The county
commissioner form of government in St. Mary's County dates from
1838. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is comprised of five members
who each serves a four-year term—one elected from each of the four
commissioner districts and a commissioner president. All
candidates run at-large. You will vote for one candidate from each
district—regardless of your actual district—and one candidate for
President for a total of five votes.
St. Mary's County Commissioners website
The primary
function and duty of the Treasurer’s Office is the billing and
collection of real estate and personal property taxes, processing
additions, abatements/decreases, transfers, address changes, and
conducting the annual real property tax sale. The Treasurer serves a
four-year term.
County Treasurer website
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
*Jannette P. Norris
Democrat
23594
State's Attorney
The State's
Attorney serves for four years and prosecutes any cases in St.
Mary's
County in which the State may be interested.
Duties of the State's Attorney
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
*Richard D. Fritz
Republican
21249
Clerk of the Circuit Courts
The Clerk’s office
files, processes and maintains civil, adoption, paternity, criminal
and juvenile actions. The Clerk’s office records land deeds,
mortgages, plats, conveyances and other precious documents. The
Clerk administers oaths to County officials, Judges and
gubernatorial appointees, issues business and marriage licenses and
performs civil wedding ceremonies. The Clerk also commissions Notary
Publics. The Clerk serves a four-year term. The current Clerk is Evelyn Arnold.
Circuit Court
for St. Mary's County website
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Joanie W. Williams
Democrat
13775
Sandra Bailey Redden
Republican
12956
Register of Wills
The Register of
Wills is responsible for appointing personal representatives to
administer decedents’ estates and for overseeing the proper and
timely administration of these proceedings. We also perform the
following duties: assist and advise the public in the preparation of
all required forms; maintain and preserve the permanent record of
all proceedings; serve as the Clerk to the Orphans’ Court; track
estates and refer delinquent matters to the Court; determine and
collect inheritance taxes and probate fees/court costs; audit
accounts of personal representatives and guardians; mail various
notices and court orders to interested persons; and, verify
compliance with court orders. The Register serves a four-year
term.
Register of Wills website
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
*Dianne B. McWilliams
Democrat
21921
Judges of the Orphans Court
A Judge of the
Orphans Court has jurisdiction
over estates of deceased persons, hear all controversial matters
involving estates, and have concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit
Court in guardianship of minors. The judge serves a four-year
term.
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Jenks Mattingly
Democrat
15540
*Linda R. Dean
Democrat
14724
*Dalton Wood, Jr.
Republican
14342
*Russ Cullins
Democrat
12730
Sheriff
St. Mary's County
boasts the oldest Sheriff's Office in Maryland and possibly the
oldest in the nation. In 1634, Virginia's first 8 counties
were established, as was the case with St. Mary's County. It is
likely that these counties appointed a Sheriff at that time, but no
records exist to document this. The St. Mary's County
Sheriff's Office can trace its history to Sheriff James Baldridge in
1637. Many accounts agree that this is the first documented evidence
of a Sheriff in the United States. The Sheriff serves a
four-year term. David D. Zylak is running
for his second term as Sheriff.
St. Mary's
County Sheriff's Office website
The Board of
Education of St. Mary's County represents the concerns and needs of
the public in the governance of the St. Mary's County Public
Schools. The Board establishes specific policies that govern school
system operations and has authority over fiscal year budgets,
curriculum materials, textbooks, personnel appointments, capital
improvements, land acquisitions, grant applications, and other
policy decisions. In addition to selecting and appointing the
Superintendent of Schools, the Board also employs legal counsel and
external auditors.
A circuit court
generally handles more serious criminal cases, major civil cases,
including juvenile and other family law cases such divorce, custody
and child support and most cases appealed from the District Court,
orphans’ courts and certain administrative agencies. Circuit courts
also hear domestic violence cases. Each County and the City of
Baltimore has a circuit court. Cases may involve juries or sometimes
are heard by a judge only. Judge of the Circuit Court candidates are
not affiliated with a political party. [
See Video from LWV Political Forum 8/23/2006 ]
Disclaimer: All information is believed to be accurate. However, the local
election board is the authority for any information related to election laws.
The county
commissioner form of government in St. Mary's County dates from
1838. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is comprised of five members
who each serves a four-year term—one elected from each of the four
commissioner districts and a commissioner president. All
candidates run at-large. You will vote for one candidate from each
district—regardless of your actual district—and one candidate for
President for a total of five votes.
