John W. Derr (born March 18, 1941) is an American politician who was a member of the Maryland Senate representing District 3 from 1983 to 1999.
Derr was appointed to the Maryland Senate to represent District 3 in 1983, which covers parts of Frederick and Washington Counties, following the death of incumbent state senator Edward P. Thomas Jr.[1] In 1986, Derr was elected to a full term, defeating Democratic challenger Gerald Downs in the general election with 68 percent of the vote.
In 1982, Derr political career began to take shape when he became a member of the Republican Local Central Committee.
While serving in the Maryland State Senate, Derr rose to the level of the Minority Whip from 1996 until he was defeated in 1999.
[7] F. Vernon Boozer suffered the same fate with his views on abortion and gun control in his loss to Andrew Harris.