By Richard Caines

SALISBURY — Wicomico County voters will head to the ballot box in November to decide what form of county government will exist in the future.

Nearly 20 years ago, a similar vote created the current county executive-council form of government, but a 5-2 vote by Wicomico County Council at its June 18 legislative meeting made way for an upcoming referendum question, which will ask voters if it should revert to a council-manager version.

Councilmen James Winn and Josh Hastings voted no on creating the ballot question.

“I personally support the executive form of government,” Winn said at the June 18 meeting. “I think it’s nice to be able to elect someone that can run the county and if it’s not working out, we just find a new executive.

“I’ve not seen a petition for this, signatures or anything. I’ve gotten public comments from that podium here, for and against. And some of my concerns, I guess, with the council-commissioner form of government is, you know we put in a lot of hours right now. The council is going to have to work a lot more to be able to do the job of the executive.”

Since 2006, the county has used a government structure led by a county executive after voters passed the referendum question at the polls.

Councilman Jeff Merritt said 40 percent of current Wicomico County voters did not vote for the executive form of government in 2006 for various reasons.

“They either didn’t live here, they weren’t old enough or they didn’t support it 18 years ago, so it’s almost half the voters in this county,” Merritt said before the council vote. “I think they deserve another chance to voice their opinion.”

Current Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano was elected to her position in 2022 – the first woman to ever hold the post in Wicomico’s history. Rick Pollitt was the first popularly elected county executive, succeeded by Bob Culver and John Psota.

If Wicomico County voters decide in November that they want a new form of government, the change would go into effect after Giordano finishes her current term in 2026.

Giordano spoke during the public comment portion of the June 18 meeting, saying she was “disappointed” in the five council members who voted to put the measure on November’s ballot.

“You continually make decisions to undermine my office and hurt the morale of the employees and stop the progress of our county,” Giordano said. “I’m letting you know for the next five months; we’re going to be doing everything to ensure that this ballot initiative fails because we cannot go backwards.”

The passed resolution by the county council said the current executive form of government does not “fully align” with the county’s vision for “transparent and responsive governance.”

“County Council believes that amending the Charter of Wicomico County to a council form of government transition to a council form of government will allow a more inclusive and collaborative governance structure and will better reflect the aspirations of the community and improve the efficiency and accountability of county administration,” according to the resolution.

In addition to Wicomico, county executives head eight other Maryland counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George.

“Let the people decide,” Councilman Shane Baker said. “If they’re for it, they’re for it. If they’re not, they’re not. I can live with it either way. It’s the people’s decision.”

Reach Managing Editor Richard Caines at rcaines@iniusa.org.