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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 raceVirgil L. Shockley is a Snow Hill resident and Republican candidate seeking election to the Worcester County Board of Commissioners representing District 4 in 2026, making a return bid after two previous unsuccessful attempts. A seventh-generation Worcester County native, he was born September 28, 1953, attended Snow Hill High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1975. A poultry farmer and former school bus contractor, he also previously worked as an industrial arts teacher. He was first elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 1998, representing District 2, and went on to serve 16 years total — at times serving as Board President — before losing his District 4 seat to Ted Elder in the 2014 Republican primary. He ran unsuccessfully for the seat again in 2022. He filed for the 2026 race at the last minute ahead of the February 24 filing deadline and will face three-term incumbent Ted Elder and Republican challenger Steve Green, a Berlin town councilman and newspaper editor, in the June 23, 2026 Republican primary. He and his wife Jeanne have three children and three grandchildren.