Get Real With SOMD Politics: J.W. Abney Talks Taxes, Housing, Education And Keeping Southern Maryland’s Identity

ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — Republican candidate J.W. Abney says rising costs, housing shortages and preserving Southern Maryland’s rural character are among the top issues driving his campaign for Maryland House of Delegates District 29C, according to a recent appearance on The BayNet’s podcast “Get Real With Southern Maryland Politics” hosted by Chris Hill.

Abney, a realtor and cybersecurity professional with more than 25 years in information technology, said his decision to run stemmed from watching changes in the community over the past two decades.

“I’m running because I’ve been living here for 20-plus years and … I just felt that I needed to jump in and try and elicit change,” Abney said. “A lot of things have changed from when I first moved here, and some of the changes are going in a direction that I don’t think is good.”

District 29C spans portions of both St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, including communities from Lusby to Solomons and across the bridge to southern St. Mary’s County.

According to his campaign website, Abney’s priorities include affordability, responsible growth, education and preserving quality of life in Southern Maryland.

Property Taxes And Affordability

One of Abney’s first concerns discussed during the interview was the rising cost of living, particularly property taxes.

He pointed to his own experience as a homeowner.

“My property taxes were like $3,000 and now they’re $8,000,” Abney said. “That’s a change you could feel.”

As a realtor, Abney said affordability issues have become impossible to ignore and believes lawmakers should focus more on residents’ needs than statewide priorities alone.

“At the end of the day, we should be here for the people,” he said. “It has to be something that makes sense for the people and not just for the state.”

Housing Shortage And The “Missing Middle”

Like other candidates interviewed on the program, housing availability became a major topic.

Abney said Southern Maryland may need to consider more duplexes, triplexes and smaller-scale multifamily housing options to address shortages while improving affordability.

“We don’t have a lot of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes … and I think that’s something we may need to look into,” Abney said. “Everybody doesn’t need a 4,000-square-foot home.”

He suggested increasing housing density in certain areas could help serve more residents without dramatically expanding development footprints.

Abney’s perspective, he said, is influenced partly by growing up in New York City, where alternative housing models are more common.

Working Across Differences

Asked how he would navigate Annapolis and collaborate with lawmakers holding differing viewpoints, Abney pointed to his cybersecurity background, where he regularly balances competing priorities among engineers, leadership and end users.

“I’ve been in the role now where I have to figure out how to make everybody happy … or how to get everybody to the same page,” Abney said.

He said his approach would focus on gathering input and translating concerns into solutions that serve broader interests rather than individual agendas.

Family Life And Serving In Annapolis

Abney also spoke candidly about the personal realities of public office, including learning after launching his campaign that delegates spend roughly 90 days each year in Annapolis during legislative session.

“I had no idea that I needed to be in Annapolis for 90 days,” Abney said. “When I first got into it … I got into it wanting to elicit change.”

He described conversations with his wife and children about balancing family responsibilities while serving, including meal planning and maintaining routines at home.

“I love to be home with my family,” Abney said. “I’m the cook in the house.”

Data Centers And Preserving Southern Maryland

Abney identified proposed data center development as one of the most pressing issues facing District 29C.

Because of his professional experience opening hyperscale data centers in Virginia, he said he has firsthand knowledge of their impacts.

“I’m not for data centers,” Abney said. “They just don’t make sense where we’re located at.”

He cited environmental concerns, aquifer protection and maintaining Southern Maryland’s rural character.

“There’s a reason why we’re all here,” Abney said. “There’s a certain charm about this place … and you don’t want to let go of it.”

Rather than opposing growth entirely, Abney said development should happen intentionally.

“There’s a way to grow in an intentional manner and not just growing for the sake of growth,” he said.

Education Should Focus On Today’s Students

The interview also covered education funding and statewide mandates.

Abney, who previously worked in IT leadership for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said policy discussions often become disconnected from students’ current needs.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the children and figuring out what the children need,” Abney said. “Not what somebody that graduated from school 50 years ago thinks the children need.”

He said educational priorities should reflect how children learn today and argued parents also play a critical role in student success.

“I don’t think the kids are failing … the parents are failing,” Abney said. “Schools are doing their job.”

Campaign Centered On Empathy And Integrity

Closing the interview, Abney emphasized empathy and integrity as guiding principles in both his personal life and campaign.

“One of my first serious jobs was working at a domestic violence shelter helping battered women and children in New York,” Abney said. “That has shaped me … and that’s what I bring to the table.”

He added that integrity remains central to his decision-making.

“You just do the next right thing,” Abney said. “For me, I’m just amplifying what I’ve been doing in private, in public.”

Abney said his goal is to preserve what residents value most about Southern Maryland while advocating for practical solutions to affordability, education and growth.

“We can’t let our town just become data centers and dispensaries and vape shops,” Abney said. “Southern Maryland is special. We want to keep it that way.”

About J.W. Abney

According to his campaign website, Abney is a realtor, cybersecurity professional and longtime Southern Maryland resident with experience in education technology, public service and community advocacy. His platform focuses on affordability, preserving local character, improving education and responsible development.

Watch the full interview below:

About Get Real With Southern Maryland Politics

The interview is part of The BayNet’s new candidate video podcast series, “Get Real With Southern Maryland Politics,” which features conversations with Southern Maryland candidates running for county commissioner, state delegate and state senator.

Upcoming election coverage can be found at https://thebaynet.com/elections.

Chris Hill