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
10. Baker, Tamela (December 10, 2015). "2015 was a challenging year for Gov. Larry Hogan". Herald-Mail Media. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
11. Sherman, Trey (June 23, 2015). "9 Things to Know About Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford". NBC Washington. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
12. Dresser, Michael. "Rutherford known for 'making the trains run on time'". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
13. Sears, Bryan P. (December 10, 2015). "Martino holds up Mass. fantasy sports rules as national model". The Daily Record. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
14. DePuyt, Bruce (April 14, 2021). "Rutherford Won't Run for Governor in 2022". Maryland Matters. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
15. Kurtz, Josh (June 14, 2022). "Political Notes: It's Campaign Finance Day, Counter-Programming Oprah, a Morella-Edwards Alliance, and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
16. DePuyt, Bruce (July 15, 2022). "Rutherford: 'Extremist' Dan Cox Would Harm Republican Office-Seekers in November". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
17. "Rutherford Rejects Cox as GOP Gubernatorial Nominee". WCBC Radio. July 27, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
18. Iannetta, Jessica (January 10, 2023). "Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford to join Columbia law firm". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
19. Wintrode, Brenda; Wood, Pamela (March 4, 2023). "Banner political notes: Maryland leaders at the White House; former L.G. is an author; one conference, two govs". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
20. Gaines, Danielle E.; Kurtz, Josh (April 19, 2023). "Political notes: Moore does the D.C. policy circuit, Trone hires a campaign manager, new gig for ex-LG, and more". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 19, 2023.

Political offices
Preceded by Anthony Brown	Lieutenant Governor of Maryland 2015–2023	Succeeded by Aruna Miller