Get Real With SOMD Politics: Dyotha Sweat Focuses On Unity, Housing And Long-Term Vision For Charles County

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Democratic candidate Dyotha R. Sweat says leadership, inclusion and bringing people together to solve complex problems are at the center of her campaign for Charles County commissioner president, according to a recent appearance on The BayNet’s podcast “Get Real With Southern Maryland Politics” hosted by Chris Hill.

Sweat, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime Charles County resident, said she believes her military experience and leadership background have prepared her to address challenges facing the county.

“I’m running to become your next county commissioner president because I feel that I have the leadership in this moment to bring people together,” Sweat said. “To make sure that we are addressing the challenges that Charles County has … and to make sure that we get results and not just a bunch of conversations.”

According to her campaign website, Sweat’s priorities include strengthening communities, improving economic opportunities, addressing quality-of-life concerns and increasing engagement across Charles County.

Building A Stronger Sense Of Community

Throughout the interview, Sweat repeatedly returned to the idea of belonging and ensuring residents feel connected to Charles County.

Although she has lived in the county since 2008, Sweat said she has sometimes felt like an outsider.

“For people that do not feel welcome … they do not treat Charles County like it’s home,” Sweat said. “And so when you don’t treat somewhere like home, then you don’t really get involved.”

She identified reducing divisions among residents as one of the county’s biggest opportunities for growth.

“Eliminating the ‘us versus them’ … is one thing,” Sweat said.

Sweat argued that stronger communities are built when residents feel valued and included, regardless of background.

“When people feel like they’re valued and that they have an equal voice at the table … you have no idea what resources they can bring,” she said.

Military Leadership Shaped Her Approach

Sweat drew from her experience serving in the U.S. Navy, including helping merge crews from two separate ships into one cohesive team.

She said encouraging camaraderie through shared goals helped strengthen collaboration during difficult situations.

“That’s the mindset that I will bring to Charles County,” Sweat said. “We want to bring them together to the core of who we are as a county so that we can now address these issues to move things forward.”

Housing Affordability Remains A Major Concern

Like many candidates appearing on the program, Sweat identified housing affordability as one of the most pressing issues facing local residents.

“Housing affordability … has been a sticking point in this county for a very, very long time,” Sweat said.

Rather than focusing solely on traditional affordable housing models, Sweat emphasized the need for workforce and entry-level housing for teachers, county employees, first responders and retail workers.

“We need to be able to provide them with housing,” she said.

Sweat pointed to older neighborhoods as examples of development patterns that included starter homes, duplexes and a broader mix of housing types.

“We had the starter homes … the duplexes … the single-family,” she said. “It’s called the missing middle housing.”

Repurposing Existing Buildings Instead Of Expanding Footprints

Sweat suggested adaptive reuse — transforming existing buildings into housing or mixed-use spaces — as one possible solution.

Drawing from experiences in her home state of New Jersey, she described examples where former industrial buildings were converted into affordable housing.

“We don’t need to build new stuff,” Sweat said. “We can just refurbish what’s already in place and make it affordable.”

She highlighted redevelopment efforts in Indian Head as an example of reusing existing spaces while supporting economic growth.

Sweat added that leaders should not be afraid to test new ideas when current approaches are falling short.

“What we’re doing is clear that it’s not working in the best interests of everyone in the county,” she said.

Leadership Requires Long-Term Thinking

The discussion also turned toward planning for future generations rather than focusing only on immediate challenges.

“Yesterday positions today, and today positions tomorrow,” Sweat said. “We need to make sure that tomorrow has a better opportunity.”

Sweat said county leaders must balance present needs with long-term outcomes.

“As leaders, you have to look at it … we’re in this moment because of what happened yesterday,” she said.

Addressing Challenges Through Prioritization

When asked what would become her top priority as commissioner president, Sweat declined to identify a single issue, instead emphasizing flexibility and responsiveness once in office.

“I know we have stormwater issues. I know we have traffic issues. I know our small businesses are suffering … housing issues … homelessness issues,” Sweat said.

“But how do you … prioritize? What you see on the outside is sometimes not the same as when you get on the inside,” she added.

Sweat said leadership means understanding emerging needs and adjusting accordingly.

Encouraging Residents To Vote

Closing the interview, Sweat urged residents to participate in elections and support change through civic engagement.

“If you want change, you have to show up,” Sweat said. “No game has ever been won by you sitting on the sidelines.”

“You have to put your words to action, and you do that at the ballot box,” she said.

About Dyotha Sweat

According to her campaign website, Sweat is a U.S. Navy veteran, community advocate and Charles County resident whose platform emphasizes leadership, collaboration, public engagement and improving quality of life across the county.

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