Middleton, Thomas McLain ("Mac")
Person
Dates
- Existence: September 1, 1945-
Democrat, District 28, Charles County
Thomas “Mac” Middleton is a lifelong Charles County resident, a farmer, husband, father of three, proud grandfather, and a strong believer in public service.
Born in September 1945 in La Plata, Md., Mac grew up in a large family – one of fourteen. He graduated from Charles County Community College in 1966, then earned a bachelors of science degree from Mt. St. Mary’s College in 1968. He served in U.S. Army Intelligence from 1968 to 1971. Returning from the army, he has worked on his family farm – Cedar Hill Farm – and remained active in the community ever since.
Mac is the Maryland General Assembly’s only full-time farmer. As a farmer, Mac knows the challenges faced by all small business owners. He also recognizes the challenges in retaining Charles County’s rural atmosphere, working to preserve our quality of life.
Mac and his wife Joan are strong supporters of public education. All three of their children – Kelly, Brooke and Bret – attended and graduated from Charles County public schools. All three have graduated from Maryland colleges or universities. Joan recently retired from the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata after more than 20 years of service. On the State level, Mac has developed a reputation as a strong supporter of Maryland’s higher education institutions.
Mac has served the people of Charles County for years. As a member then as chairman of the Charles County Planning Commission from 1978 to 1985, Mac worked for better management of growth in the county. Elected in 1986 as president of the Charles County Commissioners, Mac worked to improve county government services, education, and growth management. He helped steer the county through tough fiscal times during the last recession, ultimately improving the county’s bond rating – a reflection of his fiscally conservative management style.
After Charles County voters elected him to the Maryland Senate in 1994, Mac has quickly become a rising star. After only three years in the Senate, he was named chairman of the Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee, a very rare honor for a freshman senator. He was considered an even-handed, fiscally conservative leader on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Recognized as a fair-minded and responsible legislator, he was named as co-chair of the Senate Legislative Ethics Committee. In 2003, he continued his climb in the Senate leadership, being named chairman of theSenate Finance Committee, a challenging but influential post. He is also a member of the Legislative Policy Committee, the Spending Affordability Committee, the Executive Nominations Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee. He is co-chair of theCommittee on Agricultural Preservation and Open Space.
Mac also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Tourism Council, Special Committee on State Employee Rights and Protections, Senate Chair, Joint Legislative Task Force on Small-Group Market Health Insurance, Joint Oversight Committee on the Department of Juvenile Services, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, Joint Legislative Task Force on Universal Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care, National Conference of State Legislatures Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, Environment and Energy Committee, Chesapeake Bay Commission, Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, and Southern States Energy Board.
Thomas “Mac” Middleton is a lifelong Charles County resident, a farmer, husband, father of three, proud grandfather, and a strong believer in public service.
Born in September 1945 in La Plata, Md., Mac grew up in a large family – one of fourteen. He graduated from Charles County Community College in 1966, then earned a bachelors of science degree from Mt. St. Mary’s College in 1968. He served in U.S. Army Intelligence from 1968 to 1971. Returning from the army, he has worked on his family farm – Cedar Hill Farm – and remained active in the community ever since.
Mac is the Maryland General Assembly’s only full-time farmer. As a farmer, Mac knows the challenges faced by all small business owners. He also recognizes the challenges in retaining Charles County’s rural atmosphere, working to preserve our quality of life.
Mac and his wife Joan are strong supporters of public education. All three of their children – Kelly, Brooke and Bret – attended and graduated from Charles County public schools. All three have graduated from Maryland colleges or universities. Joan recently retired from the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata after more than 20 years of service. On the State level, Mac has developed a reputation as a strong supporter of Maryland’s higher education institutions.
Mac has served the people of Charles County for years. As a member then as chairman of the Charles County Planning Commission from 1978 to 1985, Mac worked for better management of growth in the county. Elected in 1986 as president of the Charles County Commissioners, Mac worked to improve county government services, education, and growth management. He helped steer the county through tough fiscal times during the last recession, ultimately improving the county’s bond rating – a reflection of his fiscally conservative management style.
After Charles County voters elected him to the Maryland Senate in 1994, Mac has quickly become a rising star. After only three years in the Senate, he was named chairman of the Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee, a very rare honor for a freshman senator. He was considered an even-handed, fiscally conservative leader on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Recognized as a fair-minded and responsible legislator, he was named as co-chair of the Senate Legislative Ethics Committee. In 2003, he continued his climb in the Senate leadership, being named chairman of theSenate Finance Committee, a challenging but influential post. He is also a member of the Legislative Policy Committee, the Spending Affordability Committee, the Executive Nominations Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee. He is co-chair of theCommittee on Agricultural Preservation and Open Space.
Mac also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Tourism Council, Special Committee on State Employee Rights and Protections, Senate Chair, Joint Legislative Task Force on Small-Group Market Health Insurance, Joint Oversight Committee on the Department of Juvenile Services, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, Joint Legislative Task Force on Universal Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care, National Conference of State Legislatures Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, Environment and Energy Committee, Chesapeake Bay Commission, Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, and Southern States Energy Board.