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Board of Education Member · District 1 · Somerset 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 raceValentina Downing is a candidate seeking election to the Somerset County Board of Education representing District 1 in 2026. She is running in the June 23, 2026 primary for the District 1 seat alongside Elizabeth K. Brock and Ron Purnell. District 1 is the same seat currently held by Andrew Gleason, who was the subject of a residency investigation by the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education in early 2026. The Somerset County Board of Education has faced significant scrutiny in recent years, with Maryland education officials raising concerns about board governance and warning that grant funding could be at risk.