Dearest Derek,

It’s hard to say goodbye to someone who filed for re-election on January 13, the day after DHS toured the Williamsport warehouse… and then resigned weeks later. That kind of plot twist takes real commitment to suspense.

We’ll always cherish the memories.

Like the time whistleblowers raised concerns - and you called them out instead of, you know, addressing the concerns. Leadership is about bold choices.

Or the unforgettable campaign finance adventures and those awkward fines paid to the Maryland Board of Elections. Paperwork is hard. We get it.

Who could forget the national headlines: Lev Parnas, Steve Bannon orbit-adjacent moments, the CNN lawsuit that didn’t quite land, the election lawsuit that didn’t quite land, and even being mentioned in the Epstein files. And only the most special people get their career updates tweeted out to the masses by Laura Loomer. Most commissioners settle for potholes and zoning disputes. You aimed higher.

And of course, the meetings.
The few you attended.
The many you didn’t attend.
The ones where public comment on the warehouse sale somehow… didn’t happen.

Iconic.

You showed us that local politics can, in fact, feel like a prestige cable drama - minus the Emmy nominations. And this is why we have asked the Washington County community to comment on our petition with their favorite memories of your leadership. 

As you move on from the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, we wish you well in whatever comes next - ideally something that requires less transparency, fewer public meetings, and absolutely no microphones.

Thanks for the memories.
And the headlines.
Mostly the headlines.

Warmest regards,

Your Former Constituents