County

County Commissioner, Washington County

Vote for: 5
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 11
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.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jonathan Fish

Democratic

Computer programmer

The gist

Supports affordable housing, food security and livable wages.
Supports better teacher retention and local career training.
Opposes relying on more warehouse-style development for growth.
Pledges to seek input from community groups on decisions.

More about Jonathan

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Supports affordable housing, food security and livable wages.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“1. Affordable housing for all 2. Food security 3. Livable wages and increasing job variety 4. Childcare and Education”
Supports better teacher retention and local career training.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I want our teachers taken care of so we have long term retention of talent.”
Opposes relying on more warehouse-style development for growth.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We could open several more Amazon-like factories and it wouldn't help this be a place that people are thriving.”
Pledges to seek input from community groups on decisions.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I want to find ways to here from as many groups as possible and receive recommendations”

Les McIntosh, Sr.

Democratic

Pastor; small business owner

The gist

Pledges to seek efficiencies before any tax increase.
Supports expanding career and technical education.
Supports tax incentives tied to job creation.
Supports expanding transit routes and rural broadband.
Pledges community listening sessions and open budgeting.

More about Les

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Pledges to seek efficiencies before any tax increase.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would look for efficiencies before any tax increase, reduce waste, and ensure transparency.”
Supports expanding career and technical education.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support aligning education funding with local workforce needs, expanding career and technical education”
Supports tax incentives tied to job creation.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“modernizing zoning to increase housing near jobs, and using targeted tax incentives tied to job creation.”
Supports expanding transit routes and rural broadband.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Transportation, broadband access, and water and utility upgrades are urgent, especially for rural areas. We must expand transit routes”
Pledges community listening sessions and open budgeting.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will support open budgeting, clear reporting, and accessible public meetings. I will hold community listening sessions”

Teri Pailen

Democratic

The gist

Supports increasing county funding for public schools.
Supports funding 24/7 crisis hotlines and substance abuse centers.
Proposes reviewing the allocation of hotel rental tax funds.
Supports reinstating public comment at commissioner meetings.
Supports water system upgrades funded by bonds and grants.

More about Teri

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Supports increasing county funding for public schools.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would advocate for increased funding for schools by raising the current budget.”
Supports funding 24/7 crisis hotlines and substance abuse centers.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I recommend allocating funds to maintain the operations of crisis hotlines and substance abuse centers on a 24/7 basis.”
Proposes reviewing the allocation of hotel rental tax funds.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“There has been concern expressed regarding the allocation of hotel rental tax funds. I recommend conducting a thorough review of this matter”
Supports reinstating public comment at commissioner meetings.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Reestablish public comment sessions at County Commissioner Board Meetings.”
Supports water system upgrades funded by bonds and grants.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Water system upgrades are essential”

Lara A. Shepherd

Democratic

Human resources director

The gist

Supports student aides in every county classroom.
Supports low-cost or free expanded bus service.
Supports making water systems a top priority with Hagerstown.
Supports tax incentives to attract technology and biotech businesses.
Pledges to invite public comment on commissioner agenda topics.

More about Lara

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Supports student aides in every county classroom.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Education- top priority. Universal student aides in every classroom in the county.”
Supports low-cost or free expanded bus service.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“A minimal cost/ free & expanded bus service can be invaluable to workers & students.”
Supports making water systems a top priority with Hagerstown.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Water. Full stop. Water Resource Systems in partnership with the city should be a top priority”
Supports tax incentives to attract technology and biotech businesses.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“combined with a good tax incentive to lure new technological businesses, including biotechnologies.”
Pledges to invite public comment on commissioner agenda topics.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will urge citizens to share openly their comments on agenda topics for the BOCC.”

Dave Williams

Democratic

Retired school librarian

The gist

Pledges to restore public comment and hold evening meetings.
Supports funding schools above the legal minimum.
Supports dedicating budget surpluses to capital projects.
Supports I-70 and I-81 upgrades.
Proposes possible cuts to the commissioners' discretionary fund.

More about Dave

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Pledges to restore public comment and hold evening meetings.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Restore public comment to business meetings, schedule evening business meetings so more citizens can attend, institute work sessions where issues are discussed publicly”
Supports funding schools above the legal minimum.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The BOCC historically funds the BOE at or near the lowest amount allowable by law.”
Supports dedicating budget surpluses to capital projects.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“A portion of any budget surplus should be dedicated to these projects.”
Supports I-70 and I-81 upgrades.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“All elected representatives must continue to work for I-70 and I-81 upgrades.”
Proposes possible cuts to the commissioners' discretionary fund.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“One possible exception is the commissioners’ discretionary fund.”

Charles Burkett

Republican

Business owner

The gist

Pledges public safety as his top budget priority.
Pledges to address rising county property taxes.
Supports increasing county funding for the school board.
Supports recruiting higher-paying manufacturing jobs over warehouses.
Supports restoring public comment at commissioner meetings.
Supports finishing the county public safety training facility.

More about Charles

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Pledges public safety as his top budget priority.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Public safety was a high priority for me when I last served and will continue to be my top priority.”
Pledges to address rising county property taxes.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would also like to see us address the increasing property tax we’ve been seeing in Washington County.”
Supports increasing county funding for the school board.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do think we could increase what we are providing to our local school board.”
Supports recruiting higher-paying manufacturing jobs over warehouses.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“work to attract higher paying manufacturing and white color jobs. For a long time we have seen many warehouses being built in our area.”
Supports restoring public comment at commissioner meetings.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Recently, public comment was removed as an avenue for the public to address their elected officials.”
Supports finishing the county public safety training facility.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would like to see us expand our support to the public safety training facility and get that project completed”

Dan Young

Republican

Fire captain and EMS supervisor

The gist

Supports fire, EMS, law enforcement and 911.
Supports protecting agricultural land.
Pledges transparency and ethical conduct.
Supports Second Amendment gun rights.

More about Dan

View sources (2)

Supports fire, EMS, law enforcement and 911.
Dan Young for County Commissioner
Campaign website · Citizens for Dan Young · votedanyoung.com
“Support Fire and EMS … Support Law Enforcement”
Supports protecting agricultural land.
Dan Young for County Commissioner
Campaign website · Citizens for Dan Young · votedanyoung.com
“Protect our agricultural lands”
Pledges transparency and ethical conduct.
Dan Young for County Commissioner
Campaign website · Citizens for Dan Young · votedanyoung.com
“Transparency … Ethical conduct”
Supports Second Amendment gun rights.
Dan Young: Who is Dan Young
Campaign website · Citizens for Dan Young · votedanyoung.com
“He is a strong supporter of our nation's Constitution and Second Amendment”

Taj Smith

Unaffiliated

Human services worker

The gist

Proposes moving school resource officer costs into the county budget.
Proposes tying county tax breaks to $30-an-hour wages.
Proposes making commercial developers pay for their water impact.
Proposes shifting economic strategy away from warehouse expansion.
Pledges to reinstate public comment and hold evening town halls.
Proposes a school facilities fund from commercial real estate fees.

More about Taj

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Proposes moving school resource officer costs into the county budget.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'll shift public safety costs for School Resource Officers into the county budget, freeing up funds for competitive teacher pay”
Proposes tying county tax breaks to $30-an-hour wages.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'll tie county tax breaks to a $30/hour wage benchmark with claw back provisions for missed goals”
Proposes making commercial developers pay for their water impact.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“we should update fees so that commercial developers cover the cost of their water impact, mandate closed loop recycling for high user industries”
Proposes shifting economic strategy away from warehouse expansion.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will propose shifting economic strategy away from warehouse expansion toward high-value growth.”
Pledges to reinstate public comment and hold evening town halls.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will reinstate open public comment during meetings. … host rotating evening town halls across all municipalities”
Proposes a school facilities fund from commercial real estate fees.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will propose a dedicated fund from commercial real estate fees over $500k.”

John F. Barr

RepublicanIncumbent

The gist

Supports more funding help for fire and rescue companies.
Supports more elementary school support staff.
Proposes a countywide water and wastewater authority.
Supports school system partnerships with Hagerstown Community College.
Supports keeping a professionally staffed economic development department.

More about John

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Supports more funding help for fire and rescue companies.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Fire & Rescue are struggling to keep their doors open, particularly due to inflation and cost factors.”
Supports more elementary school support staff.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“support staff is needed particularly in the elementary schools.”
Proposes a countywide water and wastewater authority.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“develop both a local water and wastewater authority to cover all municipalities in our county”
Supports school system partnerships with Hagerstown Community College.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Continue to encourage cooperation between our school system and Hagerstown Community College- both as an encourager and financial support”
Supports keeping a professionally staffed economic development department.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We need to keep a viable and active Economic Development Department staffed with appropriate and knowledgeable professional individuals”

Jeffrey A. Cline

RepublicanIncumbent

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Jeffrey

Randy Leatherman

RepublicanIncumbent

Retired Air Force; fire and EMS

The gist

Supports hiring and training more fire and EMS personnel.
Pledges focus on every third grader reading at grade level.
Supports bond-financed water and sewer expansion.
Supported pausing public comment after meeting disruptions.

More about Randy

View sources (1)

Supports hiring and training more fire and EMS personnel.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“our responsibility to deliver quality EMS and Fire service demands that we hire and train personnel”
Pledges focus on every third grader reading at grade level.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My personal focus is to purse the goal of having every third grader reading at grade level.”
Supports bond-financed water and sewer expansion.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“spending that can be financed with the issuance of bonds if necessary. I will make the installation of water and sewer systems a priority”
Supported pausing public comment after meeting disruptions.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Commissioner
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Their attacks on county personnel and commissioners has resulted in a temporary pause in the opportunity for public comment.”

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; 9 issues covered in this race.