The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County are a five-member elected board that runs county government in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, holding both legislative and executive authority. They set the budget, levy local taxes, pass ordinances, and oversee every county department. One commissioner is elected president at-large; the other four represent Districts 1 through 4 but are also elected countywide.1St. Mary’s County Government. Commissioners of St. Mary’s County
Who Serves on the Board Right Now
As of the current term, the five commissioners are:
- James R. Guy (R), President, elected at-large
- Michael L. Hewitt (R), Vice President, District 2
- Eric Scott Colvin (R), District 1
- Michael R. Alderson, Jr. (R), District 3
- Scott R. Ostrow (R), District 4
The vice president is chosen by the board from among its members each December for a one-year term.2Maryland Manual On-Line. St. Mary’s County, Maryland – Government, Legislative Branch
What the Commissioners Do
St. Mary’s County operates under a commissioner form of government, one of the oldest structures in Maryland.3Maryland Manual On-Line. St. Mary’s County, Maryland Unlike charter counties, which separate the legislative and executive branches, the board combines both roles. The Maryland Code, Local Government Article, grants them authority over revenue legislation, tax policy, and budget adoption.4Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Local Government Article
In practice, the board:
- Adopts the annual operating and capital budgets that fund schools, public safety, infrastructure, and county services
- Sets local property and income tax rates
- Passes local ordinances covering zoning, land use, ethics, and other areas
- Oversees county departments and appoints a county administrator to run day-to-day operations
- Appoints residents to advisory boards and commissions
The budget season each spring is the most consequential stretch of the year. The commissioners hold public hearings on the proposed budget before voting to adopt it, and because the same five people control both spending and the tax rates that fund it, those hearings are where the big decisions get made.
How Commissioners Are Elected
Commissioner races run on the Maryland gubernatorial cycle, so the next election aligns with the next governor’s race. Candidates must be registered voters who reside in the county, and district candidates must live within the district they seek to represent.1St. Mary’s County Government. Commissioners of St. Mary’s County
Every seat is elected at-large. That is the detail most residents get wrong. A commissioner running in District 3 needs votes from Districts 1, 2, and 4 to win, because every voter in the county casts a ballot in every commissioner race. Many Maryland counties let only district residents vote on their district seat. St. Mary’s does not.
How Vacancies Are Filled
When a commissioner leaves office early, the replacement is appointed, not elected. The central committee of the departing commissioner’s political party submits a nominee to the governor, who must be from the same party as the person who left. The governor is required to appoint that person within 15 days of receiving the name.5New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code Local Government 9-402 – Vacancy in Office of County Commissioner
If the Maryland Senate is in session when the vacancy occurs, the appointment needs Senate confirmation. If the Senate is in recess, the governor appoints immediately and submits the nomination within 30 days after the next session begins. The appointee serves until the next regular election fills the seat.
Where and When the Board Meets
The commissioners meet in the CSMC Meeting Room on the first floor of the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown.1St. Mary’s County Government. Commissioners of St. Mary’s County Agendas and schedules are posted on the county website, so you can confirm what is on the docket before showing up.
If you can’t attend, meetings air live on county cable Channel 95 and stream on the St. Mary’s County Government YouTube channel. Past meetings are archived on YouTube as well.6St. Mary’s County Government. Channel 95 Residents who can’t attend a public forum in person may send comments by email or mail. Live remote testimony is not currently offered.
Speaking at a Public Forum
The board holds public forums throughout the year on a published schedule. Each speaker gets up to three minutes to address the commissioners on any topic.7St. Mary’s County Government. Commissioners of St. Mary’s County Announce 2026 Public Forum Schedule
Three minutes is less than most people plan for. Speakers who use it well come with one clear point rather than a list. Direct your remarks to the board through the president, who manages the speaker order. After testimony closes, the board may leave the record open for additional written comments, and any decisions tend to come at a later meeting rather than the same night.
Public forums are different from formal public hearings. Hearings cover specific ordinances or budget items and follow stricter procedures because the testimony becomes part of the official record. Check the agenda to see which kind of session is scheduled; the rules and expectations are not the same.
Ethics Filings and Public Records
Every sitting commissioner must file a financial disclosure statement each year by April 30, covering the prior calendar year. Candidates for commissioner must file no later than the date they submit their certificate of candidacy. A late filing triggers a $2-per-day fee up to $250, and a candidate who fails to file within eight days of written notice from the election board is treated as having withdrawn from the race.8St. Mary’s County Government. St. Mary’s County Public Ethics Ordinance Maryland state law requires that local financial disclosure rules meet or exceed the Maryland Public Ethics Law.9New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code General Provisions 5-809 – Financial Disclosure Laws The county attorney retains each commissioner’s original filing plus the four most recent annual statements.
If you want county records, the Maryland Public Information Act lets any person submit a request. The custodian must either produce the records or explain in writing why they are withheld. If production will take more than ten working days, the county must tell you so within those ten days, with an estimated timeline and fee range; the outside limit for producing approved records is 30 days from receipt. Records held by the Sheriff’s Office go through a dedicated portal at stmaryscountysheriffmd.nextrequest.com, except for routine items like accident and police reports, which use a separate process on the sheriff’s website. For records held by other departments, contact the department directly or the county administrator’s office.