County Commissioner Candidates Address Issues Facing Farmers

DENTON – Caroline County Commissioner candidates outlined their views on county growth, agricultural sustainability, infrastructure, solar development, and quality-of-life issues facing farmers during a candidate forum hosted by the Caroline County Farm Bureau on May 26. The forum featured incumbent Commissioners Larry Porter and Travis Breeding alongside newcomers Savannah Winston, Linda Friday, and Michael Mann. Though Caroline County Sheriff Donnie Baker is running unopposed, he also addressed attendees during the event.

Sheriff Baker Speaks on his Campaign for Re-election

Baker read to the crowd at the Caroline County 4-H building from a prepared speech focused on transparency, recent accomplishments, and the need for continued investment in law enforcement services in the county. “When you first elected me, I made a promise to prioritize public safety, to be accessible, and to maintain transparency in the Sheriff’s Office,” Baker said.

Baker highlighted continued cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office and county government, thanking the County Commissioners for their support. In his next term, Sheriff Baker said his priorities include retaining experienced deputies, expanding school resource and youth intervention programs, and strengthening partnerships to combat drug activity and crime. He also promised to continue opposing legislation in Annapolis that he believes would negatively impact Caroline County residents. 

Opening Statements and Introductions of the Commissioner Candidates

Porter, currently serving his fourth term as County Commissioner, highlighted the county’s fiscal record, including maintaining the property tax rate for the past decade and proposing a two-cent property tax decrease in the upcoming fiscal year budget. He pointed to safety-related upgrades to infrastructure like the new Dover Bridge, road reconstruction projects, new traffic lights, heightened healthcare accessibility, and plans for a new 911 center and Sheriff’s Office.

Breeding emphasized his lifelong roots in Caroline County and his desire to preserve the county’s character while managing growth responsibly. He cited investments in roads, tree trimming, bridge replacement projects, and reductions in county spending during recent budgets.

Winston introduced herself as a lifelong Caroline County resident and former President Commissioner for the Town of Preston. She described agriculture as “the foundation of Caroline County” and said she believes leadership requires listening and community engagement.

Friday discussed her decades living on the Eastern Shore and professional experience in banking, economic development, and nonprofit leadership. She said her priorities include preserving rural communities, supporting agriculture, and improving economic opportunities for residents.

Mann focused on his agricultural background, having worked on local farms since he was a teenager. He described himself as a strong supporter of the farming community while also advocating for additional commercial and industrial development opportunities within the county.

Balancing the Growth of the County with Preserving Agricultural Roots / Keeping Agriculture Sustainable in Caroline County

Growth and farmland preservation emerged as one of the forum’s most heavily discussed topics.

Breeding said he supports “controlled growth” and argued that municipalities can sometimes expand too aggressively, leaving the county responsible for infrastructure impacts. He said growth should largely occur near the Route 404 corridor and municipalities, while preserving farmland through tools such as agricultural easements funded in part through solar fees. He explained that there is not much the county can do to influence population growth within municipalities, “Really, the only thing that we can influence from a growth standpoint inside of an incorporated town is the water and sewer allocations that they get.”

Porter defended the county’s current approach, which he said directs development toward municipalities rather than rural subdivisions. He also brought up state-level mandates, like those surrounding the installment of septic systems, as a natural caveat to growth in county-regulated property. “If the current system stays in place with environmental regulations, I'm not sure how much growth there's going to be in the county. It's going to occur in the municipalities,” he said.

Winston stressed the importance of strategic planning and updated municipal comprehensive plans, drawing on her experience in Preston. She said preserving farmland and local history must remain priorities even as growth continues. “I think the sustainability of the agricultural community depends on you,” Winston said, referring to current farmers. She stressed the need to involve youth in agricultural programs and leadership opportunities to encourage them to carry on their family’s farming “legacy.”

Friday focused on balancing residential growth with business development, arguing that residents currently shoulder too much of the county’s tax burden. She also said more economic opportunities are needed to encourage younger residents to remain in or return to Caroline County after graduation. She said, “Our children, in most cases, leave our area after we spend money on educating them, so they move out of the area because there are no jobs here…so I think we need to come up with something where we can encourage our children after we've educated them to come back to Caroline County and to live here and work here.”

Mann said some growth is necessary to avoid stagnation but cautioned against large-scale residential development, such as nearby areas like Talbot County. He also discussed economic pressures farmers face, including rising fuel, seed, fertilizer, and land costs, while at the mercy of changing crop prices.

Candidates also discussed creative avenues for supporting farmers, such as agribusiness tourism like wineries and event venues, and doing what they can to promote more competition between agriculture-related vendors and businesses.

Rails to Trails

Candidates offered varying perspectives on the proposed Rails to Trails concept that is continuing to expand across the Eastern Shore. Rails to Trails turns state-owned railroad corridors, which are now out of commission, into walkable trails.

Friday generally supported the idea, viewing it as a potential tourism opportunity for the county. “I think it’s something we should look at,” she said.

Mann expressed concerns raised by landowners whose properties border these former rail corridors. He discussed liability concerns and operational challenges for farmers, though he acknowledged tourism benefits could exist. “I'm not sure how much the county is going to have control over it, but I know that…if I'm elected as Commissioner and the majority of the people ask me to fight this, then I will help fight it. If the people say let's see what happens with it, then let's see what happens with it.”

Winston strongly supported Rails to Trails projects, particularly as a way to encourage recreation and wellness. “For me, I am a resource advocate. I believe that we should bring resources, or at least access to resources, to our communities,” she said. She referenced Preston’s efforts to explore similar projects and said public input would be important throughout the process.

Porter said he could support Rails to Trails in appropriate locations but stressed that property owners must be respected. “I will not support anything that will run through someone’s property who doesn’t want it there,” Porter said.

Breeding voiced the strongest opposition, arguing the state should prioritize road and infrastructure repairs before trail conversions. He also criticized changing railroad easements into public walking trails. “Large-scale Rail to Trail through the county, I am opposed to. Period,” Breeding said.

Solar Energy and Lowering Energy Costs

When asked what the county can do to combat the growth of solar farms and rising energy bills, Mann said he was unsure how much authority local governments actually have over energy policy due to state oversight. However, he criticized energy generated locally through solar panels being sold outside the state before being redistributed back to Maryland customers for higher prices.

Friday said the county should negotiate greater local benefits when solar companies develop projects in Caroline County. She also expressed support for rooftop and commercial-building solar installations over large-scale farmland projects.

Winston advocated for evaluating solar proposals on a case-by-case basis, emphasizing collaboration, education, and strategic planning before decisions are made.

Breeding criticized state-level green energy policies, saying state legislators have “green energy blinders on.” He argued that Maryland’s energy decisions have contributed to rising electric rates while limiting local influence over pricing.

Porter pointed to the county’s planned community solar project at the former Hobbs landfill as an example of a more appropriate location for solar development. While he acknowledged concerns about losing farmland to solar panels, he also defended farmers’ property rights. “It’s very difficult for me to sit and tell a farmer… when he has an offer for life-changing money… that he can’t do it,” Porter said.

Candidates also raised concerns about long-term environmental impacts of solar arrays, eventual liability for the disposal of aging solar panels, and preserving productive farmland.

Road Paving and Tree Trimming

Candidates largely agreed that road maintenance and tree trimming remain important county priorities, particularly for agricultural equipment and public safety. Breeding highlighted ongoing investments in paving, patching, and tree trimming projects, while acknowledging significant work remains. He said the county has hired contractors to address years of deferred tree trimming and recently established an email system for residents to report road concerns.

Porter praised current county Public Works staff and emphasized that he and Breeding remain accessible to field road condition complaints.

Mann noted that larger modern farm equipment requires additional roadway clearance and safer road conditions. “Equipment keeps growing in size,” Mann said, “So there needs to be more clearance, more accessibility to get up and down the highways.”

Friday also gave thanks to county employees for their work on roads and their storm response efforts. She suggested that additional staff may be needed.

Winston discussed the cost of road and tree maintenance projects and the challenges of coordinating between state, county, and municipal road systems while prioritizing safety-related work. “It's expensive, y'all, but we look at our budgets and find ways to possibly get grant funding to assist. We'll prioritize the projects based on safety and other issues,” she said.

Wildlife Management

Breeding said the county has supported expanded Sunday hunting and longer hunting seasons as tools to help manage deer and geese populations. “I would like to see an extended season…We all have busy lives, and it's hard for a two week firearm season to get out in the woods,” he said. He also pointed to crop damage permits as one tool available to farmers experiencing wildlife-related crop losses.

Winston and Friday both discussed the need for working with state agencies to help manage wildlife populations and reduce crop damage.

Mann spoke about practical challenges faced by hunters and farmers, including waterfowl restrictions related to poultry farm protection and inconsistencies between local wildlife conditions and statewide hunting regulations.

Porter emphasized staying “on top of the hunting bills” in Annapolis. He said there were numerous hunting-related bills debated during the most recent state legislative session, and noted that these bills were proposed by representatives of non-Eastern Shore counties.

Closing Remarks

Candidates largely used their closing remarks to emphasize community roots and personal priorities if elected.

Mann said he has spent most of his adult life deeply involved in the county and promised to remain accessible to residents if he is elected. He concluded by saying, “I truly love Caroline County, and my intentions are nothing but good to help Caroline County thrive. If you elect me, I will always be there.”

Friday emphasized her connections, which she has developed through her nonprofit and professional work, “I've spent my career building partnerships and relationships from a local level all the way up to the federal level, and I believe that relationships are important.” “I deeply respect the agriculture community and understand the hard work… [and] dedication the farmers in this community have,” she said.

Winston focused on transparency, integrity, and economic development, highlighting her work in the Town of Preston and perspective as a business-owner. She said she has taken a “lead by example” approach to revitalizing downtown business districts, as she purchased the former bank in Preston to run her business. “Community service is who I am…I'm a servant at heart,” she said.

Breeding said his primary motivation for seeking reelection is preserving the county’s character and way of life. “You travel to different areas of the peninsula, and people just aren’t as down to earth and personable as this community,” Breeding said.

Porter reflected on his years serving in county government and what he called the “Caroline Way” – a collective culture of volunteerism and community involvement. He also expressed concerns about increasing state mandates affecting county budgets and local decision-making.