Campaign Phone
2402983896
I have spent my entire life preparing for this office. I have always been in leadership positions, both in the private sector and the public sector. As the former President of the County Commissioners, my board reduced the cost of government by consolidating agencies and lowering taxes, while improving education and public safety outcomes. We reduced the county’s debt by 25% in four years.
Managed both large and small organizations, always producing higher returns by valuing the workforce.
Reduce the county debt, reduce the burden of government on the people, blend our past with our future by managing our growth and protecting our way of life, prioritize education and public safety to produce the highest results possible, Master Plan Town Centers, improve our Transportation Plan, a School Construction Plan, access to health care facilities.
Assure St. Mary’s remains a good place for the Navy to do business, with workforce housing, lifestyle communities, and affordable access.
Reduce regulation, eliminate the Excise Tax, eliminate Personal Property Tax. Government overregulation is adding unnecessary cost to renovations and construction. The Excise Tax places an unfair burden on local businesses wishing to grow. A better way to manage infrastructure costs is through a well-established Adequate Public Facilities program. Personal Property Tax causes small and medium-sized businesses to not purchase new equipment needed to expand their business due to the tax burden.
We must balance housing needs with the goals of blending our Past with our Future. Two development districts, Lexington Park and Leonardtown, carry the burden of meeting this goal. The county has failed to manage the Lexington Park development district by not solving public safety and quality of life concerns. I want to adopt a Lexington Park Community Revitalization Plan. The county has failed to understand the Leonardtown Master Plan. Both districts are needed to meet the housing needs.
In 2005, my Board created the “Parks and Preservation Plan.” Today, my goal is to preserve 80,000 acres of farmland. Once again, I will establish a 3-point plan to grow aquaculture and agriculture, which is vital to protecting the land.
My board adopted the county’s first Transportation Plan. I want to develop Town Center and Village Center Master Plans, which will allow us to implement an effective Adequate Public Facilities Plan that manages growth and infrastructure properly.
Lowering the debt, affordable government, producing better outcomes, and prioritizing funding matters most.
County debt service is approaching $300,000,000. Previously, I lowered debt by 25% with a simple internal program that works. I want to reduce debt by 25% in four years.
I will return to a 5-year operating budget as a road map for reducing costs. If you want to reduce costs, you must put in place a plan to do so.
Education, and Public Safety are the two highest priorities.
We are a county of communities, each with its own character and culture. All areas of our county as a whole make for the greatness and beauty. I will ask the board to hold monthly public meetings throughout the entire county to ensure the commissioners are well-informed as to the best way for county government to address the uniqueness of each community. This will be a return to what worked extremely well during my previous term: good governance of the people, by the people, for the people.
Campaign Phone
301-481-0604
I served over 26 years in the U. S. Navy as a pilot and test pilot. These included increasing leadership roles in multiple units. Following retirement from the Navy, I worked for 20 years supporting our warfighters as a defense contractor. I’m a graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland, Citizens and Sheriff’s academy. Additionally, I’m a past board member of The Patuxent Partnership (TPP). I understand leadership, accountability and service.
I want to preserve the rural character of our county. I would not support any new taxes and demand fiscal discipline from all county departments. Public safety is paramount, full support of our Sheriff’s office and First Responders is required. I’ll be an advocate for our residents, families and NAS Patuxent River workforce.
I would attempt to create a pro-business regulatory environment, streamline permitting and licensing where possible. Workforce development is required with continued partnership with TPP. Support for small business is also needed and I would promote a shop local theme.
The goal would be to expand housing options while preserving our rural character. I would look at reduce permitting delays where possible, investigate alternate zoning options (if it is even possible) and look at ideas for renovations of existing affordable housing.
We need to protect rural and agricultural land through programs such as the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust and ensure smart infrastructure planning before approving new growth. I would ensure transparent planning and community input.
Responsible budgeting and taxpayer protection is needed along with investment in infrastructure that supports economic development and fiscal stability. I would promote job growth and small business economic development. Policies that strengthen the tax base and reduces the impact to taxpayers is needed.
Work closely with the Board of Education in the pursuit of student academic excellence.
Look into the fee structure for Parks and Rec use of fields.
Campaign Phone
240-718-6624
Campaign Instagram
www.instagram.com/votebrandonrussell
I am deeply involved in community advocacy. I've stood with educators and first responders to advocate for adequate funding. I attended Citizens Academy for the County Government & Sheriff's Office, and served on the Social Services Advisory Board. After running for office in 2022, I created "Informed St. Mary's" to keep people informed about local government and getting involved. My career in operations and project management speaks to the skillset I would bring to the office of Commissioner.
My platform focuses on land use: making sure zoning works for residents more than developers; education: investing in schools instead of demanding their closure; affordability: identifying ways to shift tax burdens from residents to those profiting from our area; and public safety: ensuring first responders are funded to keep the community safe and well. I'll be proactive to find ways to accomplish these goals while keeping community input at the forefront of every decision as Commissioner.
St. Mary's County benefits in major ways from having NAS/PAX to fuel the local economy. However, county government should focus on finding ways to diversify the local economy. We have too many service industry/retail jobs that are not paying a living wage, making it difficult for many to live here. I would work with the Economic Development Department to identify opportunities for economic growth and diversification, focusing efforts on building up small, locally owned businesses.
There may be opportunities to examine the local tax structure to reduce the transfer and recordation taxes associated with purchasing a new home. I'd also examine the "trailer park tax" to see how its reduction or elimination could increase affordability. We also need to update the local zoning ordinance to encourage building of missing middle housing like duplexes or cottage courts, and smaller starter homes. I would also regularly engage with the St. Mary's County Housing Authority.
The current Commissioners have not focused on implementing the Comprehensive Plan. An updated version of the Plan will be approved this year. I'll ensure the Plan is implemented, and that the county's zoning ordinances are adequately updated. I'll make sure Town Centers throughout the county have a Master Plan, created with community input, to control and direct growth. I'll also work to ensure developers pay their fair share of infrastructure costs so residents aren't burdened with more taxes.
My priorities include education, affordability, and public safety. Education encompasses more than just instructional time because our school system provides so many community resources. That's why it's a top priority for me. My ideas to improve affordability include finding ways to make homeownership more accessible and eliminate unnecessary taxes. Public safety, including community health and wellness, is important for a thriving community. I'll ensure first responders have resources.
The are opportunities for improvement in community engagement and coalition building within county government, particularly by the Commissioners. I will engage with the county's boards and commissions which are responsible for community outreach and listening to the needs of residents. I will also work to restore relationships with the St. Mary's County Housing Authority, the Community Development Corporation, and the Leonardtown Council.
