Wicomico Co. Council approves referendum on potential Executive Office ouster

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Come November, Wicomico County voters will have the power to choose whether the county needs an Executive office or not. Tuesday morning, County Council approved the referendum in a vote of five to two; Council members Josh Hastings and James Winn voted against the measure.

Personal Attack or Public Interest?

Current County Executive, Julie Giordano, feels the move is a personal attack.

“I don’t agree, obviously. We don’t want to ever go backwards,” Giordano said. “I think my biggest fear is that the uninformed voter is just going to go in and check the box, and not really understand what they’re voting for.”

Most members of Council, however, argue that it’s a matter of government transparency and efficiency.

“It seems like we’re forever addressing issues from the Executive branch, and trying to address some of the workload that’s coming in from the Executive’s office,” said Council President John Cannon.

Different Types of Leaders

Should the Executive office be ousted, the county would be led by Council, and a Council-appointed Administrator. The changes would only come after Giordano finishes her current term in 2026.

“I don’t really think this has a good chance of passing, unless the uninformed voter goes in, and votes ‘yes’, and doesn’t really understand what they’re voting for,” Giordano said.

Cannon says he does not foresee the dynamics of Council’s work changing much under the leadership of an Administrator, instead of an Executive.

“We’ll have more control, with a seven-member council, over our own destiny, and that being the case, I think it will be much more efficient when we’re trying to address the issues of the county,” Cannon said.

Of the seven-member body, Cannon and Joe Holloway are the only two Council members who have served under both forms of government. Cannon says the County saw much success when former Administrators, Matt Kramer and Ted Shea, were in the appointed office.

“Having experienced the relationships with prior members of the council, when it was just a council form of government, I honestly think that that form of government is more effective and cost efficient,” Cannon reflected.

Contentious Conversation

At the beginning of June, County Council held a lengthy and contentious public hearing about the proposal to remove the Executive Office. Wicomico County showed out at the Civic Center, speaking passionately both for and against the Executive position.

“I think the public hearing really reinforced what the council’s thought process was to begin with. It was almost 50/50, down the line, of people who spoke in favor and people who spoke against,” Cannon said.

Giordano, however, worries that making the switch to an Administrator-Council form of government will only set the County back.

“When you mess with that recipe, it leaves room for disaster, because one side becomes more powerful than the other,” Giordano said. “When you disrupt that balance of power, I think that is the cause of the issues that we’re seeing here in the county.”

Looking Ahead

Cannon says the right person for the Administrator’s job would have county government experience, and would be knowledgeable about airports, public safety, education, and management.

Looking ahead to the big decision in November, Giordano says her office will be focusing on public outreach. She says she wants voters to understand that the ballot measure isn’t just about her as an individual.

“If there are people who don’t like me as the executive, then you vote me out in 2026 and get somebody else in here,” Giordano said. “This position is important, and it’s important in Annapolis, and it’s important for the balance of power.”

And, should voters decide to go with an Administrator over and Executive, Giordano says she hopes to accelerate work on current pipeline projects. Working with whoever that Administrator may be, will also be a priority for Giordano. Cannon says any potential search for an Administrator would begin closer to the end of Giordano’s term.

“We want to, no matter what, leave the county in a good place. I wouldn’t want to hand over the reigns to a new county administrator, who doesn’t have a foundation of what that looks like,” Giordano said.

Ultimately, this decision is in voters’ hands.

“The entire public should have an opportunity to voice their opinion,” Cannon said. “No different than those who were in the room [for the public hearing.]”