Ron Young is a life-long resident of Frederick. He has four sons and a stepdaughter, as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He lives with his wife Karen, who serves as a Delegate to the Maryland Assembly representing Frederick City. His interest and extensive involvement in Frederick are evident in his paintings, writings, and in his numerous activities and accomplishments.

He attended and graduated from Frederick High School. He also attended Frederick Community College where he graduated with an Associate Arts degree. Ron then attended the University of Maryland, College Park and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government. Ron completed his formal education by earning a Masters of Education degree in administration and supervision from Western Maryland College (later McDaniel College) in Westminster, Maryland. Ron became a teacher in the Frederick County Public Schools and taught at the Yellow Springs Elementary School from 1967 to 1973.

Ron became involved in local politics in the late 1960s, primarily in the Frederick County Young Democrats organization. Ron ran for the Frederick City Board of Alderman in 1969, and was elected and served on the Board of Aldermen from 1970-1974. Ron assumed the role of mayor in 1974 at the age of 34 and served for 16 years.

 

Following his position of Mayor, Ron has worked in commercial real estate, as a part-time college instructor at Frederick Community College, and as a consultant in the years immediately following his final term as mayor. 

 

In 1991, he accepted Governor William D. Schaefer's request to work for the State of Maryland in the Maryland Department of Planning. Ron later served under Governor Parris Glendening as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and served as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning until 2000. Young was actively involved in the Smart Growth program while at the Department of Planning, and gave speeches across the country in support of Smart Growth.

 

In 2001, Ron accepted the position of town manager of Indian Head, Maryland. He helped Indian Head to receive funding for many vital projects, and served until 2005.

 

In 2010, Senator Young was elected to the Maryland State Senate and was re-elected in 2014. Senator Young is currently the Vice Chair for the Frederick County Delegation and sits on the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.  On this committee Senator Young Chairs the Comptrollers Issues Subcommittee which deals with Alcohol, Labor, Licensing, and Regulations, and sits on the Education Subcommittee.  In addition, he serves on the Assembly’s Joint Committee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Preservation and as the Senate Representative to the Maryland Financial Education and Capability Commission.