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Campaign Phone
410-430-6799
As a county commissioner, it's important to understand my responsibilities. The commissioners serve as the legislative and executive branch of the county government. In Worcester County, public health is largely handled by the private health care practitioners associated with TidalHealth system, including TidalHealth Atlantic (formerly Atlantic General). The county annually provides a funding grant to the health system with specific capital projects typically labeled as sources of the funding. I support continuing to support health care in this fashion, while being good partners with the leaders of the private TidalHealth. Additionally, the county should continue to ensure its own health department is adequately funded and mission driven.
I have been a small business owner in Worcester County since 1997, serving as editor and publisher of the Maryland Coast Dispatch newspaper and currently as the executive editor of the OC Today-Dispatch, a result of a merger. Being a community newspaper editor has afforded me an intimate knowledge of our area and the people who live, work and play here. Additionally, I am in the fourth year of my term as a Berlin council member. I believe my experience in small town government, particularly the budget process, will give me a unique perspective moving into the broader role of a County Commissioner. I feel informed and aware of how government operates and the need for efficiency and transparency. I am a rational and critical thinker.
Balance is the key when it comes to major decision making in most aspects of life and land use policies is no different. As a commissioner, I will follow the comprehensive plan, which is currently being updated and nearly complete after months of community input opportunities. I believe it's imperative to be consistent with the updated comprehensive plan and to follow the decisions of the planning commission closely. When it comes to rezoning decisions coming before the commissioners, I will first look to see how the planning commission viewed the matter while balancing that decision with the goals set out in the comp plan. I am for responsible growth but within the framework of our comp plan, which was created with input from our citizens.
The county has an outstanding Office of Tourism and Economic Development department and an expansive website highlighting all our county has to offer from the ocean to farmlands of central Worcester to Snow Hill and Pocomoke. Resources available to current businesses and entrepreneurs looking to launch careers and achieve their dreams are available through this department. The county has a role in job growth while making sure prospective individuals looking to invest their time, resources and talents in this county have every opportunity to be successful. Ensuring the county's department in charge of economic development has the resources it needs to thrive is critical. I am especially interested in seeing Snow Hill and Pocomoke grow.
I believe the term we should use here is "attainable housing," as affordability means something different to each household depending on life circumstances. The private sector in this county with its rich land values as well as current cost of goods cannot provide attainable housing alone. I support the county offering subsidies and also exploring utilizing unused or underdeveloped publicly owned for dense housing developments. I envision the county potentially partnering with developers through land donations to build apartment buildings where units can be purchased at "attainable" levels or even rented. I believe we need to think outside the box and the government should be a player in this effort to ensure our workforce can live here.
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