edited by Nikola Tzenov
photography by Nikola Tzenov
Carroll County lawmakers are calling on Del. Christopher Eric Bouchat to resign from the Maryland General Assembly after reports that he has curtailed his participation in legislative duties to run his private business.
In a joint letter, Sen. Justin Ready and Dels. Chris Tomlinson and April Rose — all of whom represent parts of Carroll County — said Bouchat confirmed he had stepped down from his committee assignment and has only been attending morning sessions to record his presence before leaving Annapolis.
District 5, which Bouchat represents, includes a significant portion of Carroll County.
“Calling on a duly elected legislator to resign is not something we take lightly,” the lawmakers wrote. “But Delegate Bouchat has apparently been engaging in this pattern since the end of February.”
The lawmakers said Bouchat has missed key votes on issues including energy, public safety and education, and accused him of failing to fully represent constituents in Carroll County and the broader district.
“This latest pronouncement that his participation in the Maryland General Assembly has ended deprives the citizens of District 5 the full representation they deserve,” the letter states.
They also criticized what they described as Bouchat’s continued collection of a taxpayer-funded salary despite his reduced presence in Annapolis.
“Even more offensively, Delegate Bouchat seems to be asking them to keep paying his salary despite not staying around to actually do the job,” the lawmakers wrote.
The group emphasized that legislative responsibilities extend beyond the annual session, noting that lawmakers are expected to engage with constituents year-round.
“We and all the residents of District 5 voted for three delegates to represent our interests and concerns for the full four-year term,” the letter states.
The lawmakers urged Bouchat to step down so that a replacement can be selected to serve the remainder of the term through January 2027.
“For these reasons, Delegate Bouchat should resign so that a qualified person can be chosen to provide representation during the interim,” they wrote.
Bouchat has not publicly responded to the call for his resignation.
