Charles J. Otto was a Republican politician and farmer who represented District 38A in the Maryland House of Delegates from January 12, 2011, until his death. Covering parts of Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore, he was known for his low-profile advocacy on agricultural issues, rural communities, and watermen. Notable achievements included serving as Deputy Minority Whip for the House Republican Caucus , supporting the BOOST scholarship program and charter school expansion, and introducing bills to repeal Maryland's "Rain Tax" in 2014. He also chaired the Somerset County Delegation and Eastern Shore Delegation , and held roles on committees like Nutrient Management Advisory and Pesticide Advisory.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Washington High School in Princess Anne, Maryland; attended University of Maryland Eastern Shore; earned a B.S. in animal science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1986.
• Early Career: Farmer; sales representative for The William B. Tilghman Co. ; field representative for Maryland Farm Bureau ; certified crop consultant and sales representative for The Farmers & Planters Co. . Served on Somerset County Farm Service Agency Committee; leadership roles in county and state farm bureaus.
• Political Experience: Alternative student page in 1982 Maryland General Assembly session; elected in 2010 succeeding Carolyn J. Elmore; served on Environment and Transportation Committee ; member of Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Maryland Veterans Caucus, and Tri-County Council for Lower Eastern Shore. A native of Salisbury, Maryland, he lived in his childhood home in Somerset County.