AnnMarie Abell
Longtime St. Mary's County civic leader, healthcare administrator, and non-profit advocate. Focused on transparent county government, expanding affordable childcare and workforce housing, and protecting rural waterways.
Verified Policy Stances & Platform
Public record positions, statements, and campaign positions.
Full School Board Budget Allocation & Teacher Retention
Pledges to fully fund the St. Mary's County Board of Education's budget request, emphasizing competitive educator salaries, mental health counselors, and universal pre-K expansion.
"When we underfund our public schools, we undermine the foundation of our community and our ability to attract young families to Southern Maryland. Education must be our first budget priority."
Diversified Regional Economy & Small Business Support
Supports strong naval partnerships while advocating for economic diversification into agritourism, eco-tourism, local healthcare enterprises, and minority-owned small businesses.
"While we proudly stand with NAS Pax River, our county cannot put all our economic eggs in one basket. We must create avenues for local entrepreneurs, agriculture, and service workers to thrive alongside the base."
Community-Oriented Policing & Behavioral Health Crisis Teams
Supports modern law enforcement resources while integrating mobile crisis teams, mental health diversion programs, and robust volunteer fire/EMS tax credits.
"Public safety means supporting our deputies and also giving them the specialized mental health and substance abuse backup they need so our jail doesn't become the county's primary psychiatric facility."
Balanced Fiscal Responsibility & Community Investment
Advocates for maximizing state and federal grants to fund critical services before asking local residents for additional revenue, with targeted relief for seniors.
"Responsible budgeting isn't about arbitrary cuts to essential services; it's about pursuing every federal dollar and ensuring developers pay their fair share for county infrastructure impacts."
Official Campaign Priorities
- Expanding investment in SMCPS public school classrooms and mental health
- Targeted workforce housing initiatives for young base contractors and teachers
- Environmental stewardship of the Patuxent and Potomac watersheds
- Open and participatory county commissioner town halls
Live Activity Timeline
At a crowded community town hall in Leonardtown, Abell pledged to work closely with the Board of Education to ensure full funding for special education resources and competitive teacher retention bonuses.