Patrick Flaherty

Infrastructure / Transportation I will champion my proposed Transparency and Protection of Rural Character Ordinance, which includes mandatory reporting, a supermajority (4/5) vote for major industrial proposals, independent studies, and a 5-year sunset clause. Our farms, working waterfront, historic resources, and the Bay are worth protecting for the long term. Taxes / Budget I support zero-based budgeting so every department must justify every dollar from scratch each year. We will prioritize core services — Law enforcement, fire/rescue, (public safety), education, infrastructure, roads, parks — and carefully review lower-priority spending. No more automatic carryovers or unchecked growth in the budget. Taxes / Budget No more NDAs, redacted studies, or backroom deals. Every major decision affecting our land, water, taxes, or quality of life must be out in the open from day one. I will push for mandatory public reporting on any new industrial proposal and full public hearings before anything is approved. Environment / Energy I will introduce an immediate text amendment to remove all data center language from the 2025 zoning ordinance. We need a full reset with truly independent studies on water usage, wetlands, energy demand, noise, traffic, and cumulative impacts — with real public input from the beginning. We can have responsible development, but it must fit Calvert’s rural character and protect the Chesapeake Bay.