Campaign Phone
(410)703-9722
Campaign Instagram
friendsofthadbench
Thad Bench, graduate of Elmira College, is a proven leader that started, acquired and sold businesses in a variety of industries, currently Advisor to Danforth Health.
Thad authored “Noble Work, A Practical Guide to Profitable, Principled Business Growth” to be published by Forbes June 2026.
Thad is a trustee at Washington College and has served on several local non-profit boards.
We must do everything we can to provide our students with a top-tier education in Kent County.
There are at least three buckets we can muster beyond county capital budget/bonds. We must fight for these resources.
Maryland IAC/State School Construction Program
Built to Learn Act/Maryland Stadium Authority bonds
Healthy School Facility Fund
I am not in favor of increasing the number of commissioners as it has been my experience that the more people involved in executive responsibilities invariably slows the decision-making process. Kent County deserves commissioners committed to the whole county. Voters have the power of the ballot box to hold commissioners accountable.
Utilize data-scraping approach cross-referencing platform listings against tax filings to identify discrepancies.
Assign staff to audit listing platforms against the county's registered STR list.
Push for state legislation requiring STR platforms to remit the county tax directly.
Build a registration portal tied to a county business license creating a searchable database.
Educate via targeted mailings to all known STR addresses.
Campaign Phone
(410)708-0247
Campaign Instagram
@carrollforkent
I have been elected to the Mayor and Council of Galena for the past 14 years, serving as council member, Vice Mayor, and two terms as Mayor. I have also served as President of the Maryland Mayor's Association, statewide President of the Maryland Municipal League, served on the Board of Directors for both the Kent County Chamber of Commerce and the Chester River Health Foundation, and am currently appointed to the Kent County Ethics Board and the state Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Board.
As commissioner, I would continue to advocate for further adjustments to the state school construction formula as well as targeting additional direct state appropriations. Delaying this project further actually costs our taxpayers more money as cost estimates and bids increase due to tariff uncertainties and increased inflation. It’s time for the county to move forward and make investments in our education infrastructure. Investments in education are investments in our future economic vitality.
Yes, I support the expansion of commissioners from three to five. Our five municipalities in Kent County currently use this format, which allows for greater diversity of opinion and thought, reduction of possible Open Meeting Act violations, and better representation of all communities and constituent groups. I would favor an approach with three commissioners elected by district and, two at-large, all with staggered terms.
Short-term rentals (STR) are an important revenue generator for our county. As commissioner, I would continue to utilize the software tracking systems currently employed by the county to detect STR to ensure compliance. I would also support increasing penalties for those who do not register their STR with the county in a timely fashion. Information on how to register your STR, and a notice of compliance procedures could be sent annually with the county tax bill to all property owners.
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Campaign Phone
(410)708-8244
I am a veteran of the Peace Corps, the Marine Corps, Vietnam, and the Chester River. I have a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning. I have worked for USEPA, USAID, and a variety of consulting firms and academic institutions. During that time, I spent 20 years overseas, working primarily with local governments on sustainable development. Here in Kent County, I served 3 years as the Chester Riverkeeper and 8 years as Councilman or Mayor in Chestertown.
Our Middle School is one of the oldest and most in need of replacement in Maryland. Not only do we have an obligation to our students, but the long-term future of our county depends on our ability to attract young families. Postponement is not an option because construction costs are rising faster than revenues. We must move forward with bond financing while simultaneously doing everything possible to persuade the IAC and the Legislature to get a more equitable funding formula for our schools.
Kent County should increase the number of Commissioners to 5 and provide for staggered terms to better represent the diversity among our rural and urban citizens, young families, and retirees. As a former Mayor, I know the importance of enabling our elected officials to work together, but under our Open Meetings Law, any 2 of our 3 commissioners are prohibited from discussing issues outside a public meeting. Limiting Kent County to 3 Commissioners limits their ability to provide good government.
Short-term rentals can provide a valuable service and income to homeowners, but they must also contribute to building our tax base. Chestertown already works closely with Kent County and a private internet-based service to identify short-term rental properties and requires their owners to pay the occupancy tax. Failure to pay this tax in a timely manner will result in the owner losing the right to provide short-term rentals. The cost for this collection service is roughly 10% of the tax.
Campaign Phone
(410)708-5048
I was born and raised in Kent County and am at least the sixth generation of the Nickerson family from the Eastern Shore. My wife and I have proudly raised our two sons on our farm in Still Pond Neck. I am a graduate of Kent County High School and I furthered my education at Chesapeake College in the criminal justice program. I have been a self-employed contractor for 30 years where I budget finances, time and resources every day. I am currently serving as a Kent County Commissioner.
Obviously, funding is the biggest hurdle when it comes to new school construction. For the past three years I have been lobbying in Annapolis for better cost share funding from the State of Maryland. As it stands right now, we simply cannot afford to build a new middle school. With continued efforts at the state level I am optimistic that we will be able to move forward with this project.
I am in favor of maintaining the current structure of the Kent County Board of Commissioners with three elected members. There has been no significant increase in population to warrant such a change. In comparison to other small Maryland counties, both by physical land mass and population, Kent County Commissioners serve the second fewest number of residents per commissioner. There would also be an added burden of cost to Kent County if there would be an increase in the number of commissioners.
In FY2025 new software was implemented in Kent County to help identify and collect short-term rental or occupancy tax. This new program has proven very beneficial as it has aided in the increase of properties by 97%, from 92 to 181 between FY2024 to FY2025. This has created an increase in the collection of the short-term rental tax by 32% which amounts to over $111,000 from FY2024 to FY2025. I believe the continuation of the use of this new software is key to the resolution of this issue.
Campaign Phone
410-708-0607
I am a lifelong resident of Kent County. I have been married to Sharon for 44 years and have 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren. I served 43 years in local law enforcement with 28 years as the elected Kent County Sheriff. I am a graduate of the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy and the National Sheriffs Institute. I am currently serving my first term as a Kent County Commissioner. As a public servant, I have established strong relationships with municipalities and service organizations.
Considerable effort has been made by the current Board of Commissioners and other stakeholders with positive results in soliciting a higher state funding share from the Interagency Commission on School Construction to minimize the county’s financial burden. With a previous debt service being eliminated and an increase in our general fund, Kent County is in a good position to make this project a reality without raising tax. Our students and teachers deserve a 21st century learning environment.
I feel 3 commissioners is working effectively. In a county of 19,500 people, 3 commissioners should know the needs of the county and be accessible, responsive, and fair to all. Any eligible resident of the county can file for office. Creating districts will be counterproductive, less efficient, and more costly. Board members may then be focused only on their district and not the best interest of the county as a whole. This issue may best be resolved by the people through a referendum.
The current Board of Commissioners addressed this issue in FY25. The Kent County Office of Finance secured a software program that identifies and invoices short term rental properties. Identified SRTs have increased by 97% and our revenues have increased by 32%. The cost of the software has been recovered from funds received and municipalities receive their share of the revenue from the county. As of 7/1/27, the MD Comptroller’s Office will assume collection efforts per Senate Bill 979.
Campaign Phone
(443)406-8052
As co-founder and partner of an advisory firm, I work with communities across the region on moving exciting projects in economic, workforce, and real estate development from idea to execution. I previously led the Kent County Chamber of Commerce and worked in county government. I also served on the Chestertown Town Council, where I was elected and later reappointed. My experience across public, private, and nonprofit sectors gives me a practical understanding of how to get things done.
The project is moving—I’ll keep it that way. My focus is securing additional state funding, then ensuring the school is built on time and on budget. But we can’t stop there. Our three elementary schools are next. We need to grow our tax base now—by attracting businesses and housing—so we can afford what’s coming. This isn’t just about one school, it’s about planning for the next generation.
I’m focused on results, not restructuring government. The case for expanding to five commissioners is inconclusive, so I don’t support a change right now. What matters is growing our economy, expanding the tax base, and delivering for residents. That said, it’s fair to ask why Chestertown hasn’t had representation in some time despite being the population center and county seat. If we revisit this, I'd like to see districts implemented, with Chestertown getting its own commissioner.
Short-term rentals support tourism, but they must pay their fair share–just like hotels/inns and bed & breakfasts. Enforcement is the issue—not ability. These properties are publicly listed and easy to identify. We should proactively track listings, cross-check registrations, and ensure compliance. At the same time, we can’t let too much housing shift to short-term use. We need more housing supply to maintain balance for residents, workers, and the local economy.
