Jason Scaggs Says Calvert County Is ‘Worth Fighting For’

CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — Jason Scaggs, a candidate for Calvert County commissioner at-large, says his campaign is centered on restoring conservative principles, increasing government accountability and giving residents a stronger voice in local government. Today the voice of the public is clear: We don’t want data centers in Calvert, and we want planning and zoning reform.

“Calvert County is worth fighting for,” Scaggs said in his campaign announcement. “For more than a decade, I’ve been involved in the fight to protect conservative values in Calvert County.”

According to Scaggs, his decision to seek elected office came after years of political involvement at the local level.

“Many people over the years have encouraged me to run for elected office,” Scaggs said. “I’ve always been content helping drive discussion through social media, town halls and by supporting strong candidates.”

“But this election is different,” he continued. “Our county faces complex decisions in the years ahead. The majority of Calvert residents oppose data centers, yet the commissioners elected to represent the people are not listening.”

A Lifelong Connection To Calvert County

In his campaign announcement, Scaggs described deep family roots in Calvert County dating back to 1906, when his great-grandfather, Selby Scaggs, purchased property in Lower Marlboro.

Scaggs said he attended Sunderland Elementary School as part of its first class, later graduated from Northern High School and earned a degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, before returning home to start an excavating and construction business.

“My connection to this county runs deep,” Scaggs said.

He also described his family life, noting that he and his wife, Renee, are raising three children while remaining active in outdoor activities, youth sports, hunting and fishing.

“Running a business and raising a family keeps me busy, but I believe it’s time for me to do more than just participate in the conversation,” Scaggs said. “It’s time to serve.”

Why He’s Running Now

Scaggs said years of involvement in local politics eventually led him to conclude that he could make a greater impact from inside county government.

“Our experience with COVID-19 is what really turned my focus from national politics to local elections. The previous school board kept our schools closed way too long and made my 5- and 6-year-old wear masks at school for a year. It was incredibly sad to see these kids wear masks and be victims of fear-mongering. It was scientifically proven by then that healthy children didn’t need to wear masks or be kept out of school.”

He pointed to his involvement in recent school board elections as an example of his grassroots political engagement.

“Coming out of COVID, I was ready to move from this state,” Scaggs said. “Then I spent a lot of time and energy four years ago helping get Jana Post and Lisa Grenis elected to our School Board. They were the first conservative school board members in a very long time. Then two years ago I again worked hard to get three more conservatives elected to our School Board.”

Scaggs said those experiences reinforced his belief that local elections can have a lasting impact on the direction of the community.

“Now that we have the school system on the right path, I don’t want to see Democrats take over our Board of County Commissioners,” he said. According to Scaggs, the current board of county commissioners has eroded government trust with the data center issue, “the incumbent Republican leadership is ripe for far-left Democrats to win those seats in the general election.”

Government Accountability And Public Trust

A recurring theme throughout Scaggs’ campaign has been his belief that public trust in local government has eroded.

In campaign materials distributed to voters, Scaggs wrote that there is a “mounting distrust for all parts of government, from planning and zoning to the commissioners themselves.”

“To bring that trust back, we need to treat the citizenry like customers,” he stated.

Scaggs has also criticized county leadership over spending and development decisions.

In a campaign video discussing the county administration building, Scaggs questioned project costs and argued that county government should exercise greater fiscal restraint.

“We need leaders who stand for what’s right for the people they represent, not for themselves,” Scaggs said in his campaign announcement.

Scaggs has also expressed concerns about county spending, referencing the county administration building project in a recent campaign video.

“Did you know this project was sold to us, the taxpayer, as a $37 million job that would bring all county employees under one roof, but it ballooned to $64 million by its completion?” Scaggs said in the video. “We borrowed more than $30 million to build it and it only has enough parking to bring back 50 percent of the county workforce.”

He argued that the county government should place a greater emphasis on accountability and transparency when undertaking major capital projects.

Data Centers And Public Input

Scaggs has also been outspoken regarding proposed data center development in Calvert County, arguing that residents deserve a greater voice in decisions involving projects of that scale.

In remarks delivered during a Calvert County Board of Commissioners public hearing, Scaggs laid out an effort to avoid a 90-day approval for the Amazon AWS project.

“Recently, I’ve spent a lot of time in Lusby and the one thing I’ve learned from residents down there is that they need to have a voice in a project of this size,” Scaggs said.

Drawing on his own experience as a property owner and business owner, Scaggs questioned what he described as differing timelines between local projects and large-scale development proposals.

“Personally, I am extremely offended that as a local landowner, it took me five years to get a permit for a kids’ sports facility in Dunkirk on three acres. Yet, this government is prepared to fast-track a permit for AWS on 200 acres of clearing,” he said.

Rather than supporting an immediate approval, Scaggs advocated for a delay that would allow residents more time to evaluate the proposal and weigh in on the issue.

“I respectfully demand that any data center go through the same permit process you make everyone in this room go through,” Scaggs said. “This delay will allow the citizens’ voice on data centers to be heard at the ballot box before any approval is given.”

Scaggs’ remarks prompted a vote and approval by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to ban fast-tracking data center approval. This was seen as a small victory against data centers, as it at least slowed down the process, giving time for citizens to weigh in on their desire to keep big data out of Calvert.

Scaggs has further added that if the current BOCC approves the Amazon project, the projected $212 million in annual revenue has to be applied to tax relief before any new spending. Scaggs’ website outlines what the tax revenue should be used for, and seniors have the most to benefit.

Scaggs proposed cutting property tax to zero for seniors who have lived in and paid property tax for 20 years. He also proposed cutting the income tax rate for seniors to zero.

“My dad is 70 years old and I handle most of his financials. If I wasn’t here to help, my father would have to continue working to afford living in Calvert. We have to find a way to keep seniors in their hometown vs. fleeing to other states with more favorable tax rates,” said Scaggs.

Planning And Zoning Reform

Several of Scaggs’ campaign videos have focused on planning and zoning issues.

In one video, he discussed a property owner whose home was damaged by fire and, after 11 months, they still don’t have a permit or permission to rebuild. He argued that the permitting process had become overly burdensome.

“This is exactly what’s wrong with planning and zoning,” Scaggs said. “These people should have been able to start rebuilding their house the next day.”

Scaggs argued that residents facing emergencies should not encounter lengthy delays and costly regulatory requirements before rebuilding their homes.

He has also been critical of county rezoning decisions, particularly those involving data centers and large tracts of land.

In a separate campaign video discussing the rezoning of property near Calvert Cliffs, Scaggs argued that neighboring property owners should receive notice and opportunities for public input before significant zoning changes are approved.

“Rezoning property is like the holy grail of zoning,” Scaggs said. “It’s very strict to do.”

Scaggs said he believes transparency and public participation should play a larger role in future land-use decisions.

Growth And Development

Scaggs has repeatedly expressed concerns about high-density residential development in Calvert County. Most notably was the fight against a proposed 277-unit apartment complex in Lusby.

In a campaign video, he described his involvement in efforts to encourage county leaders to amend local zoning regulations related to future high-density housing projects.

According to Scaggs, he worked alongside members of the Republican Central Committee to advocate for changes to county zoning regulations instead of nonbinding proclamation votes by the County Commissioners.

“They can vote every week and say we don’t want high density, but as long as it’s still in the zoning, it’s still legal,” he said.

“It took several months of pressure, but we eventually got the BOCC to change the zoning ordinance to block these high-density apartment complexes,” said Scaggs.

Conservative Principles

Scaggs identifies himself as a conservative Republican and has made that philosophy a central part of his campaign.

“We must elect leaders who are Republicans and conservatives every day of their four-year term, not just when an election is approaching,” Scaggs said.

He has also called for smaller government, lower taxes, fewer regulations and what he describes as greater freedom for residents.

“Values like smaller government, lower taxes, fewer regulations and greater freedom for the people of Calvert County,” Scaggs said. “Our way of life is constantly under attack by Annapolis. Together, we can protect the values that make Calvert County worth fighting for.”

Scaggs said he believes elected officials should focus on representing the values of the residents who put them in office.

“That authority only works when elected officials truly represent the values of the people who put them there,” he said.

Looking Ahead

As Election Day approaches, Scaggs says he hopes voters will support his vision for the future of Calvert County.

“I believe I can do a better job representing the conservative citizens of this county from inside our local government,” he said.

“I look forward to representing my friends and neighbors as we take back our local government and restore true conservative values.”

For more information about Jason Scaggs and his campaign for Calvert County commissioner at-large, visit his campaign website or follow his campaign on social media.

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