Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Pieter Bickford — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Pieter Bickford is a nonpartisan incumbent running for re-election to the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland. A graduate of North Hagerstown High School, he earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Ithaca College. Bickford has deep roots in the local community, previously serving as an assistant news director at WHAG-TV from 2004 to 2013 and as editor-in-chief of What's NXT magazine. He currently works as a marketing director at HighRock. On the Board of Education, Bickford has been a strong advocate for universal pre-K, expanding student apprenticeship programs, and securing competitive starting salaries to retain local teachers.

• Alina Chester — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Alina Chester is a non-partisan candidate for the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland during the 2026 elections. While the Board race is officially non-partisan, Chester has been involved in local civic engagement and serves on the Board of Directors for the United Democrats of Washington County. In her campaign for the Board, Chester seeks to help carefully set the direction for Washington County Public Schools, manage the annual school system budget, and ensure strict educational accountability. She is deeply dedicated to advocating for the overall needs, success, and well-being of all Washington County students in the community.

• Darrell E. Evans — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Darrell E. Evans is a nonpartisan candidate and public servant in Maryland, recognized for his work in local education. Evans serves as a member of the Washington County Board of Education, a leadership role he has held since December 2020. In this capacity, he helps set educational policy, approve annual operating budgets, and oversee public school operations for the district. During the 2022 election cycle, Evans actively campaigned as a nonpartisan candidate for an at-large seat on the board. Outside of his public service, Evans has worked as a financial advisor and finance professional based in Hagerstown, Maryland.

• Mike Guessford — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Mike Guessford is a candidate for a nonpartisan at-large seat on the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland. First elected in 2014, he is currently serving his third term on the board and has held the position of Vice President. A lifelong resident of Washington County and a graduate of Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), Guessford has deep ties to the area. He was motivated to run for the board when his grandchildren entered the local school system. Guessford is a former business owner and has raised one child through WCPS. Additionally, he has supported the community by serving on several local boards.

• Ethan Loewen — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Ethan Loewen is a non-partisan candidate running for the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland. A U.S. Navy veteran who served at the Bethesda Medical Center, Loewen settled in the Hagerstown area and has worked as a financial advisor since 2009. His professional background includes experience as a bank branch manager. Having navigated the special education system as a student with dyslexia, Loewen brings a personal perspective to educational needs. He is an active volunteer, contributing to local food banks and domestic violence prevention programs. Loewen is focused on school safety, efficient spending, and supporting parental choice.

• Robin A. Merchant-Spickler — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Robin A. Merchant-Spickler is a non-partisan candidate for the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland. A lifelong educator, she retired in 2020 after a 44-year career teaching kindergarten in Washington County Public Schools. Merchant-Spickler earned her degree from Frostburg State University in 1976. As a longtime member-activist with the Maryland State Education Association, she has advocated for public education. Her campaign focuses on expanding paths to certification, protecting county funding for schools, supporting collective bargaining, and ensuring educator voices are respected in local decisions.

• Linda Murray — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Linda J. Murray is a nonpartisan candidate for the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland. A graduate of Hagerstown Community College, she earned an associate degree in education. Murray dedicated 26 years to Washington County Public Schools, working as a special education paraprofessional at Salem Avenue Elementary before retiring in 2016. After an initial run, she was appointed to fill a board vacancy in June 2017. She subsequently won a full term in 2018 and was re-elected in the 2022 general election. Murray is also a mother of two and has served her community as a PTA President, parent volunteer, and reading tutor.

• Aitza Marie Haddad Nunez — Board of Education in Washington, Maryland

  Dr. Aitza Marie Haddad Nunez is a bilingual educator and attorney who ran as a non-partisan candidate for the Washington County Board of Education in Maryland. With over fourteen years of experience in education and law, she serves as a Spanish teacher for Washington County Public Schools and an adjunct professor at Hagerstown Community College. Haddad Nunez is the founder and director of Friendly Law, Inc., a nonprofit assisting low-income law students. In 2023, Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed her to the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission.