{{Short description|American politician (born 1953)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ric Metzgar | image = Testify for the Serve Act (52703632470) (cropped).jpg | caption = Metzgar in 2023 | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 6th | term_start = January 14, 2015 | term_end = | alongside = Robin Grammer Jr., Robert B. Long | predecessor = Michael H. Weir Jr. | successor = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|11|28}} | birth_place = Essex, Maryland, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | children = 2 }} '''Richard W. Metzgar''' (born November 28, 1953) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the sixth district since 2015.
== Early life and career == Metzgar was born and raised in Essex, Maryland, on November 28, 1953.<ref name="msa" /> His father worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company and his mother owned a dry cleaning business and worked for the Maryland Republican Party.<ref name="2010run" /> Metzgar graduated from Kenwood High School and attended Northwest Bible College and later earned a clinical pastoral education certificate from the Community College of Baltimore County.<ref name="msa" />
Metzgar worked as the general manager of G & W Motors from 1989 to 2015 and as the president of My Son's Parking, Inc. from 1994 to 1998.<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Richard W. Metzgar |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa17050.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> Metzgar also started the Gateway Pastors and Churches Association and served as a ministry leader for several area churches and as an associate pastor at Essex Church of God from 2004 to 2014.<ref name="msa" /><ref name="2010run" />
In 2006 and 2010, Metzgar was an unsuccessful candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 6.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnhardt |first1=Laura |title=Crowd jams 6th District contest |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2006-09-08-0609080181-story.html |access-date=January 19, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=September 8, 2006}}</ref><ref name="2010run">{{cite news |last1=Lookingbill |first1=Amy P. |title=Metzgar announces candidacy for House of Delegates |url=https://www.avenuenews.com/news/article_1767ead1-ff0f-54a0-b0e6-3fbca420fa50.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Avenue News |date=March 30, 2010 |language=en}}</ref> During his 2010 candidacy, he ran on a platform involving environmental and economic issues, including deregulation, pollution, and public safety.<ref name="2010run" />
== In the legislature == [[File:Drop in to House and Senate (53642767110).jpg|thumb|Metzgar and Nick Allen on the House floor, 2024]] Metzgar was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates alongside Republicans Robin Grammer Jr. and Robert B. Long in the 2014 Maryland House of Delegates election, during which the three ran on a platform involving economic issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=GOP celebrates Dundalk wins: 'Nothing but R's down here' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-co-dundalk-gop-20141107-story.html |access-date=January 19, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 9, 2014}}</ref> He was sworn in on January 14, 2015. Metzgar was a member of the Ways and Means Committee from 2015 to 2017, afterwards serving in the Health and Government Operations Committee until 2019. He has since served as a member of the Appropriations Committee.<ref name="msa" />
In July 2015, after Governor Larry Hogan announced that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Metzgar held a "Hogan Strong" vigil in Bel Air.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Jeff |title=Vigil held for Hogan as he enters second round of cancer treatment |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-md-hogan-strong-20150719-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 20, 2015}}</ref>
Metzgar served as an alternative delegate for the 2020 Republican National Convention.<ref name="msa" /> During the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, he endorsed state delegate Dan Cox, calling his opponent Kelly Schulz a "third term" of Governor Larry Hogan,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=Dan Cox upended the status quo in Maryland's Republican primary. Where will the election for governor take him? |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-profile-20221015-lejgaqc4drdkpnmk77u5b5qwbu-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 15, 2022}}</ref> whom he criticized for disapproving of Cox and former President Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Erin |title=Md. Republicans love Trump and Hogan. Whose candidate will win Tuesday? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/07/16/maryland-republican-governor-hogan-trump/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 17, 2022}}</ref>
==Political positions== ===Crime and policing=== During his 2006 House of Delegates campaign, Metzgar said he would support strengthening Jessica's Law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnhardt |first1=Laura |title=In 6th, veteran vs. newcomer |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2006-10-21-0610210379-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 21, 2006}}</ref>
In May 2015, following the beating of Richard Fletcher, a 61-year-old Dundalk resident who intervened in a fight outside his home, Metzgar called for the closure of the Baltimore Community High School, where the perpetrators of the attack attended.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Dundalk lawmakers: Close Baltimore Community High School |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-md-co-dundalk-school-20150519-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 19, 2015}}</ref> The Baltimore City Board of Education voted to close the school in January 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lettis |first1=George |title=Baltimore school board votes to close four schools |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-school-board-votes-to-close-four-schools/7098076 |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=WBAL-TV |date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>
During the 2016 legislative session, Metzgar supported legislation that would require police to obtain a warrant to use a stingray phone tracker, which can locate a cellphone's user within six feet.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dresser |first1=Michael |title=Police, civil libertarians clash over curbs on 'stingray' cellphone tracking |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-stingray-bill-20160310-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
During the debate on the Juvenile Restoration Act, which abolished life without parole sentences for juveniles, in 2021, Metzgar supported an amendment that would make the bill not apply to people convicted of school shooting-related crimes. The amendment was rejected in a 51–83 vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leckrone |first1=Bennett |title=House Passes Bill to End Life Without Parole For Juvenile Offenders, Allow Re-Sentencings |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/03/30/house-passes-bill-to-end-life-without-parole-for-juvenile-offenders-allow-re-sentencings/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 31, 2021}}</ref>
===Energy=== During the 2019 legislative session, Metzgar voted against the Clean Energy Job Act, a bill that expanded the state's clean energy mandates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Josh Kurtz: Will Offshore Wind Industry's Coming Out Party Include Franchot? |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/08/10/josh-kurtz-will-offshore-wind-industrys-coming-out-party-include-franchot/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 10, 2021}}</ref> In 2023, he supported the POWER Act, which expanded the state's offshore wind energy goals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Offshore wind bill takes flight in session's final hours |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/04/10/offshore-wind-bill-takes-flight-in-sessions-final-hours/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 11, 2023}}</ref> In March 2026, Metzgar was one of 10 Republicans to vote for the Utility RELIEF Act, a legislative package aimed at lowering electricity costs through a series of reforms to EmPOWER Maryland, delays to clean energy goals, and limits on what costs utility companies could pass onto consumers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Condon |first1=Christine |title=Broad energy bill passes Maryland House with bipartisan support |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2026/03/17/energy-bill-passes-house/ |access-date=March 20, 2026 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 18, 2026}}</ref>
===Health care=== During the 2019 legislative session, Metzgar said he opposed the End-of-Life Option Act, which would have provided palliative care to terminally ill adults, citing his faith.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |title=Amid tears, bowed heads, Maryland House of Delegates approves legalizing medically assisted suicide |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-assisted-suicide-vote-20190306-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> He supported a bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, a body tasked with making recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly on how to make prescription drugs more affordable.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Proposal for Prescription Drug Board Gains More Bipartisan Support |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/02/13/proposal-for-prescription-drug-board-gains-more-bipartisan-support/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>
===Immigration=== Metzgar supports reforms to federal immigration policy. In February 2026, he opposed a bill passed by the Baltimore County Council that prohibited private detention centers from operating in the county, saying that he believed the council's decision was rushed for judgement and done for publicity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Brandon |title=Local delegates react to Baltimore County's new ICE bill |url=https://www.dundalkeagle.com/news/local-delegates-react-to-baltimore-countys-new-ice-bill/article_e753728d-3355-41d3-80f7-300d406ccf85.html |access-date=February 22, 2026 |work=Dundalk Eagle |date=February 19, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
===Social issues=== During the 2020 legislative session, Metzgar supported legislation to allow sales of liquor in Baltimore County on Sundays.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Friday's Legislative Roundup |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/03/07/fridays-legislative-roundup/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 7, 2020}}</ref>
In October 2023, Metzgar participated in a protest against the Baltimore County Board of Education and its policies toward transgender students participating in school sports and using bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=Lilly |title=Protest over transgender student bathroom guidelines focal point of Tuesday's Baltimore County school board meeting |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-baltimore-county-school-board-transgender-students-20231011-6qnii4ls75gdnhu3gfrdgbpiaa-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>
During the 2024 legislative session, Metzgar introduced a bill to ban abortions if a "fetal heartbeat" is detected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=William J. |last2=Kurtz |first2=Josh |last3=Brown |first3=Danielle J. |title=Legislative notes: Some highlights from a busy day in Annapolis |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2024/03/16/legislative-notes-some-highlights-from-a-busy-day-in-annapolis/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 16, 2024}}</ref> He reintroduced the bill during the 2025 legislative session.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Marathon of abortion-related bills in House Health committee shows fight is not over in the state |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/02/28/marathon-of-abortion-related-bills-in-house-health-committee-shows-fight-is-not-over-in-the-state/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 28, 2025}}</ref>
=== Taxes === During his 2010 House of Delegates campaign, Metzgar said he supported repealing tax increases passed under the Martin O'Malley administration.<ref name="2010run" />
==Personal life== Metzgar is married and has two adult children.<ref name="msa" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 Republican primary election, 2006<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 06 | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2006/results/primary/legislative_district_06.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Steve Dishon |votes = 1,701 |percentage = 32.1 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar |votes = 1,504 |percentage = 28.4 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Paul M. Blitz |votes = 1,157 |percentage = 21.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Steven C. Brown |votes = 934 |percentage = 17.6 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2006<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2006 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2006/results/general/office_House_of_Delegates.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Johnny Olszewski (incumbent) |votes = 18,769 |percentage = 22.9 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Joseph J. Minnick (incumbent) |votes = 17,379 |percentage = 21.2 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Michael H. Weir Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 17,117 |percentage = 20.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Steve Dishon |votes = 10,961 |percentage = 13.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar |votes = 8,915 |percentage = 10.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Paul M. Blitz |votes = 8,765 |percentage = 10.7 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 106 |percentage = 0.1 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 Republican primary election, 2010<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2010/results/Primary/gen_results_2010_1_01606.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar |votes = 2,775 |percentage = 36.3 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert B. Long |votes = 2,584 |percentage = 33.8 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Carlton William Clendaniel |votes = 2,291 |percentage = 29.9 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2010<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2010/results/General/gen_results_2010_2_01606.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = John Olszewski Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 16,278 |percentage = 20.2 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Weir, Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 14,618 |percentage = 18.2 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Joseph "Sonny" Minnick (incumbent) |votes = 14,405 |percentage = 17.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert B. Long |votes = 12,999 |percentage = 16.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar |votes = 12,480 |percentage = 15.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Carlton William Clendaniel |votes = 9,612 |percentage = 11.9 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 79 |percentage = 0.1 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 Republican primary election, 2014<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/primary/gen_results_2014_1_01606.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert B. Long |votes = 2,139 |percentage = 24.4 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar |votes = 1,707 |percentage = 19.5 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robin Grammer Jr. |votes = 1,224 |percentage = 14.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Roger Zajdel |votes = 994 |percentage = 11.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Domenico "Dan" Liberatore |votes = 860 |percentage = 9.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Mitchell J. Toland, Jr. |votes = 701 |percentage = 8.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Carl H. Magee, Jr. |votes = 577 |percentage = 6.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Gary Sparks |votes = 450 |percentage = 5.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Jerzy Samotyj |votes = 122 |percentage = 1.4 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2014<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/General/gen_results_2014_2_01606.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert B. Long |votes = 16,796 |percentage = 21.2 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar |votes = 15,176 |percentage = 19.1 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robin L. Grammer Jr. |votes = 14,582 |percentage = 18.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Nicholas C. D'Adamo, Jr. |votes = 11,599 |percentage = 14.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Michael H. Weir Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 11,503 |percentage = 14.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jake Mohorovic |votes = 9,526 |percentage = 12.0 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 97 |percentage = 0.1 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2018<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_01606.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert B. Long (incumbent) |votes = 18,291 |percentage = 19.7 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robin L. Grammer Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 18,084 |percentage = 19.5 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar (incumbent) |votes = 17,803 |percentage = 19.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Nicholas C. D'Adamo, Jr. |votes = 12,847 |percentage = 13.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Megan Ann Mioduszewski |votes = 12,213 |percentage = 13.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Diane DeCarlo |votes = 12,000 |percentage = 12.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Michael J. Lyden |votes = 1,459 |percentage = 1.6 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 59 |percentage = 0.1 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 6 election, 2022<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates | work = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_01606.html }}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Ric Metzgar (incumbent) |votes = 16,696 |percentage = 23.6 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robin L. Grammer Jr. (incumbent) |votes = 16,344 |percentage = 23.1 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert B. Long (incumbent) |votes = 15,987 |percentage = 22.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Megan Ann Mioduszewski |votes = 11,300 |percentage = 16.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jake Mohorovic III |votes = 10,109 |percentage = 14.3 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 304 |percentage = 0.4 }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{commons category-inline}}
{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metzgar, Ric}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Maryland Category:Community College of Baltimore County alumni Category:Republican Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly