I'm Mike Detmer, a father, a Marine combat veteran, a journalist, and a citizen of Dorchester County, Maryland. I'm running for county council in District 5 because I believe I have the vision and skills to best represent and serve the voters in my district.
About Mike
I decided to run for county council because I grew up in this county, I chose to make a life here, and my kids are here. I want my family, friends, and the good people in my community to be able to count on local government to do its job protecting them and being good stewards of the other tasks the county is in charge of.
Issues
Here are just some of the pressing issues facing our county:
1
Prioritize public safety
Keeping citizens safe is the top priority for any government. It's more than just competitive pay and the right kind of training and equipment. It's about things like supporting police in a challenging legal climate and incentivizing firefighters in a time when civic volunteerism is low.
2
Restore effective government
County government needs to be more effective immediately, including hiring the county manager job that has been vacant since 2020 and instituting transparency. It's also about a review of how the county government and its departments are run, and setting clear and measurable goals and expectations for staff.
3
Be ready for the future
The future in Dorchester is sure to bring opportunities and challenges. The county government needs to be ready NOW for what comes down the pike, whether it's a positive thing like encouraging the right kind of new development, or a negative thing like another expensive state required project.