We are fortunate to have several world-class companies located here in Kent County as well as dozens of small businesses owned by hardworking entrepreneurs, farmers and watermen.  Having spent 40 years running my own businesses I know the pressures of making payroll and navigating my way through downturns in business. I will work closely with the other commissioners and our economic development staff to connect existing businesses with resources that will help them grow their operations as well as leveraging an expanded network to try to attract new environmentally compatible businesses to the county.

Standing with Kent County’s Farmers and Watermen  

Agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay fishing tradition are the backbone of Kent County. Our farms feed families across the region. Our watermen carry on a way of life that defines the Eastern Shore. Both are under increasing pressure — from regulatory burden, rising input costs, workforce shortages, and a state policy environment that too often overlooks rural Maryland. As Commissioner, I will:

• Defend working lands from regulatory overreach, pushing back on state and federal mandates that place unrealistic burdens on small family farms and independent watermen without meaningful environmental benefit
• Support agricultural land preservation through smart use of the county’s land preservation programs, keeping farmland in production and out of sprawl and large scale solar projects
• Advocate for fair water quality policy that recognizes the conservation work farmers are already doing — cover crops, nutrient management, buffer strips — and holds all stakeholders accountable not just farmers
• Connect farmers and watermen to markets and resources, supporting agritourism, farm-to-table initiatives, and direct marketing opportunities that strengthen local food economies
• Invest in the next generation, partnering with the University of Maryland Extension, Kent County schools, and FFA programs to build a pipeline of young farmers and watermen who can carry these traditions forward

What the County Can Do Directly

Farmland Preservation — the Kent County Farmland Preservation Program enables landowners to sell development rights to the county, placing properties under permanent agricultural easements. Landowners receive financial compensation, which can be reinvested in their operations to help fund precision agriculture which utilizes satellite imagery and advanced analytics to provide real time insights on crop health, soil moisture and other metrics that impact cover crop management.

Right-to-Farm Protections — Ensure county zoning and land use policies don’t creep in ways that expose working farms to nuisance complaints from neighboring residential development. This will be increasingly important as we attract residents unfamiliar with farm operations.

Local Procurement / Buy Local — The county can adopt purchasing preferences for locally grown food in county facilities (schools, senior centers) and champion a “Buy Kent County” campaign.

Connecting Farmers to Existing Resources — There’s a robust support ecosystem that many farmers don’t utilize, and we must make sure our hard-working farmers are aware of these resources, and the county should aid in the application process. 

Watermen and Maritime Economy — The commercial fishing and crabbing industry is under economic stress from both regulatory and market pressures. The county can support watermen through marketing assistance, cold storage infrastructure investment, and partnering with DNR programs — stabilizing an industry that generates both direct and hospitality-related economic activity.

Small Business Support

Small business attraction and retention. The small businesses of Kent County deserve a support framework: a single-contact permitting liaison, and an expedited review for priority projects. In addition, we should target professional services and remote workers seeking rural quality of life, and light manufacturing to provide good paying jobs. Additionally a  concerted effort to promote high end tourism will benefit the county’s restaurants and shops.