Meet the Candidates: Maryland House District 37B

Salisbury, Md. – Two seats are up for grabs in the states House District 37B, which encompasses parts of Talbot, Caroline and Wicomico Counties and all of Dorchester County.

Incumbent running mates Dels. Chris Adams and Tom Hutchinson face off against Democratic challengers Edmund Barrett and Michele Johnson.

As a business and land owner who also serves on the House Economic Matters Committee, Adams says his top three priorities include dealing with the budget, supporting the business community by lowering taxes and advocating for small government.

“On the Eastern Shore, we like self-determination. Local control matters, and you know we worry a great deal over time about how Annapolis takes responsibility and authority from counties and municipalities, and you can expect me to be a fighter for our local county councils and municipal leaders to be able to make decisions that directly affect the citizens in our area,” he said. Adams also serves as the chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation to Annapolis.

Hutchinson said his top three priorities are lowering and reducing taxes and fees, providing “quality healthcare here on the Eastern Shore,” and supporting law enforcement officers and first responders.

Adams said that in order to lower costs, more energy generation had to be done in-state. Hutchinson said lowering taxes would help lower costs for residents.

“We have to hold the line on tax increases,” Hutchinson said. “You know, we’ve just seen too many burdens on tax increases and fees, and I will certainly hold the line that we don’t do that.”

As for their Democratic challengers, small business owner and army veteran Edmund Barrett and state employee Michele Johnson, they are focused on a bipartisan approach to support renewable energy, healthcare, small businesses, education, housing and community infrastructure. Johnson said she had received permission from the state’s Ethics Committee to run for office.

They also said that, if elected, they would advocate against federal policies that, they say, have largely driven up costs of living.

“I’m the granddaughter of four immigrants,” Johnson said. “And it is really important to me that our immigrant neighbors who contribute to our communities feel safe and they feel welcome in our communities.”

As a veteran who served as a Middle East specialist, Barrett said he is firmly against the United States’ war with Iran.

“I spent a lot of time there, and it’s frustrating to see how the Iran War has driven prices up, and also how you know things like tariffs that are just, you know, most of these things are just so unnecessary,” he said. “And they’re beating Shore families, they’re beating Maryland families up, and it’s driving me a little crazy.”

Both Republican incumbents said they had a track record of working with the majority party.

“In my four years, I’ve demonstrated that I have the ability to work across the aisle,” Hutchinson said.

Both challengers said they encourage those not belonging to the Democratic party to ask questions and look at their policies before judging.

“I never once asked any of my troops what party they were,” Barrett said, who said he has not always been registered as a Democrat.

Johnson said she has an amenable relationship with Hutchinson and has offered to run on a ticket with him “if the climate were different.”

“I feel that as a Democrat, I can have great potential to represent the Midshore counties and communities very effectively, and that includes the farmers, it includes the watermen, and I just ask the people who normally do not vote for my party to just take a look,” she said.