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County Commissioner · District 4 · Worcester 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 raceTheodore J. Elder is a Whaleyville resident and current President of the Worcester County Board of Commissioners representing District 4 (Western District), seeking re-election in 2026 to what would be his fourth term. First elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2014, Elder has been a successful county business owner and operator since 1982, beginning his career managing a local service station before building his own business, and served as a Worcester County bus contractor for 30 years before retiring in 2019. During that time he served as President of the Bus Contractor's Association for 20 consecutive terms from 1994 to 2014. He also filled in as a teacher for one term at Worcester Technical High School. He has served as Board President since December 2024 and was re-elected to that position in December 2025, having previously served as Vice President from 2017 to 2018 and again from 2019 to 2022. He currently serves as a voting member of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and as a member of the Health Planning Advisory Council. He is the father of three children, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
According to Eastern Shore Undercover, Commissioner Elder was re-elected as president of the Worcester County Commissioners on December 2, 2025. The article notes he represents District Four and is currently in his third term on the board. He continues to serve alongside newly elected vice president Madison J. Bunting, Jr., who represents District Six.
“retired Worcester County bus contractor, having served as president of the Bus Contractor's Association for 20 consecutive terms. His professional background also includes business ownership in the county since 1982”
Source“Commissioner Elder serves as a voting member of the Tri-County Council (TCC) for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and is a member of the Health Planning Advisory Council”
Source“a term as a teacher at Worcester Technical High School”
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