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County Commissioner · Kent 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 raceJohn F. Price serves as a Kent County Commissioner and discusses his fiscal priorities in an interview with The Chestertown Spy. He identifies two main issues defining the county’s current situation: funding a new middle school under an inequitable state formula and managing detention center costs responsibly. Price argues that while other Eastern Shore counties receive over ninety percent of construction costs from state aid, Kent County pays fifty-fifty for its projects. He emphasizes that these fiscal challenges require living within means while doing what is right for the people of the county. His proposals involve modifying the role and costs of the detention center to afford a long-overdue new middle school in Chestertown.
Education
Funding a new middle school in Chestertown under an inequitable state funding formula while modifying the role and costs of the county detention center.
“how to pay for a long-overdue new middle school under an inequitable state funding formula”
Fiscal Policy
Managing county finances by living within means while prioritizing community welfare and addressing disparities in state aid.
“We need to live within our means and still do what’s right for the people of this county.”
Public Safety
Responsible management of operating costs regarding the detention center without compromising safety or local employment.
“how to responsibly trim operating costs without sacrificing public safety or local jobs”
External coverage from The Chestertown Spy features Price discussing his proposal to keep and afford the middle school in Chestertown while modifying—not closing—the role and costs of the county detention center. Reporters note that he frames these decisions as coming down to a conviction about fiscal responsibility for small, rural jurisdictions.
“Kent County’s share is fifty-fifty. Meanwhile, other Eastern Shore counties are getting ninety percent and above.”
Source“We need to live within our means and still do what’s right for the people of this county.”
Source“without sacrificing public safety or local jobs”
Source