ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — A local veteran and small business owner is stepping into the race for St. Mary’s County commissioner, focusing on affordability and community engagement as key priorities.
During an appearance on “Get Real with Southern Maryland Politics,” Ryan Daniels shared his background and vision for District 4 with host Chris Hill.
Daniels, a Navy family native born on base and raised in the Lexington Park area, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was wounded in combat. After leaving military service in 2016, he continued working at Patuxent River Naval Air Station before launching a business to help veterans access benefits.
Now, he’s turning his focus to local government.
“I just wanted to do something more to help,” Daniels said, pointing to concerns about affordability and residents being priced out of the county.
Daniels identified housing and overall cost of living as the most pressing issues facing St. Mary’s County, calling the situation a “crisis tipping point.” He cited data suggesting the county is thousands of housing units short and said many residents are struggling to find stable living arrangements.
“Nothing that we do here in St. Mary’s matters if people can’t afford to live here,” he said.
He emphasized the need to balance growth with preservation, acknowledging concerns from residents who want to maintain the county’s rural character while also addressing housing shortages.
“I love St. Mary’s for what it is,” Daniels said. “But we need to find a way to make it work for the people who already live here.”
Daniels also discussed opportunities for economic growth, including supporting small businesses, exploring agriculture-related industries, and leveraging the county’s extensive waterfront and tourism potential. He mentioned emerging concepts such as distributed data infrastructure and expanding local resources tied to agriculture.
On governance, Daniels stressed transparency and communication, saying he wants to better engage residents and ensure they understand how decisions are made.
“People just want the truth,” he said. “Good, bad, or indifferent.”
Daniels acknowledged that one of his biggest challenges will be reaching voters across the county and building name recognition but said he is committed to meeting residents where they are and encouraging broader community involvement.
Running unopposed in the primary, Daniels said his campaign is focused on working collaboratively and delivering practical solutions.
“I want to save you money, keep you here, and take care of you,” he said.
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 /elections.
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