Frederick County Question ACharter Amendment – Term Limits for the County Council and County Executive
What your vote means
A YES vote limits a County Council member to three terms in a lifetime and the County Executive to two terms in a lifetime.
A NO vote keeps the current limits of three consecutive terms for Council members and two consecutive terms for the County Executive.
Our one-line summary of the official wording.
In plain words
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
- Current limits apply only to consecutive terms, so an official can run again after a break of one term. source: wypr.org
- The amendment removes the word "consecutive," so the caps become lifetime caps: three terms for Council, two for the Executive. source: wypr.org
- WYPR reports it would bar Council members Jerry Donald and M.C. Keegan-Ayer (three terms each) and County Executive Jessica Fitzwater (in a second term) from running again for their current offices. source: wypr.org
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
- Councilman Mason Carter proposed the amendment. WYPR reported on June 3, 2026 that it needed four of seven Council votes by June 16 to reach the ballot; it is on the ballot per the State Board of Elections. source: wypr.org
- WYPR reports Frederick would be the only Maryland county with a lifetime limit of this kind for these offices. source: wypr.org
Why supporters want it
- Councilman Mason Carter says the goal is to strengthen the term-limit language, not to keep current members from running, and says the county's founders saw holding office as temporary. source: wypr.org
- Council President Brad Young supports it, says long tenures come from a lack of limits, and says that if adopted it should apply to everyone equally. source: wypr.org
Why opponents object
- WYPR notes critics of short term limits, citing the National Association of Counties, say they can make it harder to elect minority representatives. No Frederick opponent was named in the article. source: wypr.org
Who backs each side
No public record found of a campaign committee or campaign money for either side.
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
Word for word from the State Board of Elections' official Frederick ballot: elections.maryland.gov .
Charter Amendment Term limits for the County Council and
County Executive This Charter Amendment would prohibit a County Council member from serving more than three terms in their lifetime and prohibit the County Executive from serving more than two terms in their lifetime. A vote for the charter amendment would limit a County Council member from serving more than three terms and a County Executive from serving more than two terms. A vote against the Charter Amendment would continue to permit a County Council member to serve no more than three consecutive terms, and a County Executive from serving more than two consecutive terms.
- For the Charter Amendment
- Against the Charter Amendment
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
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