April Fleming Miller

April Fleming Miller
Miller in 2018
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Serving with Jesse Pippy and Barrie Ciliberti
Preceded byDan Cox
Member and Vice Chair of the Frederick County Board of Education
In office
2010–2018
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded byJay Mason
Personal details
Born (1970-10-05) October 5, 1970 (age 54)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Middletown, Maryland, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County (BA)
Salus University (PhD)
OccupationOptometrist[1]

April Fleming Miller (born October 5, 1970) is an American politician who is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 4 in Frederick County, Maryland. She was previously an at-large member of the Frederick County Board of Education from 2010 to 2018.[2]

Background

Miller graduated from Middletown High School in 1988. She later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology/psychology in 1992, and the Salus University, where she earned her Doctorate of Optometry in 1996.[2] Miller is an optometrist at Evich and Nathan Optometry and Optical Center in Frederick, Maryland.[3]

Miller served on the Frederick County Board of Education from 2010 to 2018, and was elected its vice president in 2017.[4] She was defeated in the 2018 general election after serving two terms on the board.[5] In January 2020, Governor Larry Hogan appointed Miller to a five-year term on the Frederick Community College Board of Trustees, succeeding former board chair Debra Borden.[6]

In 2022, Miller was one of four Republicans to run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 4.[7] She won the Republican primary, coming in second place behind incumbent state Delegate Jesse Pippy with 25.8 percent of the vote.[8]

In the legislature

Miller in the Ways and Means Committee, 2024

Miller was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.[9] She is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.[10]

Political positions

Miller identifies as a "common-sense conservative".[8]

COVID-19 pandemic

In October 2021, Miller said she opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates for students.[11]

Education

Miller does not support the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a sweeping education reform bill passed in 2021, saying that she would like the Maryland General Assembly to pause its implementation as schools recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

In 2011, Miller expressed sympathy with a parent complaint that the textbook Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond was politically tilted, saying "I think it disrespects our country, because it doesn't say a lot positive about it, and I think that's detrimental to unity."[12] In 2012, Miller objected to allowing Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon to be available in high schools, saying that while she did not want to ban books, she thought the school board should be more involved in evaluating books used in schools.[13]

In February 2015, Miller testified in support of a bill requiring parents to provide consent before schools could survey students about their drug use or sexual activity.[14]

In April 2016, Miller introduced a policy that required refusals by students or parents to take federally and state-mandated tests to be "honored without question".[15]

In June 2017, Miller voted against a contract with the Frederick County Teachers Association, opposing the contract's four-year salary scale transition plan by saying that it did not benefit students and their families.[16]

Social issues

During the 2024 legislative session, Miller introduced a bill that would require abortion care providers to notify law enforcement if they suspect a patient is a victim of sex trafficking, and would make not doing so a misdemeanor offense.[17]

Electoral history

Frederick County Board of Education primary election, 2010[18]
Candidate Votes %
Brad W. Young 18,197 18.2
James C. Reeder, Jr. 11,325 11.3
April Fleming Miller 7,464 7.5
Janice Spiegel 7,226 7.2
Colleen E. Cusimano 6,985 7.0
Jean Smith 6,927 6.9
Sarah McAleavy 5,849 5.9
Aubrey Harbaugh 5,597 5.6
Omari Patterson 5,372 5.4
Roger A. Smith 4,424 4.4
Barrie Ciliberti 4,332 4.3
Yonnas Kefle 3,898 3.9
Robert Joseph Johnson 3,847 3.9
Otto "Butch" Gross 3,381 3.4
Earl Wahlquist 2,906 2.9
Glenn E. Dexter 2,154 2.2
Frederick County Board of Education election, 2010[19]
Candidate Votes %
Brad W. Young 43,414 21.3
James C. Reeder, Jr 30,780 15.1
Jean Smith 25,470 12.5
April Fleming Miller 23,352 11.5
Colleen E. Cusimano 23,177 11.4
Janice Spiegel 21,055 10.4
Aubrey Harbaugh 18,032 8.9
Sarah McAleavy 17,525 8.6
Write-in 542 0.3
Frederick County Board of Education election, 2014[20]
Candidate Votes %
Liz Barrett 35,673 15.5
Brad W. Young 32,632 14.2
Colleen E. Cusimano 31,147 13.6
April Fleming Miller 29,700 12.9
Kenneth P. Kerr 29,657 12.9
Mike Ferrell 26,104 11.4
Millicent Hall 23,984 10.4
Richard S. Vallaster, III 20,470 8.9
Write-in 422 0.2
Frederick County Board of Education election, 2018[21]
Candidate Votes %
Brad W. Young 50,179 17.7
Karen Yoho 39,242 13.8
Liz Barrett 38,146 13.4
Jay Mason 37,971 13.4
April Fleming Miller 35,938 12.6
Cindy Rose 31,968 11.2
Camden Raynor 28,191 9.9
Kim L. Williams 21,321 7.5
Write-in 1,206 0.4
Maryland House of Delegates District 4 Republican primary election, 2022[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jesse Pippy 10,450 33.4
Republican April Fleming Miller 8,055 25.8
Republican Barrie Ciliberti 7,361 23.5
Republican Heath S. Barnes 5,398 17.3
Maryland House of Delegates District 4 election, 2022[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jesse Pippy 30,670 19.09
Republican April Fleming Miller 29,717 18.50
Republican Barrie Ciliberti 29,705 18.49
Democratic Andrew J. Duck 24,489 15.24
Democratic Millicent A. Hall 23,361 14.54
Democratic Brandon Duck 22,628 14.08
Write-in 93 0.06

References

  1. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Kurtz, Josh (February 10, 2022). "Political Notes: Elrich's Endorsements, Pippy's Plans, Segal's LG, and CD-4 News". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Members – Delegate April Miller". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. ^ McManus, Kevin (December 6, 2017). "Young Re-Elected BOE President". WFMD. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Frederick Co. BOE elects officers". The Herald-Mail. December 13, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Misuraca, Katie (November 29, 2018). "Three Board of Education members participate in final meeting". WDCW. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Pelaez, Jasime (January 27, 2020). "Dr. April Miller joins the Board of Trustees and embarks on a 5-year term". WDCW. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Kurtz, Josh (June 1, 2022). "Top 20 House Primaries to Watch". Maryland Matters. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Marshall, Ryan (September 11, 2022). "Miller seeks seat in Annapolis as 'common-sense conservative'". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "April Fleming Miller, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. May 25, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Gaines, Danielle E. (January 5, 2023). "Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  11. ^ McManus, Kevin (October 20, 2021). "Frederick Community College Trustees Discuss COVID Vaccine Mandates". WFMD. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  12. ^ McCartney, Robert (July 6, 2011). "Frederick shouldn't use slanted, 3rd-grade textbook — even if it leans same way I do". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Frederick County School Board Member Objects To Morrison Novel". WJZ-TV. Associated Press. October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Rodgers, Bethany (February 19, 2015). "Frederick County senator argues parental consent needed for student surveys on sexual activity". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Powers, Lindsay (April 20, 2016). "School board considers policy that test refusals 'must be honored'". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  16. ^ McManus, Kevin (June 16, 2017). "Board Of Ed Approves Three-Year Contract With Teachers". WFMD. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  17. ^ Ford, William J.; Kurtz, Josh; Brown, Danielle J. (March 16, 2024). "Legislative notes: Some highlights from a busy day in Annapolis". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Frederick County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. 2010.
  19. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for Frederick County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. 2010.
  20. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Frederick County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014.
  21. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Frederick County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". msa.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2023.