Vincent DeMarco (born 1957 in Trevico) is an American public health advocate. He is the President of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative. He is the subject of a 2010 book by Michael Pertschuk entitled The DeMarco Factor: Transforming Public Will Into Political Power.Health Care for All website, visited 9/12/2020. DeMarco is an adjunct assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he teaches students strategies for advocating public health policies.
Early life Vincent DeMarco was born in 1957 in Trevico, Italy, to Rosa and Antonio DeMarco. In 1961, they immigrated to New Jersey.Michael Pertschuk, The DeMarco Factor: Transforming Public Will Into Political Power (2010, Vanderbilt University Press, Nashville), page 16. He has a brother Nicola and sisters Brunella and Marlana. He graduated from high school in Hazlet, New Jersey, in 1973.Pertschuk, page 18. Attending Johns Hopkins University for undergraduate and graduate work in American history, he was on the college debate team, volunteered in support of a labor boycott, and successfully lobbied for banning "walking around" money in Maryland political campaigns.Pertschuk, page 19.
In 1982, he worked with Young Democrats for nuclear freeze.Pertschuk, page 22. In 1986, he campaigned for Steve Sachs for Governor of Maryland.Pertschuk, page 23. After earning his Juris Doctor degree, he worked for Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.Pertschuk, page 24. In 1987 he married Molly Mitchell in a Quaker service. They have two sons, Tony and Jamie.Pertschuk, page 21-23.
Health initiatives At the end of 1999, DeMarco helped organize the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, later renamed to Maryland Health Care for All!.Pertschuk, page 98, 99. In 2001, this group held town meetings and 2002 allied in support of a further cigarette tax increase to support health care.Pertschuk, page 107, 110. Rallying through the 2002 defeat of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend by Republican Robert Ehrlich,Pertschuk, page 113. the group saw their efforts reach fruition in the January 2006 veto override of the Fair Share Bill, which forced Walmart and other employers to increase health care for its workers.Pertschuk, page 126. In 2005, DeMarco was praised by The Baltimore Sun's C. Fraser Smith,Pertschuk, page 6,125. and the Washington Post's Matthew Mosk and John Wagner.Pertschuk, page 125.
DeMarco's successful advocacy has been attributed to his six-step program for enacting legislation.Pertschuk
On November 19, 2007, Maryland committed $280 million to the expansion of the state's health care system.Pertschuk, page 131.
In 2011, DeMarco worked with partners to advocate for a sales tax on acoholic beverages in Maryland.
On June 19, 2020, DeMarco was awarded the Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy. The award pays tribute to nonprofit leaders who embody a commitment to principled action, passionate leadership to advance social change, and dedication to making progress in policy and practice despite challenging political environments.
Handgun initiatives In 1988, DeMarco opposed a voter referendum by the National Rifle Association of America. In 1988, the Saturday night special Ban law that he had drafted was passed by referendum in Maryland. The Baltimore Sun editorialized him as Marylander of the Year on December 31, 1988.Pertschuk, page 12. Working from 1994 to 1996, DeMarco campaigned for the One Handgun Per Month Law, which passed in 1996.Pertschuk, page 13. In 1997, DeMarco worked with Handgun Control, Inc. in Washington, DC, which was later renamed The Brady Campaign.Pertschuk, page 13, 28.
Tobacco initiatives In 1997, he joined the Smoke Free Maryland campaignPertschuk, page 29. and unveiled the Maryland Children's Initiative.Pertschuk, page 50. Leading up to the state elections on November 3, 1998, they collected pledges of support from candidates,Pertschuk, page 65, 69. and on March 26, 1999, a $1.00-per-pack tax increase passed the Maryland House.Pertschuk, page 78. On April 10, 1999, the Senate passed this bill, with the increase scaled back to 30 cents per pack.Pertschuk, page 83. A year later, on August 26, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported that 60 million fewer packs had sold that year.Pertschuk, page 87.
Federal tobacco efforts In 2001, DeMarco consulted to the Tobacco-Free Kids organizationPertschuk, page 143. and formed Faith United Against Tobacco to support efforts to grant the Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco.Pertschuk, page 138. On June 22, 2009, President Obama signed the FDA omnibus bill granting them responsibility for the regulation of tobacco.Pertschuk, page 161.
References