County Council in Talbot, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Christopher Armstrong — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Christopher Armstrong is a Democratic candidate running for a seat on the Talbot County Council in Maryland. As a declared candidate, he is actively seeking to represent the residents of Talbot County. Public records indicate the formation of the "Friends of Christopher Armstrong" committee to support his campaign for this local office. His candidacy offers voters a choice in the upcoming election for the county's legislative body. He is running to serve the community and participate in the governance of Talbot County.

• Michael Bibb — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Michael Bibb is a Democratic candidate for the Talbot County Council. A Maryland native, he moved to the Eastern Shore in 2006 after a career as a firefighter and an officer with the Prince George's County Department of Corrections and the D.C. Department of Emergency Services. Bibb is a former Commissioner and Commission President for the Town of St. Michaels and has also served as President of the Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities. Now retired from the State of Maryland Department of Housing, he serves on the Police Accountability Board, the Board of Eastern Shore Leadership, and the St. Michaels Historical Commission.

• Marvin Foster — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Marvin Foster is a Democratic candidate running for a seat on the Talbot County Council in Maryland, representing the Easton or St. Michaels area. As a declared candidate, he has officially opened a campaign committee for the upcoming election. At present, detailed public information regarding Mr. Foster's professional background, educational history, specific policy positions, and community involvement is not widely available through public online records. His candidacy is part of a competitive field of contenders for the county council positions. This biography is based on the limited publicly accessible information as of early 2026.

• Pete Lesher — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Pete Lesher, a Democrat, serves on the Talbot County Council, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Concurrently, he is the Chief Curator at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a position he has held since 1991. Lesher earned a B.A. in history from Lafayette College and an M.A. in history from Columbia University. A resident of Easton with his wife and two children, his policy priorities include preserving rural character, protecting water quality, and expanding broadband access. His civic engagement includes serving as a scout leader and on the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

• Brian R. Naranjo — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Brian R. Naranjo is a Democratic candidate for Talbot County Council. A retired Senior Foreign Service Officer, he served for 32 years in the U.S. diplomatic corps, with his final assignments as Minister Counselor in Venezuela, Canada, and Mexico. Now a resident of St. Michaels, Naranjo has been active in local civic life. He has served on the Talbot County Police Accountability Board and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Naranjo's campaign focuses on practical governance and addressing core county responsibilities such as roads, public safety, and schools, rather than engaging in national cultural debates.

• Chuck F. Callahan, III — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Chuck F. Callahan, III, a Republican, is the current President of the Talbot County Council, where he has served since 2014. A lifelong resident of Talbot County, Callahan graduated from Easton High School in 1985. He is a small business owner, operating West and Callahan, Inc., a custom home company, as well as Eastern Millwork, Inc., and Energy Savers, LLC. Callahan has a long history of community involvement, including over 25 years of service with the Easton Volunteer Fire Department, where he is a life member. He has also been an ice hockey coach and is a member of the Easton Elks Lodge.

• Frank Gunsallus — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Frank Gunsallus is a Republican candidate for Talbot County Council in Maryland. A graduate of Easton High School and Salisbury University, he previously served as the youngest elected Town Council President for the Town of Easton. As a Business Operations Consultant, he brings a focus on fiscal prudence to his political career. Gunsallus is actively involved in the community, serving with the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, the Easton Rotary Club, and St. Mark's United Methodist Church. He is running on a platform of taxpayer advocacy, public safety, and preserving the county's quality of life.

• Christian MacKendrick — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Christian MacKendrick is a Republican candidate for the Talbot County Council, advocating for common-sense leadership and fiscal accountability. With a degree in Criminal Justice and a professional background in loss prevention, security, and residential renovations, he emphasizes public safety and a community-first approach to governance. MacKendrick's platform prioritizes listening to residents' concerns and ensuring the local government is responsive to the needs of the community he seeks to serve. He is committed to policies that support affordable housing and preserve the county's character for families and retirees.

• Lynn L. Mielke — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Lynn L. Mielke is a Republican member of the Talbot County Council, first elected in 2022, and is seeking re-election. Her priorities include fiscal discipline, responsible growth, and protecting local property rights. A resident of Talbot County for over 40 years, she had a long career in law, practicing primarily in family law and becoming one of the first certified divorce mediators on the Mid-Shore before her retirement in 2016. She earned her B.A. from Washington College and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Mielke has a history of community involvement, serving on boards for organizations like the Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence and the Talbot County Mental Health Association.

• Dave Stepp — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Dave Stepp, a Republican, is a member of the Talbot County Council, first elected in 2022. A lifelong Marylander, he has worked in the telecommunications industry for over two decades and is a small business owner. Stepp holds an MBA from the University of Maryland. He is an active community volunteer, having served as a youth sports coach and in leadership roles with the Boy Scouts. As a council member, he serves as a liaison to several advisory boards, including the Emergency Services Advisory Board and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. His platform emphasizes fiscal responsibility, public safety, and individual freedoms.

• Wade Strickland — County Council in Talbot, Maryland

  Wade Strickland was a Republican candidate for the Talbot County Council in Maryland. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 8, 2022. Strickland was one of five Republican candidates vying for a seat on the council. The official election returns show he received 7,676 votes. He is also listed as a Republican candidate who has filed to run for the Talbot County Council in the 2026 election season. His campaign has utilized social media to encourage residents to vote. Additional details about his professional background and specific policy positions are not readily available in the public search results.