{{short description|American politician (born 1955)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Van Mitchell | image = Van Mitchell (25782733605).jpg | caption = Mitchell in 2016 | office = Maryland Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene | governor = Larry Hogan | term_start = February 13, 2015 | term_end = December 15, 2016<br>Acting: January 21, 2015 – February 13, 2015 | predecessor = Joshua Sharfstein | successor = Dennis Schrader | state_delegate1 = Maryland | district1 = 28th | term_start1 = January 11, 1995 | term_end1 = September 30, 2004 | predecessor1 = ''Redistricting'' | successor1 = Murray D. Levy | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|11|28}} | birth_place = La Plata, Maryland, U.S. | party = Democratic | children = 2 | education = Campbell University }} '''Van T. Mitchell''' (born November 28, 1955) is an American politician who served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health from 2015 to 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, Mitchell previously served as the principal deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Health from 2004 to 2007 and as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 to 2004.
==Early life and education== Mitchell was born in La Plata, Maryland, on November 28, 1955. He graduated from La Plata High School before attending Campbell University.<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Van T. Mitchell, Maryland Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/16dhmh/former/html/msa12273.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref>
==Career== Mitchell was the chief executive officer of MSI Inc., a construction supply business, from 1985 to 2006.<ref name="msa" /> His company's warehouse and lumber yard were destroyed during the 2002 La Plata tornado.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnhardt |first1=Laura |last2=Calvert |first2=Scott |title=La Plata twister Md.'s worst |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/04/30/la-plata-twister-mds-worst/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 30, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=La Plata's future: mend or amend? |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/07/21/la-platas-future-mend-or-amend/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 21, 2002}}</ref> After Governor Bob Ehrlich left office in 2007, Mitchell worked as an associate for Manis, Canning and Associates from 2008 to 2015, and as a lobbyist for Cornerstone Government Affairs since 2017.<ref name="msa" />
Mitchell first became involved in politics in 1982, when he became a member of the Charles County Democratic Central Committee. He served on the Town of La Plata's Business District Commission and the Charles County Community College Board of Trustees from 1993 to 1995.<ref name="msa" />
===Maryland House of Delegates=== Mitchell was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1994 and sworn in on January 11, 1995. He was a member of the Economic Matters Committee from 1995 to 2003, including as the chair of its workers compensation subcommittee from 1999 to 2003, the Appropriations Committee in 2003, and the Environmental Matters Committee in 2004. He was also the chair of the Southern Maryland Delegation from 1996 to 2002 and the Charles County Delegation from 2003 to 2004.<ref name="msa" /> During his tenure, Mitchell supported efforts to increase funding for school construction and local highways, including the construction of bypasses around Waldorf and Hughesville.<ref name="Retire2004" />
In April 2004, Mitchell announced that he would not seek re-election in 2006, saying that he wanted to spend more time working at his business and with local charities.<ref name="Retire2004">{{cite news |last1=Amon |first1=Michael |last2=McCaffrey |first2=Raymond |title=Mitchell Will End Assembly Tenure |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/04/29/mitchell-will-end-assembly-tenure/0d30c4bd-6e1f-4c75-bb15-804be3177e58/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 29, 2004}}</ref> He resigned from office early after Governor Bob Ehrlich appointed him as principal deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Health in September 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Partlow |first1=Joshua |title=Three More Seek Delegate Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/10/10/three-more-seek-delegate-post/262e9130-85b1-4beb-b38d-e03f479b23c1/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 10, 2004}}</ref>
===Maryland Department of Health=== On December 23, 2014, Maryland Governor-elect Larry Hogan appointed Mitchell to be his Secretary for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=John |title=Hogan taps former Ehrlich official to head health agency, fills five other Cabinet spots |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/hogan-taps-former-ehrlich-official-to-head-health-agency-fills-five-other-cabinet-spots/2014/12/23/58943282-8ab1-11e4-a085-34e9b9f09a58_story.html |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> Mitchell's appointment was confirmed by the Maryland Senate on February 13, 2015,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jenna |title=After power-flexing delay, Md. Senate approves Hogan's appointments |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/after-power-flexing-delay-md-senate-approves-hogans-appointments/2015/02/13/f10ce63c-b3a4-11e4-854b-a38d13486ba1_story.html |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 13, 2015}}</ref> and he was sworn in later that day.<ref name="msa" /> During his tenure, Mitchell focused on efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic in Maryland<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marbella |first1=Jean |title=Maryland clinics receive $1.8 million to treat heroin, opioid addicts |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2016/03/11/maryland-clinics-receive-18-million-to-treat-heroin-opioid-addicts/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hicks |first1=Josh |title=Maryland reports another sharp spike in overdose deaths |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-reports-another-sharp-spike-in-overdose-deaths/2016/09/22/9cf8b2da-80e2-11e6-8327-f141a7beb626_story.html |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 22, 2016}}</ref> and oversaw the state's response to a capacity crisis at state hospitals from mid-to-late 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Dan |title=Mental-health crisis ensnares inmates, judges, jailers and hospitals |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/mental-health-crisis-ensnares-inmates-judges-jailers-and-hospitals/2016/06/07/b5379c7c-2aa1-11e6-a3c4-0724e8e24f3f_story.html |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dresser |first1=Michael |title=Maryland health chief says it was mistake not to seek more money for mental health beds |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2016/08/02/maryland-health-chief-says-it-was-mistake-not-to-seek-more-money-for-mental-health-beds/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>
On December 15, 2016, amid pressure from state legislators to more promptly care for criminal defendants awaiting psychological evaluations, Mitchell resigned as Secretary of Health effective immediately to "pursue opportunities in the private sector".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sears |first1=Bryan P. |title=Mitchell resigns, to be replaced by Schrader at DMMH |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2016/12/15/maryland-mitchell-dhmh-resignation/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=December 15, 2016}}</ref> He was succeeded by Dennis Schrader, who previously served as Governor Hogan's appointments secretary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wiggins |first1=Ovetta |title=Hogan names a new health secretary to replace Van Mitchell |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/hogan-names-a-new-health-secretary-to-replace-van-mitchell/2016/12/15/cae302d0-c2e7-11e6-9a51-cd56ea1c2bb7_story.html |access-date=June 17, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 15, 2016}}</ref>
In August 2019, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Miller Jr. and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones named Mitchell to serve as the chair of the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Legislative Leaders, Frosh Tap Prescription Drug Board Members, Await Hogan Action |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2019/08/23/legislative-leaders-frosh-tap-prescription-drug-board-members-await-hogan-action/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
==Personal life== Mitchell is married and has two children.<ref name="msa" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 28 Democratic primary election, 1994<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/1994/results_1994/pahod.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Samuel C. Linton |votes = 3,987 |percentage = 21.4 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Van T. Mitchell |votes = 3,427 |percentage = 18.4 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Ruth Ann Hall |votes = 3,388 |percentage = 18.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Warren A. Bowie |votes = 2,967 |percentage = 16.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Edith J. Patterson |votes = 2,649 |percentage = 14.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Scott Hunter |votes = 2,175 |percentage = 11.7 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 28 election, 1994<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Gubernatorial General Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/1994/results_1994/gahod.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Van T. Mitchell |votes = 12,289 |percentage = 17.9 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Samuel C. Linton |votes = 11,993 |percentage = 17.5 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Thomas E. Hutchins |votes = 11,507 |percentage = 16.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Gerald Schuster |votes = 11,416 |percentage = 16.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Ruth Ann Hall |votes = 11,176 |percentage = 16.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Adam M. O'Kelley |votes = 10,295 |percentage = 15.0 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 28 election, 1998<ref>{{cite web |title=1998 Gubernatorial General Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/1998/results_1998/gahod.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Thomas E. Hutchins (incumbent) |votes = 18,012 |percentage = 22.8 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Van T. Mitchell (incumbent) |votes = 17,835 |percentage = 22.6 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Samuel C. Linton (incumbent) |votes = 17,268 |percentage = 21.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = James Crawford |votes = 12,780 |percentage = 16.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Michael D. Hathaway |votes = 11,757 |percentage = 14.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = George C. Vann (write-in) |votes = 1,333 |percentage = 1.7 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 28 election, 2002<ref>{{cite web |title=2002 Gubernatorial General - Official Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2002/results/g_ld28.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Thomas E. Hutchins (incumbent) |votes = 19,037 |percentage = 20.3 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Sally Y. Jameson |votes = 18,476 |percentage = 19.7 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Van T. Mitchell (incumbent) |votes = 18,238 |percentage = 19.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Jim Jarboe |votes = 16,577 |percentage = 17.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = James Crawford |votes = 12,109 |percentage = 12.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Robert Boudreaux |votes = 9,289 |percentage = 9.9 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 48 |percentage = 0.1 }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Van}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly Category:Businesspeople from Maryland Category:Campbell University alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:People from La Plata, Maryland Category:State cabinet secretaries of Maryland Category:State health commissioners of the United States