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County Commissioner, St. Mary's County

District 2

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county commissioner is one of the board members who pass the county budget, set tax rates, adopt local ordinances and oversee county government.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Brandon Russell

Democratic

Government contractor

The gist

  • Pledges to refuse developer campaign donations.
  • Opposes industrial development near neighborhoods.
  • Opposes school closures; supports more school investment.
  • Proposes adding public safety to adequate-facilities rules.
  • Proposes shifting tax burdens to highly profitable interests.
  • Supports expanding access to homeownership and medical care.
More about Brandon
View sources (1)

  1. Pledges to refuse developer campaign donations.

    Brandon Russell for Commissioner

    Campaign website · Brandon Russell for Commissioner · votebrandonrussell.com

    “I won’t be bought by developer donations”

  2. Opposes industrial development near neighborhoods.

    Brandon Russell for Commissioner

    Campaign website · Brandon Russell for Commissioner · votebrandonrussell.com

    “That means no industrial development near neighborhoods, discouraging over saturation of commercial uses, and supporting rural preservation to protect agri- and aquaculture.”

  3. Opposes school closures; supports more school investment.

    Brandon Russell for Commissioner

    Campaign website · Brandon Russell for Commissioner · votebrandonrussell.com

    “I’ll focus on student success by investing in schools instead of demanding their closure.”

  4. Proposes adding public safety to adequate-facilities rules.

    Brandon Russell for Commissioner

    Campaign website · Brandon Russell for Commissioner · votebrandonrussell.com

    “I’ll push to update the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to include fire, EMS, police, and health services.”

  5. Proposes shifting tax burdens to highly profitable interests.

    Brandon Russell for Commissioner

    Campaign website · Brandon Russell for Commissioner · votebrandonrussell.com

    “I’ll examine ways to responsibly shift tax burdens to those profiting heavily from our community.”

  6. Supports expanding access to homeownership and medical care.

    Brandon Russell for Commissioner

    Campaign website · Brandon Russell for Commissioner · votebrandonrussell.com

    “I’ll work directly with community partners and government agencies to expand access to homeownership and medical care.”

Tom Phelan

Republican

The gist

  • Supports controlled spending and disciplined budgeting.
  • Supports prioritizing public safety and youth education.
More about Tom
View sources (1)

  1. Supports controlled spending and disciplined budgeting.

    St. Mary's County 2026 primary voters guide

    Candidate questionnaire · Southern Maryland News · Jun 4, 2026 · somdnews.com

    “We must control our spending and ensure disciplined budgeting with smart growth that protects our rural character.”

  2. Supports prioritizing public safety and youth education.

    St. Mary's County 2026 primary voters guide

    Candidate questionnaire · Southern Maryland News · Jun 4, 2026 · somdnews.com

    “Public safety and education of our youth is key to the county’s future.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.