User:GardenInlet/Donald DeArmon

Donald McCamie DeArmon (born 1955) is a candidate for the Maryland State Senate and was the 2000 and 2002 Democratic Party nominee for Congress from the 6th Congressional District of Maryland. DeArmon spent 28 years in public service on Capitol Hill (1977 to 2005) and now works as a federal lobbyist for non-profit organizations.

Early Life and Childhood

Born in Frederick, Maryland to Ira Alexander DeArmon, a civilian statistician for the U.S. Army, and Theodora Higgins DeArmon, a university-educated homemaker, DeArmon grew up in Bel Air, Maryland, graduating from Bel Air High School in 1973. He was elected senior class president, served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, was an all-county soccer player, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15. In 1970, DeArmon hiked 300 miles on the Appalachian Trail. In 1971 and 1972, DeArmon hitchhiked across the U.S. visiting 27 states, hiking in 9 national parks and traveling as far as Alaska.

DeArmon graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel in 1977 with a BA in American History. At UNC, DeArmon was a member of Chi Phi fraternity and worked part-time jobs at McDonald’s and the Carolina Population Center to pay college expenses. In 1974, he hitchhiked across the United States for a third time. He met his wife, Ann Bradbury Watson, a native of Winston-Salem, NC, at a fraternity-sorority mixer; they were married in 1977.

Professional Career

DeArmon gained employment on Capitol Hill immediately after graduation from college, working in entry-level positions for Rep. William M. Ketchum (R-CA), 1977, Rep. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), 1977-1978, and Rep. Les AuCoin (D-OR), 1978-1979. He worked as a congressional office consultant for the Committee on House Administration from 1981 to 1986. From 1987 to 1995, he worked as executive assistant, then associate staff for appropriations for Rep. David E. Price (D-NC). From 1995 to 1999, he worked as associate staff for appropriations, then legislative director for Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA), the chair of the House Democratic Caucus. From 1999 to 2005, he worked as associate staff for appropriations, then legislative director for Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA). DeArmon also served part-time stints for Rep. Mike Andrews (D-TX), 1986, Rep. Bob Wise (D-WV), 1986, and Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), 1995. He retired from the federal government in 2005 and became a federal lobbyist for Cavarocchi, Ruscio, Dennis Associates from 2006 to 2008, and for The Margolin Group, 2009 to present.

Political Career

DeArmon had a parallel career in political campaigns and as a candidate himself. In 1980, at the age of 24, he ran for Congress in the First Congressional District of Maryland but was defeated in the Democratic primary by another Democratic challenger who was ultimately elected, Rep. Roy Dyson. He 1986, DeArmon worked in Charlotte, NC as the issues director for congressional candidate D.G. Martin. In 1994, DeArmon ran for Congress in the 6th Congressional District of Maryland, walking 232 miles across six western Maryland counties but placing 5th out of 7 candidates in the primary election. In 2000, DeArmon defeated three candidates to become the Democratic nominee for Congress in the 6th Congressional District, losing in the general election 61%-39% against Rep. Roscoe Bartlett. In 2002, DeArmon defeated one primary opponent to again become the Democratic nominee in the 6th District, losing to Bartlett 66%-34% in a newly-drawn district. In May of 2010, DeArmon filed as a candidate for the Maryland State Senate in District 3 (Frederick and Washington Counties).

Personal

DeArmon and his wife, Ann, a Frederick County public school teacher, have made their home in downtown Frederick since 1981. They have four children.

In 1997 and 2009, DeArmon completed the JFK 50-Miler ultramarathon. In 2005, DeArmon completed the Sierra Club 100K (DC to Harper’s Ferry, WV in one day). DeArmon was named a Senior Stennis Congressional Fellow for the 108th Congress in 2004.