SALISBURY, MD - Carlos Ayala, a Salisbury man prosecutors allege was involved with the January 6th, 2021 riots at the Capitol, has resigned from his position on the Maryland State Board of Elections and the Wicomico County Police Accountability Board.
In a statement issued by the Maryland Board of Elections Thursday, Board Chair Michael Summers said he has accepted Ayala’s immediate resignation.
“The Board is committed to maintaining the security and integrity of our elections in Maryland in a non-partisan manner,” Summers said. “The State Board will remain steadfast in our mission to oversee our elections process and serve as a trusted source of information for all Marylanders during this presidential election year.”
Ayala was appointed to the Board of Elections in 2023 by Governor Wes Moore on the recommendation of the Maryland Republican Party. When reached for comment by WBOC, Governor Moore’s office had no comment on Ayala’s resignation.
In a 2023 Maryland Executive Nominations Committee meeting, State Senator Mary Beth Corozza introduced Ayala as a nominee for the State Board of Elections.
“He is a very well respected business and community leader,” Corozza said of Ayala at the time. “He has had key roles with Perdue Farms since 1989.”
Corozza said she strongly supported his nomination for the State Board of Elections at the time.
“I recognize the importance of this Board,” Ayala said at the Committee meeting. “It would be my honor to be able to serve on there, to represent the communities that we have, ensuring people have fair and equal access to the polls.”
In a statement sent to WBOC Thursday, January 11th, the office of the Wicomico County Executive said Ayala had been selected by the Police Accountability Board to serve a two-year term in 2022. On January 10th, 2023, Ayala resigned from his position on the Administrative Charging Committee, according to the County Executive.
As WBOC previously reported, the FBI arrested Ayala on January 9th on a felony civil disorder charge and related misdemeanors for his alleged involvement with the 2021 breach of the Capitol in Washington, DC.
