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County Commissioner · District 1 · Charles 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 raceWalton "Walt" Merchant is a Swan Point, Charles County resident and Republican candidate seeking election to the Charles County Board of Commissioners representing District 1 in 2026. A 56-year-old senior asset protection manager and facility security officer, Merchant filed for the race in February 2026 and is running against Democratic incumbent B.J. Bowling III. He describes his motivation for running as a response to residents' growing frustration with county leadership, saying he is "tired of typical politicians who flip-flop both sides" and wants to give a voice to residents who feel unheard. His campaign priorities include supporting the county's watermen, farmers, and volunteer firefighters, opposing data centers in Charles County, and encouraging selective business development that reduces the tax burden on residents.
Southern Maryland News reported that Walton 'Walt' Merchant filed as a Republican to run for the District 1 Charles County Commissioner seat on Feb. 23 via their Facebook page. The post received public reactions, with one comment describing the race context as getting more fun.