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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 raceSam Newhouse is a candidate for the Frederick County Council at-large seat, focusing on a platform of environmental protection, affordable housing, and public transparency. Professionally, Newhouse has experience as a communicator and worked for Morris Habitat for Humanity, which informs their stance on housing as a human right. Identifying as a non-homeowner who understands the struggle of affordability, Newhouse advocates for smart growth that protects the county's "precious and irreplaceable" farmland from data center development. Their policy goals include increasing teacher pay, reducing classroom sizes to 21, and establishing a comprehensive county-wide transit plan. Newhouse also emphasizes public safety through civilian oversight of police and increased investment in community health responses and pedestrian infrastructure.
Sources: Campaign website
Our Green Infrastructure and Farmland is Precious and Irreplaceable. Bio-diversity is paramount to our long term survival.
I will use every tool that is available to create affordable housing in Frederick County. All the excuses I have heard have come from people who own a home; I’m not convinced this county has actually tried to create affordable housing.
I will never allow data centers on farmland... AI Data Centers exploit their communities far more than they give back. I will never support business that harm the residents of Frederick County.
At this stage, Frederick County is devoid of a transit plan or budget that serves our entire community.
Poverty increases crime, and decreasing poverty decreases crime. Making our county more affordable will make our county safer.
Source: samforfrederick.org
Land Use and Agriculture
Protects farmland from industrial development, specifically opposing the placement of data centers on agricultural land due to water consumption and noise pollution.
“I will never allow data centers on farmland. Our farmland is precious and irreplaceable.”
Affordable Housing
Commits to utilizing non-profit expertise and every available tool to create housing for workers, the aging population, and the disabled.
“I will increase the affordability of life in Frederick County with affordable housing. Affordable housing is built by communities, for their communities.”
Education
Proposes targeted pay packages for teachers to reflect local affordability and aims for specific classroom size limits.
“I will work towards a targeted pay package with salaries that adjust with respect to affordability , and target a classroom size of 21 for our Frederick County Educators.”
Public Safety and Police Oversight
Advocates for civilian oversight of police and substituting police response with health-based responses when appropriate.
“Civilian oversight of police actions is key in maintaining the safety of our residents, and to utilize and icrease health responses in place of police response when it would be more appropriate.”
Transportation
Supports a county-wide transit plan, bike paths, and pedestrian walkways to reduce car reliance.
“Introducing more transit, and improving the counties walk-ability and bike-ablity, will reduce our reliance on cars and reduce car related deaths and injuries.”
“target a classroom size of 21 for our Frederick County Educators.”
Source“I will use every tool that is available to create affordable housing in Frederick County.”
Source“I will increse citizen oversight of the police”
Source“Frederick County is devoid of a transit plan or budget that serves our entire community.”
Source“Bio-diversity and a healthy ecosystem are paramount to our long term survival.”
Source“Smart growth means planning for housing , investing in education over a generation, and investing in sustainable infrastructure now .”
Source“I will never allow data centers on farmland.”
Source“Smart growth leverages our farm land for innovation while preserving the soil”
Source“I will work with our many health care providers in this county to provide 24/7 access to urgent care services in all our communities”
Source