Campaign Phone
4435087926
Campaign Instagram
instagram.com/ryandanielscountycommissioner
I was born and raised here and have watched our community grow and change. I served our country in the Marine Corps as a decorated, combat wounded veteran, which gave me a perspective on what truly matters: taking care of each other. As a young, educated, and well traveled resident, I bring a broad perspective and truly just want to help build a stronger community at home.
My goals are clear: fiscal responsibility, education funding that meets expectations, encouraging housing options that allow the people who serve this county to live in the communities they support, and stronger mental health and crisis response. Challenges include budget constraints, rising costs, state mandates, infrastructure limits, and overcoming years of slow progress and ineffective leadership to move our county forward.
Economic development starts with supporting the industries and small businesses that power our local economy. I will streamline permitting, reduce regulatory delays, and strengthen partnerships with employers connected to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Growing small businesses expands our tax base, reduces reliance on state funding, and supports workforce training and responsible housing to retain talent in St. Mary’s County.
I recognize there is no single solution to the housing shortage, but with a gap of 3,600 units for current residents, action is urgent. I support vertical construction to limit sprawl, adaptive reuse of existing land, and a focus on middle housing. I will explore incentives like early vesting for developers to encourage faster, responsible development while preserving affordable housing.
For preservation, I would strengthen zoning and conservation easements for wetlands, forests, and waterfronts and expand incentives for restoring and maintaining historic homes, buildings, and sites. I would support programs that protect farmland while encouraging local farms and farmers markets. For development, I would encourage higher density growth near town centers. For infrastructure, I would support traffic management and invest in modernizing water and sewer systems.
My priorities are to explore ways to lower taxes on lower and middle income families while ensuring those benefiting most from growth contribute fairly; maintain a balanced budget while strategically investing in education and other needs; and review county employee growth relative to population to ensure it makes sense.
My main priority is ensuring any investments we make truly benefit the people of St. Mary’s County. Many residents who have worked hard find their dollars don’t stretch as far as expected, and others at or below the poverty line struggle to afford basic needs. Nothing matters if costs are so high that people can’t stay and take advantage of these opportunities. Holding elected officials accountable would go a long way toward ensuring this.
Campaign Phone
3012477063
My record as an incumbent county commissioner supports my candidacy for re-election. My accomplishments include service as a county commissioner, public engagement, community service, and activities focused on the revitalization of Lexington Park.
My goals include safeguarding homeowners from increasing property tax assessments; constraining county government spending through zero-based budgeting; focusing public safety funding on organized crime, e.g., gangs, and crime prevention on offenders’ pre-release and community-based corrections programs; continue to conduct townhall meetings, and activities to revitalize Lexington Park. The foremost challenge is gaining majority support from other county commissioners to do some of these things.
I will continue to advocate for a business friendly environment that encourages investment. As I have done in the Lexington Park area, collaborate directly with investors, developers, and community stakeholders to advance major redevelopment efforts.
Support a mix of housing types in areas with existing infrastructure; encourage partnerships with employers, nonprofits, and the private sector, renew existing housing stock, support aging-in-place initiatives, promote energy efficiency improvements; streamline permitting and review processes; eliminate duplicative or outdated regulations; examine what the county government could do to reduce home sale closing and mortgage escrow costs for first-time buyers.
The Comprehensive Plan through 2050 is being drafted to replace the 2010 plan. In my view, the top priority should be controlling sprawl. A key tool is the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), which sets minimum Level of Service standards before development can proceed. State law allows APFO standards for nine facilities: Schools, Roads, Water, Sewer, Stormwater, Health Care, Fire, Police, and Solid Waste Disposal. St. Mary’s County’s current APFO excludes Health Care, Police, and waste
The top three fiscal priorities are to protect public health, safety, and welfare through the efficient and effective provision of essential public services and facilities. Foremost is to limit the annual increase in county government spending to revenue gained from the expansion of the tax base, and not to increase tax rates. No spending should be exempt from critical review.
I am concerned with the state government’s policies that negatively affect St. Mary’s County. Continued Republican control of the county government and agencies is essential to thwart Annapolis-style politics here.
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