Paul D. Corderman

• John P. Corderman (father)

Paul Corderman
Corderman in 2020
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office September 1, 2020
Residence(s)	Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Maryland, College Park (BA)
Signature

Paul D. Corderman (born September 1, 1977) is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Republican Party. He is a member of the Maryland Senate from District 2, which covers parts of Washington County, assuming office on September 1, 2020. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 2B from December 2017 to August 2020.

Early life

Corderman was born on September 1, 1977, in Hagerstown, Maryland to John P. Corderman, a member of the Maryland Senate and circuit court judge. He graduated from North Hagerstown High School in 1995, ^[1] and later attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 2000. ^{[2] [3]}

Political career

Corderman first got involved in politics following the death of his father in July 2012. ^[4]

In 2016, Corderman ran for the Hagerstown City Council on a platform of increasing grants and tax incentives and cutting regulations. ^[1] He was sworn in on November 29, 2016. ^[5] Corderman resigned from the city council to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates on December 19, 2017. ^[6] He was succeeded by Charles Austin Heffernan Jr. ^[7]

Maryland General Assembly

In November 2017, following Governor Larry Hogan's appointment of state delegate Brett Wilson to the Washington County Circuit Court, Corderman applied to serve the remainder of Wilson's term in the Maryland House of Delegates. In December 2017, the Washington County Republican Central Committee voted to nominate Corderman to fill the seat, ^[8] and Hogan appointed Corderman to the Maryland House of Delegates later that month. ^[9] He was sworn in on December 20, 2017. ^[10] Corderman was elected to a full four-year term in 2018. ^[11]

Corderman in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, 2023

In August 2020, following the resignation of state senator Andrew A. Serafini, Corderman said he would apply to serve the remainder of Serafini's term in the Maryland Senate. ^[12] The Washington County Republican Central Committee nominated Corderman to fill the vacancy on August 26, ^[13] and Hogan appointed him to the Maryland Senate the following day. ^[4] He was sworn in on September 1, 2020. ^[14] Since 2023, Corderman has served as the ranking chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. ^[15]

Corderman ran for a full full-year term in the Maryland Senate in 2022. ^[16] During the primaries, he filed a lawsuit against Democratic challenger Shawn Demetrious Perry, alleging that Perry was ineligible to run because he did not live within the district. ^{[17] [18]} In June 2022, Circuit Court Judge Dana Moylan Wright denied Corderman's challenge to Perry's candidacy. ^[19] Corderman defeated Perry in the general election on November 8, 2022, receiving 63.8 percent of the vote to Perry's 36.1 percent. ^[20]

Personal life

Corderman is married to his wife, Kerri. Together, they have a daughter. ^[14]

Political positions

Crime and policing

During the 2020 legislative session, Corderman introduced the "Suzanne Jones Act", named for a woman stabbed to death in Hagerstown in October 2017, that would require state correctional facilities to release prisoners back into the communities where they lived before incarceration. ^[21] The bill failed to pass out of committee. In April 2020, he signed onto a letter questioning the early release of prisoners amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[22]

In September 2020, Corderman signed onto a letter calling for the cancellation of hearings on police reform, expressing concerns that the hearings would demoralize police officers. ^[23]

Education

Corderman supports the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) program, which provides scholarships to students attending private schools, and criticized funding cuts to the program in the state's 2019 budget. ^[24]

Health care

During the 2020 legislative session, Corderman introduced legislation to increase Medicaid reimbursements for emergency medical services. ^[25]

In August 2022, Corderman criticized a proposal by Mayor Emily Keller to locate a 24-hour crisis center in downtown Hagerstown, saying that it was contributing to the "disintegration and degradation of our downtown community". He also said he opposed bills decriminalizing certain drug-related violations in Maryland. ^[26]

Housing

In January 2017, Corderman said he opposed plans to redevelop Noland Village in Hagerstown, saying it would worsen the city's various socioeconomic issues, including the opioid epidemic. ^{[27] [28]} He later voted against a PILOT agreement with Bethel Gardens, a low-income housing complex in downtown Hagerstown. ^[29]

Taxes

During the 2022 legislative session, Corderman introduced legislation that would provide income tax breaks to health care workers following the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[30]

In 2023, Corderman introduced a bill that would prohibit Washington County from charging an entertainment tax. ^[31]

Transportation

Corderman supports the expansion of Interstate 81 and has called for increased state funding toward the project. ^[32]

During the 2020 legislative session, Corderman introduced a bill requiring a study on expanding MARC Train commuter rail lines to Hancock and Cumberland, which passed and became law. ^[33] He was also the only Republican state delegate to vote in favor of a bill increasing state transit maintenance spending by $500 million. ^[34]

Electoral history

Hagerstown City Council primary election, 2016 ^[35]

Candidate		Votes	%
Kristin B. Aleshire (incumbent)		4,138	16.2
Don Munson (incumbent)		3,348	13.1
Emily Keller		3,024	11.9
Penny May Nigh (incumbent)		2,960	11.6
Lewis C. Metzner (incumbent)		2,892	11.3
Paul D. Corderman		2,868	11.2
Carlos Reyes		1,567	6.1
Aaron C. Smith		1,525	6.0
Dot McDonald-Kline		1,323	5.2
Brandon Scott Boldyga		1,082	4.2
Colin Ploscaru		787	3.1

Hagerstown city council election, 2016 ^[36]

Candidate		Votes	%
Emily Keller		7,634	15.7
Kristin B. Aleshire (incumbent)		6,927	14.3
Paul D. Corderman		6,825	14.1
Don Munson (incumbent)		6,533	13.5
Lewis C. Metzner (incumbent)		6,078	12.5
Penny May Nigh (incumbent)		6,071	12.5
Carlos Reyes		3,356	6.9
Aaron C. Smith		2,581	5.3
Dot McDonald-Kline		2,319	4.8
Write-in		162	0.3

Maryland House of Delegates District 2B Republican primary election, 2018 ^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul D. Corderman (incumbent)	1,144	100.0

Maryland House of Delegates District 2B election, 2018 ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul D. Corderman (incumbent)	5,457	51.9
	Democratic	Peter E. Perini Sr.	5,028	47.8
	Write-in		25	0.2

Maryland Senate District 2 Republican primary election, 2022 ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul D. Corderman (incumbent)	8,467	100.0

Maryland Senate District 2 election, 2022 ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul D. Corderman (incumbent)	25,881	63.8
	Democratic	Shawn Demetrious Perry	14,629	36.1
	Write-in		32	0.1

References

1. Lammers, Carlee (March 7, 2016). "Corderman seeks city council seat "to move us forward'". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
2. "Paul D. Corderman, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
3. "Former Hagerstown City Councilman Paul Corderman takes oath as delegate". The Herald-Mail . December 20, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
4. Greene, Julie E. (August 27, 2020). "Hogan confirms Corderman for Senate". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
5. McMillion, Dave (November 29, 2016). "New Hagerstown mayor, council debate downtown-revitalization proposal". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
6. "Corderman focuses on growth". The Herald-Mail . January 5, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
7. Marshall, Katiann (January 24, 2018). "Heffernan picked to fill Hagerstown City Council vacancy". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
8. "Corderman chosen Maryland House of Delegates nominee". The Herald-Mail . December 7, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
9. Baker, Tamela (December 12, 2017). "Hogan appoints Corderman to delegate seat". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved September 24, 2020.
10. "Former Hagerstown City Councilman Paul Corderman takes oath as delegate". The Herald-Mail . December 20, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
11. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018.
12. Greene, Julie E. (August 5, 2020). "Corderman, Wivell confirm interest in Senate seat". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
13. Kurtz, Josh (August 26, 2020). "Del. Corderman Likely Headed to Senate to Replace Serafini". Maryland Matters . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
14. McMillion, Dave (September 1, 2020). "Corderman sworn-in to state Senate". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved September 24, 2020.
15. "Political notebook: Hagerstown area lawmakers tapped for State House minority leadership". The Herald-Mail . January 16, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
16. Baker, Tamela (July 20, 2021). "Paul Corderman files for the 2022 GOP primary, hopes to retain Senate seat". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
17. McMillion, Dave (May 19, 2022). "Corderman court filing alleges Democratic challenger lives outside Senate district". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
18. Garcia, Michael D. (May 27, 2022). "Democratic candidate testifies that he met residency deadlines when filing to run". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
19. Garcia, Michael D. (June 2, 2022). "Judge rules to deny Corderman's petition against Democrat candidate in Maryland primary". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
20. Baker, Tamela (November 9, 2022). "Corderman holds onto state Senate seat in District 2". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
21. Baker, Tamela (March 10, 2020). "Corderman bills would send inmates back to where they came from on release". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
22. Fitzpatrick, Alexis (April 27, 2020). "Corderman, House Republicans question state's early inmate release". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
23. O'Neill, Madeleine (September 21, 2020). "Md. Senate Republicans want police reform hearings canceled". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
24. Broadwater, Luke (March 8, 2019). "Powerful Maryland House committee approves budget with increased school funding, cuts to Gov. Hogan's programs". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
25. Baker, Tamela (March 4, 2020). "Corderman seeks more Medicaid funds for EMS". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
26. McMillion, Dave (August 11, 2022). "Email exchange: Downtown drug use 'threatens' future of Hagerstown". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
27. McMillion, Dave (January 24, 2017). "Hagerstown officials call for drug crisis action, debate causes". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
28. McMillion, Dave (January 19, 2017). "Hagerstown City Council split on sweeping public-housing project". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
29. Greene, Julie E. (April 26, 2017). "Hagerstown City Council approves housing deal, but county balks". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
30. Garcia, Michael D. (February 14, 2022). "GOP leadership backs governor on mask mandates; senator aims to help health care workers". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
31. Baker, Tamela (March 1, 2023). "Washington County Commissioners double down on keeping amusement tax authority". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
32. Weingarten, Dwight A. (October 6, 2023). "State and local officials talk safety as funds discussed for I-81 project completion". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
33. Baker, Tamela (March 3, 2020). "Corderman makes pitch for MARC study". The Herald-Mail . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
34. DePuyt, Bruce (March 14, 2020). "Bills Targeting Hogan's Highway Plans Advance; Transit Funding Measure Clears House". Maryland Matters . Retrieved October 14, 2023.
35. "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Washington County". Maryland State Board of Elections. May 31, 2016.
36. "Official 2016 Presidential General Election results for Washington County". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 9, 2016.
37. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018.
38. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022.
39. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.