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County Council Member (At-Large) · Frederick County · 2026 Primary
At-large county council members represent the entire county rather than a specific geographic district, making decisions that affect all residents. They are responsible for passing local laws, overseeing land use and zoning, and approving the county budget which determines funding for schools, roads, and public safety. This office is vital because these members balance the needs of the whole community to set the county’s long-term priorities and tax rates.
View all candidates in this raceRenee Knapp was elected to the Frederick County Council in 2022 and serves as the first woman to hold an At-Large representative seat since Charter government began in 2014. She previously served on the Board of Directors for The Women's Democratic League of Frederick County and three years on the Frederick County Democratic State Central Committee. Knapp advocates for increased investment in FCPS, including competitive teacher compensation and expanded Career and Technology education options. Her background includes six years advocating for her son with autism within the public school system to ensure his independence and successful employment transition. She emphasizes responsible growth that preserves agricultural land while accommodating new industries and investing in infrastructure improvements like public transportation. Additionally, she supports affordable housing initiatives and climate resilience planning to protect property values and emergency services from weather extremes. Her campaign focuses on expanding childcare access for working families and ensuring government responsiveness to community needs.
Sources: Campaign website
Education is the biggest investment we make with our county tax dollars.
Renee understands how high-quality Special Education can change the course of a child's life.
Good communication and good planning will enable Frederick County to continue to grow in ways that benefit our community, our economy, and our environment.
Whether you rent or own your home, Frederick County's growth must include housing that is attainable for working families, young professionals, and seniors.
Source: knapp4countycouncil.com
Education
Knapp supports responsive budgets that competitively compensate teachers and staff, reduce class sizes, and expand Career and Technology education. She highlights her son's experience with Special Education services as a model for success.
“Increased investment in FCPS will make it possible to recruit and retain excellent teachers, reduce class sizes, and expand Career and Technology education.”
Transportation
She supports investing in infrastructure improvements, expanding public transportation options, and strengthening regional connections to reduce congestion and improve accessibility.
“Renee supports investing in infrastructure improvements, expanding public transportation options, and strengthening regional connections to reduce congestion and improve accessibility.”
Housing
Knapp supports smart, balanced development that expands affordable housing options while meeting agricultural preservation goals. She emphasizes workforce housing initiatives.
“Renee supports smart, balanced development that expands affordable housing options while meeting our agricultural preservation goals.”
Environment
She advocates for proactive planning to avoid expensive fixes and building climate resilience in infrastructure like roads, water, sewer, and electrical lines.
“Climate change will affect Frederick County infrastructure in the coming decades. Proactive planning is critical to avoiding expensive and reactionary fixes that impact county budgets.”
Land Use
Knapp supports preserving agricultural land to maintain rural quality of life while accommodating job growth within Frederick County.
“Preserving agricultural land maintains our rural quality of life and supports Frederick County's significant agricultural economy.”
Infrastructure
She calls for adjusting thinking about roads, water, sewer use, and electrical lines to make them more resilient in the face of weather extremes.
“We must start adjusting our thinking about roads, water and sewer use, and electrical and communications lines, to make them more resilient in the face of weather extremes that will affect the county.”
Economic Development
Knapp supports welcoming new and evolving industries while ensuring a successful partnership with transparency between industries and county government.
“We can welcome new and evolving industries. A successful partnership with transparency and communication between industries and county government is essential for responsible growth.”
“Education is the biggest investment we make with our county tax dollars.”
Source“Renee supports investing in infrastructure improvements, expanding public transportation options, and strengthening regional connections to reduce congestion.”
Source“Whether you rent or own your home, Frederick County's growth must include housing that is attainable for working families.”
Source“Climate change will affect Frederick County infrastructure in the coming decades. Proactive planning is critical to avoiding expensive and reactionary fixes.”
Source“Preserving agricultural land maintains our rural quality of life and supports Frederick County's significant agricultural economy.”
Source“We must start adjusting our thinking about roads, water and sewer use, and electrical and communications lines, to make them more resilient.”
Source“We can welcome new and evolving industries. A successful partnership with transparency and communication between industries and county government is essential.”
Source