Reid Novotny

{{Short description|American politician (born 1978)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = | image = Reid Novotny at Tawes.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | order = | office = | status =  | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 9A | term_start = January 13, 2021 | term_end = January 11, 2023 | alongside = Trent Kittleman | predecessor = Warren E. Miller | successor = Natalie Ziegler | state_delegate1 = Maryland | district1 = | term_start1 = | term_end1 = | alongside1 = | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | birth_name = Reid Justin Novotny | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|03|22}} | birth_place = Anniston, Alabama, U.S. | party = Republican | relatives = Ray, April, Ryan and Ross Novotny | father = Raymond John Novotny II | mother = Linda Ann O'Brien | spouse = Married | children = 1 | education = | alma_mater = George Washington University, B.S. (computer science), 2000, M.A. (computer security), 2001; George Mason University, M.A. (strategic communications), 2012. | occupation = | profession = Cybersecurity | website =   | nickname = | allegiance = | branch = U.S. Air Force and Maryland Air National Guard | service_years = | rank = Brigadier General | unit = 175th Cyberspace Operations Group | commands = | battles = | mawards =  }}

'''Reid Justin Novotny''' (born March 22, 1978) is an American politician who was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from District 9A, which includes parts of Howard and Carroll counties, from 2021 to 2023.

== Early life and career == Novotny was born on March 22, 1978, in Anniston, Alabama<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Reid J. Novotny, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa18290.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=January 14, 2021 |date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> to Raymond John Novotny Jr. and Linda Ann O'Brien.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOVOTNY, REID JUSTIN |website=FollowTheMoney.org |publisher=OpenSecrets |url=https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=44433018&default=candidate |access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Novotny |title=United States Public Records, 1970-2009 |url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K1YP-9QT |website=FamilySearch |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |url-access=registration |access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref> His father is of Czech and Scottish ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Novotny |date=1995 |title=United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014 |url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5R-GXF4 |website=FamilySearch |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |url-access=registration |access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref> His grandfather was American football player Ray Novotny.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} Novotny graduated from Sandy High School in Sandy, Oregon in 1996 and attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a B.S. degree in computer science in 2000 and a M.S. degree in computer security in 2001, and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he earned a M.A. degree in strategic communications in 2012.<ref name="msa" />

After graduating, he commissioned in the United States Air Force, where he served as a Public Affairs Officer until 2013, when he was promoted to serve as Commander of the 35th Communications Squadron at the Misawa Air Base in Misawa, Aomori, Japan until 2015. He worked as the Director of Staff for the Air Force Chief Information Officer until 2017. Afterwards, he worked as a cybersecurity policy analyst for the United States Department of Justice until 2018 and served as Deputy Group Commander for the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group of the Maryland Air National Guard at the Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland until 2019.<ref name="msa" />

Novotny first got involved with politics in 2017 by becoming the vice president of the Howard County Republican Club. Around the same time, he began working as a strategic legislative communication assistant for U.S. Representative Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska's 2nd congressional district. He ran in the 2018 Republican primary for state Senate in the 9th district, losing to incumbent Gail H. Bates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Faguy |first1=Ana |title=Del. Reid Novotny sworn in to Maryland General Assembly to represent Howard and Carroll, reflects on first day |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-novotny-sworn-in-20210113-3nlfm3wr75a5dpoaps7binbtqi-story.html |access-date=January 14, 2021 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> In 2019, he became a member of the Howard County Republican Central Committee.<ref name="msa" /> Following the resignation of Delegate Warren E. Miller on December 30, 2020, the Republican central committees of Howard and Carroll counties selected Novotny, who had Miller's support, to serve the rest of her term in the House of Delegates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shwe |first1=Elizabeth |title=Hogan Appoints Amprey to House; Howard Co. GOP Wants Novotny for Dist. 9A Vacancy |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/01/06/hogan-appoints-amprey-to-house-howard-co-gop-wants-novotny-for-dist-9a-vacancy/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Faguy |first1=Ana |title=Reid Novotny selected for vacant District 9A delegate seat, pending approval from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-distric-9a-replacement-20210108-te7xifsufrgkpklv4kkqhnkcqu-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> He was appointed to fill the seat by Governor Larry Hogan on January 13, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leckrone |first1=Bennett |title=Meet the Freshmen: New Faces for the 442nd General Assembly Session |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/01/13/meet-the-freshmen-new-faces-for-the-442nd-general-assembly-session/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 13, 2021}}</ref>

Novotny is close to his brothers, Ryan (Colonel USAF Retired) and Ross (Entrepreneur), along with his half-brother Raymond and half-sister April. While serving, he and Ryan made the sport of long-distance running into a friendly competition. They both participated in the 2013 Boston Marathon and were present during the Boston Marathon bombing. Both brothers were unharmed in the attack.<ref>{{cite news |title=Air Force brothers make fitness a family affair |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/108934/air-force-brothers-make-fitness-a-family-affair/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=Air Force Public Affairs Agency |date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> Novotny is married and has one child.<ref name="msa" />

== In the legislature == Novotny was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 13, 2021. He was a member of the Appropriations Committee.<ref name="msa" />

In January 2022, Novotny announced another run for state Senate in the 9th district Republican primary for the seat now held by Democrat Katie Fry Hester rather than seek election to his current appointed seat.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |last2=Kurtz |first2=Josh |title=Political Notes: Novotny v. Hester, Neuman's Team, Dueling Endorsements in CD-4 and More |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/01/11/political-notes-novotny-v-hester-neumans-team-dueling-endorsements-in-cd-4-and-more/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ewert |first1=Scott |title=Howard County Politics: Delegate Reid Novotny announces a run for State Senate in District 9 in 2022 |url=https://scotteblog.com/2022/01/11/howard-county-politics-delegate-reid-novotny-announces-a-run-for-state-senate-in-district-9-in-2022/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111154420/https://scotteblog.com/2022/01/11/howard-county-politics-delegate-reid-novotny-announces-a-run-for-state-senate-in-district-9-in-2022/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=Scott E's Blog |date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> He was defeated by Hester in the general election on November 8, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Democrat Katie Fry Hester wins election as county's newest state senator |url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/11/09/democrat-hester-appears-on-her-way-to-becoming-montgomery-countys-newest-state-senator/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |work=Bethesda Magazine |date=November 9, 2022}}</ref>

== Political positions == === COVID-19 pandemic === In February 2022, Novotny attended a rally outside of a meeting for the Howard County Board of Education to call for an end to mask mandates in schools. At the rally, he said he supported parents who want their kids to wear a mask, but wanted parents to have the option to choose whether to do so.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Strickland |first1=Ray |title=Howard County parents, students rally to end mask mandate in county schools |url=https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/howard-county-parents-students-rally-to-end-mask-mandate-in-county-schools |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=WMAR-TV |date=February 10, 2022}}</ref>

=== Elections === In May 2021, Novotny and Delegate Haven Shoemaker wrote a letter to Westminster city representatives that questioned the integrity of the city's municipal election results. City officials responded to the letter by dismissing their concerns, saying that they had no merit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffith |first1=Kristen |title=Delegates question Westminster election integrity; city responds that concerns have no merit |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-election-integrity-20210510-7xl57pjvvvc7po6bcrf5pe4xa4-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 10, 2021}}</ref>

Novotny introduced legislation during the 2022 legislative session that would give Marylands the ability to recall state and local officials.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leckrone |first1=Bennett |title=Lawmaker Wants to Bring Recall Elections to Maryland |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/08/18/lawmaker-wants-to-bring-recall-elections-to-maryland/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 18, 2021}}</ref> The bill received an unfavorable report from the Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 15-7.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislation - HB0313 |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0313?ys=2022RS |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref>

=== Government === Novotny introduced legislation in the 2021 legislative session that would remove the voting rights of student school board members if their vote was a "deciding vote" on a motion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Jacob Calvin |title=Gridlock made a Maryland student the deciding vote on a school board. One lawmaker wants that to end. |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-smob-vote-legislation-20210120-7zyijckcufbjnliqctntth5ecq-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ojo |first1=Joseph |title=A proposed bill aims to prevent gridlock votes by Student School Board Members |url=https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/a-proposed-bill-aims-to-prevent-gridlock-votes-by-student-school-board-members |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=WBFF |date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> The bill received an unfavorable report from the Ways and Means committee in a 14-7 vote, killing the bill.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Jacob Calvin |title=Bill to curtail Maryland student school board members' voting power dies in House committee |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-smob-bill-dies-in-committee-20210218-eyxqfrvlq5efnnedmu2plniacu-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 18, 2021}}</ref>

=== Policing === Novotny opposed a bill that would reduce school resource officers from schools, reallocating their funding towards mental health and counseling programs at schools, arguing that school resource officers should stay in schools and to reform when there are issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ojo |first1=Joseph |title=Some Maryland lawmakers have introduced legislation that would remove SROs from schools |url=https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/some-maryland-lawmakers-have-introduced-legislation-that-would-remove-sros-from-schools |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=WBFF |date=February 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Stetson |title=Counselors Not Cops Act Would Shift Funding For School Resources Officers Toward Paying For More Counselors |url=https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/02/03/counselors-not-cops-act-school-resource-officers-maryland/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |work=WJZ-TV |date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>

== Electoral history == {| class="wikitable" |+ Maryland Senate District 9 Republican Primary Election, 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/Primary/gen_results_2018_1_01509.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref> |- !Party !Candidate !Votes !% |-{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |'''Gail H. Bates''' |4,222 |53.9% |-{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |'''Reid J. Novotny''' |3,605 |46.1% |}

==References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Novotny, Reid J.}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:George Washington University alumni Category:George Mason University alumni Category:Republican Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:American people of Czech descent Category:Military personnel from Maryland Category:United States Air Force colonels Category:United States congressional aides Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly

Reid Novotny

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