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County Council Member · District 7 · Wicomico County · 2026 Primary
County Council Members serve as the legislative branch of county government, passing local laws and approving the annual budget that funds public schools, roads, and emergency services. They set local tax rates and make final decisions on land use and zoning, which determines where new homes and businesses can be built. This office is responsible for prioritizing how your tax dollars are spent and managing the long-term growth and infrastructure of your community.
View all candidates in this raceJoe Venosa is an independent candidate for Wicomico County Council District 7 who describes himself as a lifelong teacher and associate professor of history at Salisbury University since 2013. He grew up in New York but moved to Wicomico County, where he purchased his home on Russell Avenue near the University in 2014 with his wife Sabrina. As a father to their ten-year-old son Senai, he became involved gradually in local politics after seeing how county issues impact resources for young people and families with special needs. He is also a mentor to former Salisbury University students who entered teaching careers in Wicomico County Public Schools. Venosa positions himself as a public advocate for greater transparency in local government and opposes the class of professional politicians he believes only want elected office without caring about regular people's day-to-day concerns.
Sources: Campaign website
I became involved gradually in both city and county issues as I saw the impact of local politics on the resources that mattered most to my son and other young people in our area with special needs.
As a father, husband, homeowner and neighbor, I am very concerned about the current direction of Wicomico County.
I will work to pass a long-overdue Wicomico County property tax differential and to discontinue the huge property tax waiver that the current County Executive and Council approved to subsidize the owners of an upscale housing facility in downtown Salisbury ("the Ross"), which means higher taxes for everyone else.
We don't just live in District 7, we are District 7. Together, we can build the community we deserve.
Source: joev4wicomico.com
Tax Policy
Venosa advocates for ending unfair tax burdens on District 7 residents who pay real estate taxes to Salisbury or Fruitland while those towns provide services. He supports passing a property tax differential and discontinuing the property tax waiver that subsidizes an upscale housing facility in downtown Salisbury.
“District 7 is by far the most overtaxed and expensive area in Wicomico. Many property owners pay real estate taxes to Salisbury or Fruitland and also to Wicomico County. But the County does not reduce its tax rate to reflect the services (police, streets, etc.) that those towns provide.”
Public Education
As a lifelong teacher with a child in Wicomico County's public schools, he plans to expand Career and Technical Education programs, invest in educational facilities including new middle school and primary school construction, and support higher-quality pay for teachers and staff.
“I plan to work with the Board of Education to dramatically expand the Career and Technical Education ("CTE") and other vocational training to more local students.”
Public Safety
Venosa advocates for fully funded volunteer fire companies, community policing initiatives, encrypting radios, body-worn cameras, and updated computer technology to make officers safer and more effective at fighting crime.
“I'm an advocate of community policing initiatives and building real trust between our neighborhoods and the men and women in law enforcement. I fully support encrypting radios, providing body-worn cameras, and investing in updated computer technology.”
Land Use
He is completely against expansion of liquor stores in neighborhoods due to safety concerns for youth and depressed home values, and opposes opening additional cannabis dispensaries in residential neighborhoods or near schools.
“I am completely against any and all expansion of liquor stores in our neighborhoods. Liquor store expansion will cause our neighborhoods to be less safe due to increased public drinking and drunk driving.”
Environment
Venosa wants to protect open spaces, recreation facilities, and county parks including Pirates Wharf and Pemberton Park. He supports creating Connelly Mill Park near Delmar, Cell-7 at the Wicomico County Landfill, and completing dredging of the Wicomico River by October 2026.
“I want to continue to enhance these parks through the Open Space and the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program. I believe they must be given the highest priority by the next elected County Council to protect our local environment.”
Healthcare
Venosa proposes hiring a minimum of seven Physician Assistants through the Department of Public Health to provide low-cost, sliding-scale primary care services to county residents who lack adequate insurance.
“One simple and cost-effective method I will pursue is for our County's Department of Public Health to hire a minimum of seven Physician Assistants to provide low-cost, sliding-scale primary care services to county residents who lack adequate insurance.”
Government Ethics
He supports legislation requiring robust ethics reforms for elected officials, on-time auditing of County finances by the Executive, and appropriate term limits for all elected office holders to avoid career politicians controlled by special interests.
“I fully support appropriate term limits for all elected office holders to avoid the "good old boy system" of local government controlled by special interests and career politicians.”
According to Delmarva Public Media's Don Rush interview excerpt from March 2026, Joe Venosa has often stood at the podium during public comments to criticize Wicomico County government before deciding to enter the race for District 7 as an independent. The article notes he is an associate professor of history at Salisbury University and has been very involved in local government for quite a few years, attending almost all county council meetings and about half the city council meetings.
“As a lifelong teacher and the only candidate in District 7 who has had a child in Wicomico County's public schools, I believe that we must make our school system a reason why families want to live in Wicomico County.”
Source“Having well-equipped Police, Fire, and EMS services is the cornerstone of public safety and ensuring a neighborhood's overall quality of life.”
Source“Wicomico County is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and a range of wonderful county parks. But these treasures must be protected and strengthened by making key investments in crucial areas.”
Source“More than 20,000 Wicomico residents are estimated to lose access to Medicaid coverage in the coming five years. This will only create a bigger burden for our local clinics and hospitals.”
Source“I will work to pass a long-overdue Wicomico County property tax differential and to discontinue the huge property tax waiver that the current County Executive and Council approved.”
Source“I will support legislation that requires a robust series of ethics reforms for those elected to the County Executive and County Council positions.”
Source“I am completely against any and all expansion of liquor stores in our neighborhoods. Liquor store expansion will cause our neighborhoods to be less safe due to increased public drinking and drunk driving.”
Source