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County Commissioner · Allegany 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 raceSeth Bernard is a Republican candidate running for Allegany County Commissioner in 2026. A Cumberland resident, he served seven years on the Cumberland City Council, having first run unsuccessfully in 2014 before being elected in the November 2018 general election alongside Mayor Raymond Morriss. He resigned his council seat in September 2021. He is married to his wife Jewel and they have two children. He has also served on the Allegany County Board of Zoning Appeals. He grew up in Cumberland and has described returning to the city to raise his family as a deliberate choice rooted in his connection to the community. His prior campaign priorities have included improving city infrastructure, making Cumberland more business-friendly, supporting public safety officers while working with social service agencies to combat drug problems, and LGBTQ+ community advocacy — he addressed attendees at the Cumberland Pride Festival from City Hall steps in 2020. He is one of four Republicans running in the 2026 primary for the three Allegany County Commissioner seats, alongside incumbents Bill Atkinson, Creade Brodie, and Dave Caporale, as well as challengers Leona McTaggart, Dee Dee L. Ritchie, and David Alan Robison. Democrats Chelsea Boor and Carol Taccino are also running. The primary is June 23, 2026.
Sources: Campaign website
Infrastructure
Bernard expressed optimism about long-term infrastructure projects despite delays
“On the Cumberland Gateway project in the Rolling Mill neighborhood, he said, when it is said and done it will be a great thing for Cumberland. The delays are unfortunate and it should have been done a little differently in the beginning, but it will be what we wanted in the long run, it will just take longer to get there.”
Bernard resigned from City Council citing growing demands of his career at IBM and family responsibilities, noting he was the only council member working full time. He expressed concern about being unavailable for meetings and whether voters were getting their best bang for their vote when he could not attend. Despite resigning, Bernard remained optimistic about the Baltimore Street Project and Cumberland Gateway project in the Rolling Mill neighborhood.
“On the Cumberland Gateway project in the Rolling Mill neighborhood, he said, when it is said and done it will be a great thing for Cumberland. The delays are unfortunate and it should have been done a little differently in the beginning, but it will be what we wanted in the long run, it will just take longer to get there.”
Source“I wasn't able to do the things I was elected to do anymore. It is bittersweet.”
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