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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.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

Public safety

Education

  • Jonathan FishDemocratic

    • Supports better teacher retention and local career training.

  • Les McIntosh, Sr.Democratic

    • Supports expanding career and technical education.

  • Teri PailenDemocratic

    • Supports increasing county funding for public schools.

  • Lara A. ShepherdDemocratic

    • Supports student aides in every county classroom.

  • Dave WilliamsDemocratic

    • Supports funding schools above the legal minimum.

  • Charles BurkettRepublican

    • Supports increasing county funding for the school board.

  • Dan YoungRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Taj SmithUnaffiliated

    • Proposes moving school resource officer costs into the county budget.
    • Proposes a school facilities fund from commercial real estate fees.

  • John F. BarrRepublican

    • Supports more elementary school support staff.
    • Supports school system partnerships with Hagerstown Community College.

  • Jeffrey A. ClineRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Randy LeathermanRepublican

    • Pledges focus on every third grader reading at grade level.

Housing

Economy & jobs

  • Jonathan FishDemocratic

    • Opposes relying on more warehouse-style development for growth.

  • Les McIntosh, Sr.Democratic

    • Supports tax incentives tied to job creation.

  • Teri PailenDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Lara A. ShepherdDemocratic

    • Supports tax incentives to attract technology and biotech businesses.

  • Dave WilliamsDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Charles BurkettRepublican

    • Supports recruiting higher-paying manufacturing jobs over warehouses.

  • Dan YoungRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Taj SmithUnaffiliated

    • Proposes tying county tax breaks to $30-an-hour wages.
    • Proposes shifting economic strategy away from warehouse expansion.

  • John F. BarrRepublican

    • Supports keeping a professionally staffed economic development department.

  • Jeffrey A. ClineRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Randy LeathermanRepublican

    No documented position found.

Roads & infrastructure

  • Jonathan FishDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Les McIntosh, Sr.Democratic

    • Supports expanding transit routes and rural broadband.

  • Teri PailenDemocratic

    • Supports water system upgrades funded by bonds and grants.

  • Lara A. ShepherdDemocratic

    • Supports low-cost or free expanded bus service.
    • Supports making water systems a top priority with Hagerstown.

  • Dave WilliamsDemocratic

    • Supports dedicating budget surpluses to capital projects.
    • Supports I-70 and I-81 upgrades.

  • Charles BurkettRepublican

    • Supports finishing the county public safety training facility.

  • Dan YoungRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Taj SmithUnaffiliated

    • Proposes making commercial developers pay for their water impact.

  • John F. BarrRepublican

    • Proposes a countywide water and wastewater authority.

  • Jeffrey A. ClineRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Randy LeathermanRepublican

    • Supports bond-financed water and sewer expansion.

Environment & parks

Health & human services

Government & transparency

  • Jonathan FishDemocratic

    • Pledges to seek input from community groups on decisions.

  • Les McIntosh, Sr.Democratic

    • Pledges community listening sessions and open budgeting.

  • Teri PailenDemocratic

    • Supports reinstating public comment at commissioner meetings.

  • Lara A. ShepherdDemocratic

    • Pledges to invite public comment on commissioner agenda topics.

  • Dave WilliamsDemocratic

    • Pledges to restore public comment and hold evening meetings.

  • Charles BurkettRepublican

    • Supports restoring public comment at commissioner meetings.

  • Dan YoungRepublican

    • Pledges transparency and ethical conduct.

  • Taj SmithUnaffiliated

    • Pledges to reinstate public comment and hold evening town halls.

  • John F. BarrRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Jeffrey A. ClineRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Randy LeathermanRepublican

    • Supported pausing public comment after meeting disruptions.

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.