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County Commissioner · Washington 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 raceChris Keane is a Democratic candidate for the Washington County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election. He describes himself as a "Civic Innovator" and is an alumnus of the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Leaders Program. Professionally, he has served as a Youth Homelessness Policy Officer for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and as a Leadership Council Member for the Maryland Corps program. Keane studied Secondary Education and Social Sciences at Towson University and previously attended Hagerstown Community College. His public statements emphasize the need for inclusive policy that addresses the specific economic and regulatory concerns of Western Maryland.
Regional Representation
Keane advocates for Western Maryland to have a stronger voice in state policy to address feelings of exclusion and the impact of uneven regulations.
“Western Maryland feels left out, and the economic strain of uneven regulations proves it. Diversity is supposed to be our strength, so start listening to us.”
Youth and Workforce Development
He supports service programs that provide recent graduates with wages and professional skills while serving their communities.
“Option program gives recent graduates and graduating high schoolers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to serve their community while: Gaining personal and professional skills”
Economic Opportunity
Keane views Maryland as a state that should focus on creating paths to gainful employment.
“Maryland is the state creating opportunities for Marylanders and offering more paths to gainful employment”
External news sources identify Chris Keane as one of several Democratic challengers running for the five available seats on the Washington County Board of County Commissioners. Reports note he successfully filed his candidacy by the February 2026 deadline for the June primary election.
“the economic strain of uneven regulations proves it.”
Source“Youth Homelessness Policy Officer - DHCD”
Source“Youth Homelessness Policy Officer - DHCD”
Source“opportunity to serve their community while: Gaining personal and professional skills”
Source