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County Executive · Frederick County · 2026 Primary
The County Executive serves as the chief administrator of the county, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and enforcing laws passed by the County Council. This official proposes the annual budget that directs how local tax dollars are spent on services such as public schools, roads, and emergency response. The County Executive also has the power to appoint department heads and can sign or veto legislation affecting the entire county.
View all candidates in this raceWilliam J. "Jeff" Holtzinger is a Frederick native and Republican candidate seeking election as County Executive of Frederick County in 2026. A civil engineer and attorney by profession, he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland and a J.D. cum laude from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in 1994. He brings over 20 years of experience in construction, design engineering, and land use development, and previously served as City Engineer for the City of Frederick before being elected Mayor of Frederick from 2006 to 2009. During his tenure as mayor he negotiated a long-term water supply agreement with Frederick County, expanded public transportation, and acquired 148 acres of parkland for the city. He also ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Frederick again in 2013. He currently practices law at Weaver & Fitzpatrick in Frederick, specializing in administrative law and land use matters. He is running in the June 23, 2026 Republican primary against Diane Fouche, a former county procurement director, with the winner facing Democratic incumbent County Executive Jessica Fitzwater in the November 3, 2026 general election.
External news coverage identifies Holtzinger as a former Frederick mayor running in the Republican primary against Diane Fouche. The race will determine which Republican candidate faces incumbent Jessica Fitzwater in November's general election. Coverage notes that three candidates are filed for county executive contest with primaries scheduled for June 23, 2026 and general election on November 3, 2026.
“The race reflects tensions over the county's future direction, with significant implications for its identity and governance including fiscal responsibility concerns.”
Source“Frederick County is competitive, fast-growing, and increasingly divided over the future direction of growth, spending, and development.”
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