LA PLATA, Md. — Patrick McCormick, a La Plata resident and Amazon senior manager, announced his candidacy for Town Council in Ward II on March 10, 2025, under the slogan “Keep La Plata, La Plata.” A 2015 University of Delaware graduate and former U.S. Army Infantry Officer, McCormick has lived in La Plata with his wife, Alyssa, and son, John. After earning a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Georgia Tech, he joined Amazon in 2019, where he now serves as Senior Trainer and Senior Program Manager for Amazon Learning, training over 5,500 leaders annually.
McCormick’s campaign stems from his service on the La Plata Ethics Commission, where he observed a disconnect between the Town Council’s direction and community priorities. “I was made aware of the direction the town has pursued and how it is not in line with what the average community member in La Plata wants from their local government,” he said. His platform focuses on three pillars: supporting the La Plata Police Department, curbing growth and holding builders accountable, and protecting water and infrastructure.
First, McCormick pledges to back the local police. In 2024, a 3-2 budget vote narrowly preserved the La Plata Police Department from potential absorption by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. A survey cited by McCormick showed 91% of residents value the town’s low crime rates, yet 64% are dissatisfied with its direction. “People are frustrated that we are spending money and time on expansion and happy with our police,” he said. “I am committed to defending what 91% of La Plata townsfolk already know…our police are the backbone of this community.”
Second, he aims to limit growth and address builder violations. McCormick criticized the approval of three major annexation projects without sufficient infrastructure, noting builders have left sewage and debris, damaging water supplies, with no council action. “For over a year, the Town Council has not even invited a builder to a meeting to discuss these issues,” he said. He vows to reject permits until sustainable plans are in place and to enforce fines for violations, arguing the council has tools it isn’t using.
Third, McCormick targets water and infrastructure protection. With water prices projected to rise 50% by 2029, he highlighted the lack of coordination between La Plata and Charles County, which share aquifers, on securing additional resources. “La Plata knows we do not have an unlimited water reserve, yet continues to approve new building programs,” he said. He also criticized the town’s transparency, pointing to delays in publishing election candidate information despite public requests.
McCormick urges voters to support him on March 17 at Town Hall. “If we continue this unsustainable rate of growth, we will lose what makes us special,” he said. “Let’s ‘Keep La Plata, La Plata.’”
