The Charles County Board of County Commissioners will convene a public hearing on Nov. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. to review Proposed Bill 2025-07, which seeks to impose term limits on board members. The hybrid session will occur at the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore St., with in-person and virtual options available. The measure aims to restrict service to two non-consecutive four-year terms for both commissioners and the board president, applying retroactively from Dec. 6, 2022.
County residents and group representatives may offer oral or written input during the hearing. In-person sign-ups start at 5:30 p.m. at the government building and close when the session begins. Virtual participants must call 240-776-6709 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Nov. 18 to register; approved speakers receive a link for testimony from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., following in-person comments. Each speaker gets three minutes, and unregistered or unavailable callers forfeit their slot.
Written submissions, voicemails or emails open for receipt starting Oct. 24 at 8 a.m. through Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. via the county’s e-comment portal at https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/public-comments/public-hearing-comments/bill-2025-07, by phone at 301-645-0652 or mailed to Commissioners of Charles County, 200 Baltimore St., La Plata, MD 20646. Those with disabilities can access Maryland Relay Service at 1-800-735-2258. Additional questions go to the County Attorney’s Office at 301-645-0555.
The board introduced the bill unanimously on July 22, 2025, after a June 22 presentation by County Attorney Wes Adams outlined its provisions. Under the draft, appointed commissioners filling vacancies count the partial term against their limit only if they serve more than two years. This framework emerged from a July 8 work session where the five-member board discussed maximum terms, vacancy procedures and governance effects, reaching consensus on the two-term cap. Earlier deliberations in May 2025 addressed retroactivity to ensure even application to recent service.
Charles County’s commissioner government operates under a code-elected structure dating to 1650, with the current board comprising President Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq. and four district representatives elected to staggered four-year terms. Collins, a La Plata attorney, assumed the presidency on Dec. 4, 2018, following two prior terms in District 3 from 2006 to 2014. Current district commissioners include Gilbert “BJ” O. Bowling, III in District 1, Thomasina O. Coates, M.S. in District 2, Ralph E. Patterson, II, M.A. in District 4 and Amanda M. Stewart, Ed.D. in District 3, all serving terms that end in December 2026 or 2028 based on election cycles. The board oversees a $600 million budget, managing services from public safety to infrastructure across 640 square miles and 172,000 residents concentrated along U.S. Route 301.
Term limits for county commissioners remain uncommon in Maryland, where most of the 23 counties elect officials without such restrictions under state code. Exceptions include St. Mary’s County, which since 1973 has capped service at three consecutive four-year terms, later adjusted in 1984 to remove a prior three-year limit. Prince George’s County voters approved two-term limits for council members in 2018 via charter amendment, while Anne Arundel and Howard counties impose similar council restrictions. Proponents argue limits foster turnover and fresh ideas, countering potential entrenchment in part-time roles paying $85,000 annually plus benefits. Opponents cite risks to continuity in navigating complex issues like zoning or federal funding.
In Charles County, the push gained traction amid 2025 legislative reviews, with the board exploring reforms to enhance accountability without a full charter shift. A May 2 session tied discussions to state bond approvals, underscoring governance alongside fiscal priorities. The retroactive clause could bar incumbents from future runs if they exceed the threshold; for instance, Collins’ prior district service plus current presidency might trigger ineligibility post-2026, depending on interpretation. Board actions require four affirmative votes for passage, with final adoption possible after the hearing if no amendments arise.
Public engagement aligns with state open meetings law under the Maryland Public Information Act, mandating notice and access. Hybrid formats, adopted post-2020, accommodate rural districts from Indian Head to Nanjemoy. Weather cancellations reschedule to the next available 6 p.m. slot at the building. The board’s 2025 calendar lists 24 regular sessions, emphasizing transparency in decisions affecting schools, parks and economic development.
Historically, Charles County’s commissioners evolved from colonial justices of the peace to a modern executive body under 1970 code revisions. Early terms lasted one year; four-year cycles began in 1882. No statewide mandate governs limits, leaving reforms to local initiative. Neighboring Calvert and St. Mary’s counties lack commissioner caps, though St. Mary’s 2025 elections spotlighted vacancies from its three-term rule. Charles’ proposal mirrors national trends, with the National Association of Counties noting 15% of U.S. counties enforce executive limits as of 2011, often via voter referenda.
Residents monitoring the bill can track agendas at charlescountymd.gov or attend work sessions Tuesdays at 1 p.m. The hearing caps a year of policy advances, including transit expansions and tax adjustments, positioning Charles as a growth hub in Southern Maryland’s tri-county region. With population rising 10% since 2010, driven by Washington-area commuters, the board balances expansion against fiscal restraint. Term limits, if enacted, would apply starting with 2026 elections, potentially reshaping the 2030 slate.