Smart Growth Candidate Forums

Much of Smart Growth Maryland’s work involves advocacy at the local level. In Maryland, where and how a jurisdiction grows – and does not grow – is decided locally through a comprehensive planning process. Public involvement is a critical part of that process, with plans reflecting the vision and goals for the community’s future expressed by residents. Local elected officials adopt these plans and implement them through a variety of means including zoning, so local elections can play a large role in the future of smart growth issues in a county.

Because of this, Smart Growth Maryland and our Smarter Growth Alliances in Charles, Howard, and Frederick Counties successfully hosted a series of local Candidate Forums. During the series, voters were provided an opportunity to hear candidates’ positions on a variety of smart growth priorities, including land use, historic preservation, climate change, water quality, forest conservation, and multi-modal transportation. It should be noted that all candidates registered with the Maryland Board of Elections were invited to attend the candidate forums.

If you were unable to join us or would just like to revisit the forums, you can access recordings below. If you are unable to access the Charles and Frederick Counties Candidate Forums Facebook videos, we uploaded them on their designated Smarter Growth Alliance’s coalition websites:

Smart Growth Maryland would want to thank our partner organizations and attendees for attending this important civic event! As a reminder, Charles, Frederick, and Howard Counties’ early voting for the 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election is from July 7th to July 14th, including Saturday and Sunday. During the Primary Election, all Early Voting locations are open 7 am-8 pm, daily. Election day is July 19th. Every vote matters, so please go out there and vote!

Watch 2022 Smart Growth Candidate Forums

howard County

The Howarad County Forum was sponsored by: The Smarter Growth Alliance for Howard County, Smart Growth Maryland, The People’s Voice, Howard County Citizen’s Association, Bike Hoco, Howard County Climate Action, and IndivisibleHoCoMD.

The following candidates attended this forum:

Elizabeth “Liz” Walsh
William H. Campbell
Christiana Rigby
Hank Boyd
Deb Jung
Joan U. Pontius

Howard County Council Candidate Forum on Smart Growth Issues

Frederick County

Frederick County Forums sponsored by: Smart Growth Maryland, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Clean Water Fund, Frederick Bicycle Coalition, Sugarloaf Alliance, Envision Frederick, Friends of Rural Roads, Sierra Club Catoctin Group, Mobilize Frederick, and the Climate Change Working Group.

Frederick County EXecutive Candidate Forum on Smart Growth Issues

June 9, 2022| 6:00 – 7:30 PM | Virtual

The following candidates attended this forum:

Daryl Boffman
Jessica Fitzwater
Kai Hagen

Frederick County Council at Large Candidate Forum on Smart Growth Issues

May 26, 2022| 6:00 – 7:30 PM | Virtual

The following candidates attended this forum:

Councilmember Anthony “Tony” Chmelik
Dylan Diggs
Brad Young

Charles County

Charles County Forums were sponsored by: Smart Growth Maryland, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Southern Maryland Sierra Club, and Conservancy for Charles County.

Charles County District 1 Candidate Forum on Smart Growth Issues

June 1, 2022| 6:00 – 7:30 PM| Virtual

The following candidates attended this forum: