Joshua Kyte
Advanced as the Democratic Nominee after the June 23, 2026 Primary Election with 5,179 votes (100.0%). Always verify official ballot status with the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Lifelong District 3 resident born and raised in St. Mary's County, alumnus of Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary, Margaret Brent Middle, and Chopticon High School. Over 20 years in Information Technology, serving the Navy's IT systems at NAS Patuxent River since 2019. Author of the '30 Policy Priorities Plan' for St. Mary's County, championing Small Business First, infrastructure before major growth, competitive pay for teachers and support staff, long-term public safety reviews, open vote transparency, and firm opposition to data centers.
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Verified Policy Stances & Platform
Public record positions, statements, and campaign positions.
Firm Opposition to Data Centers to Protect Power Grid, Water, and Rural Tranquility
Leads a dedicated petition and county policy motion (Policy Priority #6) to prohibit data centers in St. Mary's County, warning of massive non-renewable power consumption, water depletion, emissions, and noise pollution.
"Data centers aren’t needed here in St. Mary’s County. They heavily strain our roadways and contribute to pollution and over-consumption of power and water. Introducing them to the county fails to create enough local jobs. It isn’t even a topic we should consider. No data centers in St. Mary’s County!... We must prioritize sustainable development that aligns with our community values and preserves the character of St. Mary’s County for future generations."
Higher Pay for Teachers, Funding Essential Support Staff, and School Capacity Reviews
Advocates for a thoughtfully outlined budget providing higher teacher salaries, social workers, and funding for support staff—bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers—while requiring school enrollment impact reviews before development is approved (Policy Priority #10).
"Investing in our schools is an investment in the future of St. Mary’s County. Our budget needs to be thoughtfully outlined to provide schools with all of the resources they need to thrive. This includes higher salaries for teachers, as well as providing additional funding to add social workers and critical support staff without whom our school system would not function – custodial staff, food service staff, bus drivers, security staff, and front office staff."
Infrastructure Before Major Growth, 2050 Plan Scrutiny, and Attainable Housing
Calls for rigorous public hearings on the St. Mary's 2050 plan (Policy Priority #2), conditioning major subdivisions on proven road and utility infrastructure (Policy Priority #3), and conducting a comprehensive attainable homeownership assessment (Policy Priority #21).
"Growth of St. Mary’s County isn’t the problem. Poorly planned growth is. Planning decisions should be debated, studied, and include sufficient public input. We need to protect what makes this county special while ensuring we have everything we need for the future... Improve the information presented to the Board and public when major development decisions are considered."
Advance Planning for First Responders, Sheriff Staffing, and Volunteer Fire/EMS Retention
Proposes a comprehensive recruitment and retention package for volunteer fire and rescue squads (Policy Priority #4) and public reviews with the Sheriff's Office on long-term staffing, competitive pay, facilities, and technology (Policy Priority #5).
"Public safety isn’t an issue that you address after it’s too late; it’s something that is best considered and planned for well in advance. By supporting our first responders – police, firefighters, and EMTs – and making sound decisions about growth and infrastructure, we can keep our communities safe now and into the future."
Small Business First, Defense IT Service, and Local Procurement Access
Leverages his background supporting Navy IT systems at NAS Pax River while championing Policy Priority #1 ('Small Business First') to cut bureaucratic red tape, streamline inspection timelines, and keep county procurement dollars within local businesses.
"To sustain our local economy, we must first look to our small businesses. These business owners live here, hire locally, and keep money in our community. It’s true that big corporations have money, but ask yourself whether that money stays local or if it leaves our county. I believe it is a better investment to foster our own businesses that directly support St. Mary’s County."
Operational Efficiency Reviews, Plain-Language Debt Reports, and Public Vote Transparency
Introduces specific policy motions for countywide operational spending reviews (Policy Priority #15), annual plain-language debt and long-term obligation reporting (Policy Priority #23), and an online searchable public record of all commissioner votes (Policy Priority #26 & #30).
"Transparency should not require a citizen to become a government records expert... Create or request development of a searchable public record of Board actions showing the agenda item, action taken, individual votes when a recorded vote occurs, and links to relevant documents and video... The public pays for government. The public deserves to know what government does."
Prioritizing Road Maintenance, Bridges, Culverts, and Drainage Infrastructure
Advocates through Policy Priorities #18, #19, and #20 for prioritizing county roadway capacity, structural repairs for bridges and culverts, and stormwater flood mitigation ahead of new development approvals.
"Review county road, bridge, and culvert maintenance needs, capital prioritization, and funding options... Review whether drainage and stormwater management systems are keeping pace with development, repetitive flooding, and maintenance needs."
Official Campaign Priorities
- No Data Centers: Opposing heavy power/water consumption and preserving county environmental integrity
- Small Business First: Reducing regulatory barriers and keeping procurement dollars local
- Infrastructure Before Growth: Enforcing Adequate Public Facilities and school capacity before development
- Fully Funding Public Schools: Higher teacher salaries plus funding for bus drivers, custodians & support staff
- Public Safety & Fire/EMS: Proactive staffing reviews, competitive pay, and expanded volunteer incentives
- Accountability & Transparency: Searchable public vote records, debt reporting, and annual performance reviews
Other Candidates in This Race:
2
Live Activity Timeline
Joshua Kyte publishes his comprehensive 30 Motions policy document for District 3, outlining legislative priorities to freeze real property tax rates, halt industrial data center zoning in agricultural/residential areas, and expand SMCPS operating budget transparency.