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County Commissioner · District 5 · Worcester County · 2026 Primary
County Commissioners act as both the lawmaking body and the executive branch for their county, meaning they pass local ordinances and oversee all county departments. They are responsible for setting property tax rates and adopting the annual budget, which determines funding levels for essential services like public schools, road maintenance, and emergency responders. Their decisions on land use and zoning also directly influence how your community grows and what types of businesses or housing can be built.
View all candidates in this raceChip Bertino is a resident of Ocean Pines for more than 20 years and the publisher of 'The Courier' weekly newspaper, where he served for 14 years before entering the race for Worcester County Commissioner representing District 5 in December 2024. He previously served as a county commissioner elected in 2014 to represent the Northern district and was appointed to the Maryland Association of Counties Board of Directors for 2025, becoming the first Worcester County representative on that board since Judy Boggs in 2013. Bertino identifies as a Republican running against incumbent Judy Boggs' seat which she did not seek re-election for. He stated he has gained working familiarity with important issues facing both the county and Ocean Pines through his publishing career. If elected, he intends to continue publishing 'The Courier' while serving on the commission board. His platform emphasizes representing a county district rather than out-of-area officeholders and prioritizing tourism, farming, healthcare, and entrepreneurism as the economic backbone of the region.
Economic Development
Bertino identifies specific sectors as vital to the region's economy and argues commissioners must work on their behalf.
“"Tourism, farming, healthcare and entrepreneurism are the economic backbone of this county. A county representative must work on their behalf."”
Education
Commissioners share responsibility for key public services including schools.
“"If elected, Bertino will join the other commissioners in being responsible for, among other areas, schools..."”
Fiscal Policy
Budgeting is listed as a core responsibility of the commissioner role.
“"If elected, Bertino will join the other commissioners in being responsible for, among other areas, schools, budgeting..."”
Land Use
Zoning is identified as a key area of county responsibility.
“"If elected, Bertino will join the other commissioners in being responsible for, among other areas, schools, budgeting, public works and zoning."”
Government Ethics
Bertino advocates for deliberative representation over compromise that undermines home rule.
“"A commissioner must be a deliberative representative who asks questions in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and then acts accordingly... Going along for the sake of getting along is a philosophy that emasculates the county's right of home rule."”
External coverage describes Bertino as a newspaper publisher with no prior political experience but a long-standing interest in politics who filed for office on Dec. 17. He was appointed to the Maryland Association of Counties Board of Directors for 2025 by Governor Wes Moore during the winter conference in Cambridge, becoming the first Worcester County representative since Judy Boggs in 2013. Local officials and colleagues view his appointment as an honor that brings visibility and input to issues impacting the county through state-level advocacy.
“"responsible for, among other areas, schools"”
Source“"schools, budgeting, public works and zoning"”
Source“"Tourism, farming, healthcare and entrepreneurism are the economic backbone of this county"”
Source“"schools, budgeting, public works and zoning"”
Source“"Tourism, farming, healthcare and entrepreneurism are the economic backbone of this county"”
Source“"Tourism, farming, healthcare and entrepreneurism are the economic backbone of this county"”
Source“"Going along for the sake of getting along is a philosophy that emasculates the county's right of home rule"”
Source