Biography

Frank M. Kratovil, Jr. is currently serving his first term representing Maryland’s First Congressional District (The entirety of the Eastern Shore as well as portions of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford Counties). He was the first Democrat elected to Congress from the First District in 18 years, succeeding Congressman Wayne Gilchrest.
 
Frank is committed to being an independent voice for the First District. His top priorities in Congress include protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay, preserving the agricultural heritage of the region, and fighting to bring new jobs to the District.
 
He was also one of four freshman members selected to join the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats whose main priority is reducing the federal deficit by pursuing responsible fiscal policies.
 
Currently Frank is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, where he fights to promote the interests of local farmers and preserve the agricultural heritage of the First District. Frank firmly believes that the economic strength of the district is rooted in agriculture, and that empowering farmers with the resources to improve nutrient management is critical to the future health of the Chesapeake Bay.
 
Frank also sits on the House Armed Services Committee, where he helps create a national security policy that keeps our families safe and works to improve the quality of life for the men and women in the United States Armed Forces, especially those working at places like Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Grounds and living in the First District.
 
Frank’s third Committee assignment follows in the footsteps of Congressman Wayne Gilchrest as a member of The Natural Resources Committee. With The Chesapeake Bay as the crown jewel of the First District; representing both the beauty of our region and the engine that drives our economy. A seat on this Committee gives Frank the opportunity to directly affect legislation to protect the Bay, its tributaries, and the surrounding environment, a priority for all Marylanders
 
Frank received his degree from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in 1990. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Bates Prize for the Most Outstanding Graduating Male, the Havens Award for Outstanding Athletic and Humanitarian Contribution to the College, and the Carroll County Sun's Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
Following college and while attending the University of Baltimore School of Law, he began his career in the criminal-law field by working at the Public Defender's Office. He graduated from law school with Honors in 1994 and accepted an appointment as a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court for Prince George's County.
 
Following his clerkship, he accepted a position as an Assistant State's Attorney in Prince George's County, where he remained until 1997.
 
In 1997 Frank was appointed Assistant State's Attorney in Queen Anne's County, and until 2001 served as the County's only full-time prosecutor and community prosecutor.
 
From 1997 to 1998 he served as President of the Young Democrats of Maryland and in 1998 was selected to represent the United States on the American Council of Young Political Leaders' delegation to Taiwan. In 2003, at the age of 34, he was elected State's Attorney for Queen Anne's County; becoming one of the youngest State's Attorney's in Maryland.
 
In June of 2005 Frank was elected by both Republican and Democratic State's Attorneys as President of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association, and in July of 2006 the Court of Appeals of Maryland appointed him to the Court of Appeal's Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.
 
In November 2006 he was appointed Co-Chairman of the Public Safety Work Group for Governor-Elect Martin O'Malley's Transition Team and also Co-Chairman of the Public Safety Committee for Attorney General-Elect Douglas Gansler's Transition Team.
 
Frank and his wife of sixteen years, Kimberly, live in Stevensville, Maryland with their four sons Frankie, Jackson, Cole and Nate.
 
Frank continues to serve on the Board of Special Olympics Maryland, and has previously served on the Board of the Mental Health Association of Maryland, and as Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Community Partnerships. In addition he enjoys coaching youth football, basketball and soccer. 
 
Frank is the son of the Honorable Frank and Lynnda Kratovil and has two sisters, Connie and Terri. The Kratovils are members of Christ Episcopal Church in Stevensville.