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Board of Education Member · Allegany County · 2026 Primary
Members of the Board of Education oversee the local public school system by setting educational policies, approving the annual operating budget, and hiring the superintendent. They make key decisions on matters such as student curriculum, school boundaries, and the maintenance of school facilities. This office is important because its members determine how tax dollars are spent to support student learning and the overall quality of schools in the community.
View all candidates in this raceLinda Alderman Widmyer is a 68-year-old resident of Allegany County seeking election as a member of the Board of Education. She currently serves as a legislative aide and district office administrator for Maryland State Delegate Mike McKay at the General Assembly in Cumberland. Widmyer holds a Bachelor's degree from Geneva College and previously worked for the Allegany County Public Schools (ACPS) system for 20 years. In January 2025, the Allegany County Board of Commissioners appointed her to fill the vacancy created by Bob Farrell's death on December 3rd. The appointment was decided by a 2-to-1 vote with President Dave Caporale and member Creade Brodie voting in favor while Commissioner Bill Atkinson voted against it. In an October 2022 interview, she stated she is running because "great things are happening in our school system" and wants to be part of the team leading these efforts. Her platform emphasizes transparency, parental involvement, addressing internal and external safety concerns, and teaching history with facts. She identifies Dr. Ben Carson as a public leader she admires for setting goals and achieving them by putting education first.
Transparency and Parental Involvement
Widmyer advocates for increased openness in board decisions and ensuring parents have a voice in the process.
“Our school board needs to be more transparent and include parents in some of their decisions. I want to be the voice for those parents who feel they are not being heard.”
School Safety
She emphasizes addressing safety concerns from both outside threats and internal behavioral issues among students.
“School safety is a major concern to me. Not only from people outside the building, but also from inside. Some of our students fail to respect other students, teachers and staff.”
History Education
Widmyer supports teaching history accurately without attributing events solely to one group.
“I want to see history taught with facts, good or bad. But I do have a problem blaming events on one particular group of people.”
External coverage highlights Widmyer's background as a legislative aide for Delegate Mike McKay and her two decades of experience within the Allegany County Public Schools system. A 2022 interview with CNS Maryland details her motivations, citing a desire to lead efforts in a school system where she believes "great things are happening," while also addressing concerns regarding transparency, student safety, and factual history instruction. In January 2025, Forever Cumberland reported that the Allegany County Board of Commissioners appointed her to fill the vacancy left by Bob Farrell's death following a 2-to-1 vote.
“I worked for the ACPS system for 20 years. I have experience knowing what the teachers want and what our students need.”
Source“School safety is a major concern to me. Not only from people outside the building, but also from inside.”
Source“Our school board needs to be more transparent and include parents in some of their decisions.”
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