Charles Issac Ecker

Charles Issac Ecker (December 8, 1928 – October 21, 2015) was the former County Executive of Howard County, Maryland.

Born in Uniontown, Maryland, December 8, 1928. Attended Westminster High School. Worked in feed mills and Lehigh Portland Cement Co. as a laborer. Served in U.S. Navy, 1945-47. University of Maryland; Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), B.A. (biology & physical education), 1951; University of North Carolina, M.E.D. (physical education), 1955, and Ph.D. (education administration). In 1956 he returned to a family bakery business and carnival prize supply business. In 1964 he worked for the Carroll County, Maryland school system after writing a paper on Gymnasium efficiency.He became the President, Association of School Business Officials, 1971-72. In 1984 he was a finalist for the Howard County Public School Superintendent, losing to Micheael E. Hickey. Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 1996. Board of Directors, American Lung Association of Maryland, 1998-. Member, Executive Committee (at large), Maryland Council on Economic Education, 2003. Trustee Alumni Award, McDaniel College, 2010. Ecker was married with two children, eleven grandchildren. The Michael I. Yaeger being one of his great nephews.

Dr. Ecker served as Assistant Superintendent of schools. After Dr. Ecker became Superintendent of Carroll County Public Schools (Maryland). In 2006 he gained attention for banning the book The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things for language, starting a student petition against the book ban.

Dr. Ecker was the County Executive for Howard County from 1990-1998. Councilman Darrel Drown recommended Ecker for a candidate against incumbent Elizabeth Bobo. Ecker changed from Democratic to Republican party to run for the position. Ecker approved the loan started before his term to renovate the historic Savage Mill. Early in his term, he removed an 18-month building restriction prior to implementing an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. In 1994, Ecker implemented the first use of self-insurance of the county to settle the case of the death of Carl Jonathan Bowie at Oakland Mills High School.

In 1998, Ecker unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Maryland against Ellen Sauerbrey.

Member, Baltimore Regional Council of Governments, 1990–92; Governor's Task Force on School Construction, 1992–93; Baltimore Metropolitan Council, 1992-98 (chair, 1997–98). Board of Visitors, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical System, 1992-.Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Howard County, 1963-67. Director of Business Affairs, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Prince George's County, 1967-74. Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Howard County, 1974-89. Co-Chair, Economic and Workforce Development Task Force of Commission on the Future of Howard Community College, 1998-99. Co-Chair of the Ryland Homes Rouse sponsored Howard County Vision group.

Superintendent of Schools, Carroll County, 2002-10 (interim superintendent of schools, 2000-02 & former assistant superintendent of schools).

Member, Task Force to Study Public School Facilities, 2003; Governor's Commission on Quality Education, 2004-05 (vice-chair, subcommittee on global best-practices in education); Task Force on Comparable Testing Methods for the Maryland High School Assessments, 2004–06; Public School Labor Relations Board, 2011-.