Board of Education in Carroll, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Cleveland Christopher Friday — Board of Education in Carroll, Maryland

  Cleveland Christopher Friday is an active non-partisan candidate seeking election to the Board of Education in Carroll County, Maryland. Friday officially filed his candidacy for the 2026 election cycle on January 9, 2026, and his campaign is formally organized under the committee named Friends of Cleveland Friday. Operating out of Finksburg, Maryland, he is participating in the upcoming non-partisan contest. While specific details regarding his professional background and comprehensive campaign platform are not widely publicized, Friday remains a registered contender in the local elections to serve on the county's public education board.

• Marsha B. Herbert — County Commissioner in Commissioner District 3, Maryland

  Marsha B. Herbert is a non-partisan candidate for the Carroll County Board of Education in Maryland. A lifelong Carroll County resident, Herbert served over forty years as a physical education teacher in the local public school system. Additionally, she has owned and operated a Westminster horse farm since the 1970s. First elected to the Board of Education in 2016 and later re-elected, she has served as Board President. During her tenure, Herbert successfully advocated for educator salary increases and secured additional funding for schools. Her extensive background in both business and public education continues to inform her strong leadership.

• Shannon Hinkhaus — Board of Education in Carroll, Maryland

  Shannon Hinkhaus is a candidate in the non-partisan race for the Board of Education in Carroll County, Maryland. Raised in the county since age two, she graduated from Westminster High School and earned a degree in Business Administration from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). Her career began as a financial analyst at Mercy Medical Center. While raising her children, Hinkhaus volunteered in schools and worked as a substitute teacher and classroom aide for Carroll County Public Schools. She later served as a private school bookkeeper and now works as a legal assistant. Recently, she chaired the Family Life Advisory Committee.

• Lisa Maisano — Board of Education in Carroll, Maryland

  Lisa Maisano is a non-partisan candidate for the Carroll County Board of Education. A Maryland native, she earned a degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech before working for the U.S. Navy and in solar research. Maisano has lived in Carroll County for 18 years, where she and her husband are raising three children in Sykesville. An active volunteer, she served as PTA President, created a PTA Advocacy Committee, and volunteers as a Scout leader. In 2025, she co-founded the Carroll Education Coalition to advocate for school funding during a budget crisis. She is running on the Together for Education Excellence Slate.

• Julie V. Walsh — Board of Education in Carroll, Maryland

  Julie V. Walsh is a Non-Partisan candidate running for the Board of Education in Carroll County, Maryland. A mother of five residing in Mount Airy, she has been deeply involved in her community as an active PTO president and church volunteer. Walsh earned a degree in political science from Mount St. Mary's University before working for the federal government and serving as a registered lobbyist in Annapolis. In early 2025, she co-founded the Carroll Education Coalition to advocate for essential school funding and navigate staffing crises. Walsh is running to ensure well-functioning schools, excellent teachers, and necessary resources for students.

• Sharon Wilhide — Board of Education in Carroll, Maryland

  Sharon Wilhide is a dedicated educator with 15 years of experience in special education who is running as a non-partisan candidate for the Carroll County Board of Education in Maryland. Her campaign focuses on ensuring every student has access to essential resources, strong advocacy, and a high-quality education. As an active community voice, Wilhide is committed to transparent leadership and meeting the diverse needs of all schools. Her core platform priorities include strengthening community bonds, collaborating with stakeholders, expanding vital county funding for education, and prioritizing competitive salaries to retain teachers.