Washington County Candidates Prepare for Primary Election Ballot

The filing deadline has passed, and Washington County voters now know who will be on their primary election ballots for various local offices. The positions up for election include County Commissioner, Treasurer, State’s Attorney, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Register of Wills, Judge of the Orphans’ Court, Sheriff, Board of Education, and members of the Republican and Democratic Central Committees. Notably, Derek Harvey and Randy Wagner will not be among the Republican candidates for County Commissioner, as they will not be running for re-election.

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners consists of five members, each elected to a four-year term. These commissioners are elected at large, meaning they represent the entirety of Washington County rather than specific districts. The election for these positions takes place during the general election in gubernatorial election years. In the event of a vacancy between elections, the position is typically filled by appointment. To be eligible, candidates must meet residency requirements and file necessary documentation with the Washington County Board of Elections.

For the position of County Commissioner, Democratic candidates include Samuel Briskin, Jonathan Fish, Chris Keane, Patrick Kirby, Les McIntosh Sr., Teri Pailen, Lara A. Shepherd, and Dave Williams. On the Republican ticket for County Commissioner are John F. Barr, Robert Matthew Breeding, Charles Burkett, Jeffrey A. Cline, April M. Compton, Randy Leatherman, Curtis W. Reigh, Kaden Snyder, and Dan Young. Taj Smith has filed a Declaration of Intent as an Unaffiliated candidate for County Commissioner.

The State’s Attorney for Washington County is a constitutional officer and serves as the chief criminal prosecutor for the jurisdiction. This elected official holds a four-year term and is chosen by all eligible voters in the county. The election for State’s Attorney aligns with the gubernatorial election cycle. To qualify for this position, candidates must typically be residents of Washington County for a specified period and be members of the Maryland Bar. The State’s Attorney is expected to serve full-time and is prohibited from practicing law privately while in office.

For State’s Attorney, Republican incumbent Gina M. Cirincion is seeking re-election, facing Republican challenger Adam Daniel Greivell.

Serving as the chief law enforcement officer of the county, the Sheriff of Washington County is also a constitutionally established and elected official. This office possesses broad powers derived from common law and state statutes, operating with a degree of independence and accountability to the citizens. The Sheriff is elected to a four-year term in an at-large election. The election cycle for the Sheriff coincides with the state’s gubernatorial election. Candidates for Sheriff must meet specific requirements, including being at least 25 years of age, a resident of the county for a specified number of years, and residing within Washington County at the time of the election. The elected Sheriff is responsible for overseeing the Sheriff’s Office budget, setting priorities, and establishing policies.

For Sheriff, Democratic candidate Junior P. McLeod will face the winner between Republican candidates Brian K. Albert (incumbent) and Chuckie Johnson.

The Board of Education in Washington County has a primary focus on setting the direction, managing finances, and ensuring accountability for the school system. Key duties include hiring, negotiating contracts with, and evaluating the Superintendent of Schools. The Board is also responsible for developing, approving, and managing the annual budget for Washington County Public Schools, advocating for funding at both local and state levels. They establish and enforce policies governing the school system, ranging from academic standards to student conduct. Additionally, the Board acts as the final administrative body for appeals concerning school decisions, discipline, or personnel actions. Program proposals, the school calendar, and decisions regarding school facilities and boundaries are also under the Board’s purview. Furthermore, the Board advocates for the needs of all Washington County students.

For the Board of Education, candidates Pieter Bickford, Alina Chester, Darrell E. Evans, Mike Guessford, Ethan Loewen, Robin A. Merchant-Spickler, and Linda Murray have filed. Aitza Marie Haddad Nunez is listed as withdrawn.

Maryland’s Orphans’ Court, also known as the probate court, presides over the administration of estates. Its main function is to supervise the management of estates for individuals who have died, with or without a will, and who owned property solely in their name. The court has authority over the conduct of personal representatives and jurisdiction concerning the guardianship of minors’ property, and in some counties, it appoints guardians for minors.

The position of Judge of the Orphans’ Court will see Democratic candidate Mark P. Brugh competing against Republican candidates Paul D. Banister, Debra Breeding, and Jim Nipps. Republican Lacy M. Flook is the only registered candidate for Register of Wills.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Washington County holds a significant constitutional office, serving as the administrative and financial center for the county’s court system and providing essential public services.

Kevin R. Tucker, a Republican, is the only candidate who has filed for Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Finally, both the Republican and Democratic Central Committees play crucial roles beyond general party organization, including the important process of filling vacancies in public office.

Candidates for the Republican Central Committee include Nancy S. Allen, Michael E. Barnes, Lisa Breeden, Matthew R. Claggett, James E. Coyle, Beth Zentmeyer Harvey, Marc Mignogna, Joshua Miller, Michael Lynn Sprecher III, Deborah Steenburg, and Mam Malick Thiam. Dawn L. Marcus is listed as withdrawn.

On the Democratic Central Committee ticket are Patrick C. Dattilio, William F. Durham, Viola Y. Ellison-Allen, Thomas A. Freeman, Katie Hart Hershey, Lori Parks-Murphy, Nicole Rappaport, David R. Richardson, Susan Hale Thomas, Indea Webb, and Paul Wolfe. Skadi H. Cooke, Sterling Sanders, and Sam P. Wright are listed as withdrawn or no longer active.

Our voter guide will be updated over the next few days to include all candidates, and we will continue to cover local and state elections throughout the year.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from Washington County Board of Elections Candidate Filings.

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