Barry Glassman
Glassman in 2021
7th Executive ofHarford County
In office December 1, 2014 – December 5, 2022
Preceded by	David Craig
Succeeded by	Robert Cassilly
Member of theMaryland Senate from the35th district
In office January 10, 2008 – December 1, 2014
Preceded by	J. Robert Hooper
Succeeded by	H. Wayne Norman Jr.
Member of theMaryland House of Delegates from the35A district
In office January 13, 1999 – January 10, 2008 Serving with Joanne S. Parrott,Donna Stifler
Preceded by	Michael G. Comeau James M. Harkins
Succeeded by	H. Wayne Norman Jr.
Member of theHarford County Council from District D
In office 1990–1998
Preceded by	J. Robert Hooper
Succeeded by	Lance Miller
Personal details
Born	(1962-03-24)March 24, 1962 (age 63) Havre de Grace, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Dari
Children	1
Education	Washington College (BA)

Barry Glassman (born March 24, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 7th county executive ofHarford County, Maryland, from 2014 to 2022. He was previously a member of theMaryland State Senate, representing District 35 inHarford County, Maryland; he was appointed in 2008 to fill a vacancy, and subsequently was re-elected to the position in 2010.^[1] Glassman was originally elected to theMaryland House of Delegates,District 35A in 1998, along withJoanne S. Parrott, defeating incumbentMichael G. Comeau and winning the seat left vacant byJames M. Harkins, who was elected as Harford County Executive.^[2] He was the Republican nominee forComptroller of Maryland in the2022 election,^[3] which he lost to state delegateBrooke Lierman.

Glassman was born on March 24, 1962, inHavre de Grace, Maryland,^[4] and grew up on a sheep farm inLevel.^[5] He graduated fromHavre de Grace High School in 1980.^[6] He also attendedMeadowvale Elementary andHavre de Grace Middle School. After high school, he attendedWashington College, where he graduated in 1984 with a B.A. in political science.^[4]

After college, Glassman was a claims investigative specialist withTravelers Insurance Company. He worked there until 1990 when he took a position withBaltimore Gas and Electric Company.^[4]

Glassman became active in politics soon after college. He became a member of the Maryland Association of Counties in 1990 and was active until 1998. He was also a member of theNational Association of Counties during the same time, serving on the rural affairs committee. He has been a member of the Maryland Claims Adjusters since 1990.^[4]

In 1990, he also became a member of the Harford County Council, serving until 1998. He was the vice-president in 1995. He has served on several task forces, including the Task Force on Resource-Based Industry in Maryland, the Task Force to Study Motor Vehicle Salvage Inspection and Titling Practices, the Study Commission on Public Funding of Campaigns in Maryland, and the Task Force on the Future for Growth and Development in Maryland.^[4]

At a local level, Glassman is a member of the American Sheep Council, Harford County4-H Club, the Harford County Farm Bureau, the Level Volunteer Fire Company, andOmicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society.^[4]

Glassman was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 13, 1999. He was a member of the Environmental Matters Committee, the Economic Matters Committee, and the Commerce and Government Matters Committee. He was also the chair of the Harford County Delegation and the Republican Policy Committee, and a member of the Maryland Legislative Sportmen's Caucus, the Maryland Rural Caucus, the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, the Maryland Veterans Caucus, and the Taxpayers Protection Caucus.^[4]

In January 2008, Glassman was appointed to the Maryland Senate, succeeding state SenatorJ. Robert Hooper, who had resigned for medical reasons.^[7] He was a member of the Finance Committee and the Protocol Committee, was the Senate Chair of the Harford County Delegation, and a member of the Maryland Veterans Caucus.^[4]

On June 7, 2013, Glassman said he would not seek re-election to the Maryland Senate in 2014, instead announcing a run for Harford County executive.^[8] He was unopposed in the Republican primary,^[9] and defeated Joe Werner in the general election with 74.8 percent of the vote.^[10] He was sworn in on December 1, 2014.^[4] Glassman ran for re-election in 2018,^[11] winning a second term with 67.4 percent of the vote.^[12]

In November 2015, Glassman said he was considering a run for the Republican nomination in the2016 United States Senate election in Maryland.^[13] In January 2016, he said he would not run for Senate, instead continuing to serve as county executive.^[14]

In December 2020, Glassman, who was term-limited from running for a third-term as Harford County executive, said he was "weighing his options" on a possible run for governor, comptroller, or a congressional seat.^[15] On April 15, 2021, Glassman announced that he would run forComptroller of Maryland in the2022 election.^[3] In announcing his run, Glassman said he would have run forMaryland's 1st congressional district in 2022 had incumbent U.S. RepresentativeAndy Harris "kept his promise on term limits".^[16]

Following the Republican primaries, in which he ran unopposed, Glassman refused to endorse either of the other two statewide Republican nominees,Dan Cox andMichael Peroutka.^[17] He lost to state delegateBrooke Lierman in the general election, receiving 38.3 percent of the vote.^[18][19] Following his defeat, Glassman worked as a lobbyist during the 2023 legislative session and started his own lobbying firm, Deer Creek Government Relations, in June 2023.^[20]

Glassman has been described as amoderate Republican.^[21][22]

During his first year as county executive, Glassman unveiled a plan to revive development initiatives at the James Run corporate site near I-95, and with establishing an agricultural research and exposition center nearDublin.^[23]

In May 2022, Glassman vetoed a bill that would place a building development moratorium on the Perryman Peninsula, saying that the bill was "illegal" and violated the Harford County Code and the County Charter.^[24] The Harford County Council did not override Glassman's veto on the bill, despite previously voting unanimously to pass the bill.^[25]

In February 2021, Glassman said he supported a bill introduced in the Maryland Senate to create an all-elected school board in Harford County.^[26]

In March 2013, Glassman said that he opposed the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, calling the bill "an infringement on the law-abiding folks" and not a deterrent to criminals who use guns.^[27] Glassman voted against the bill in April 2013.^[28]

Glassman supported the creation of Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board, a body tasked with making recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly on how to make prescription drugs more affordable.^[29][30] In May 2019, Glassman wrote an op-ed toMaryland Matters calling on Maryland governorLarry Hogan to sign the bill creating the agency into law.^[31]

In 2003, Glassman voted against a bill to legalizemedical marijuana in Maryland,^[32] calling the bill a "revenue enhancement act for the drug dealers".^[33] Glassman later reversed his position on marijuana, supporting and voting for legislation to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize small amounts of the drug in 2014,^[34] but said he did not support the full legalization of marijuana.^[35] In August 2021, Glassman said that he had "no objection" to putting the question of legalizing cannabis before voters, but said he'd "wait for pass judgement on the implementation legislation".^[36]

Glassman opposed theCivil Marriage Protection Act, voting against it in both 2011 and 2012^[37][38] and tellingThe Baltimore Sun, "I don't have a problem providing some right and privileges within a civil union, but I don't want to redefine what a traditional marriage is."^[39]

In March 2013, Glassman voted against legislation that would repeal the death penalty in Maryland.^[40]

In February 2019, Glassman called on state DelegateMary Ann Lisanti, who represents part of Harford County inDistrict 34A, to resign after she used then-word to describe aPrince George's County legislative district.^[41]

Glassman condemned the2021 United States Capitol attack, sending a tweet during the attack that read "Put this rebellion down!" and later sending an email condemning U.S. Representative Andy Harris's role in the incident.^[42] Shortly after the events, Glassman announced he would consider a run against Harris in 2022,^[43] but he ultimately ran for Comptroller of Maryland in 2022 instead.^[3]

In May 2012, Glassman voted against Senate Bill 1302.^[44] In March 2013, he voted against a bill to raise the gas tax to replenish the state's transportation fund.^[45]

Aside from politics, Glassman is a sheep farmer who lives inDarlington, Maryland,^[46] and is married to his wife, Dari.^[47] Together, they have one child and one grandchild.^[4]

• Media related toBarry Glassman at Wikimedia Commons
• Campaign Website
• Official Biography from Maryland Manual On-Line

• 1962 births
• Living people
• 20th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly
• 21st-century American farmers
• 21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly
• Candidates in the 2022 United States elections
• County commissioners in Maryland
• Farmers from Maryland
• Harford County executives
• People from Havre de Grace, Maryland
• Republican Party Maryland state senators
• Republican Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates
• Washington College alumni

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