ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Ahead of the 2026 general election in November, Patch has invited candidates running to represent Anne Arundel County to complete a questionnaire touching on a variety of key issues.
Candidate responses will be published verbatim in the run-up to Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Related:
Questionnaire responses for Gavin Buckley, the former Annapolis mayor running to represent the 6th District on the County Council, can be found below:
Name: Gavin Buckley
Age: 63
Hometown: Annapolis
Political Affiliation: Democratic
Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please explain how it will influence your time in office if elected. How do you differ from other candidates running against you?
I was born in South Africa, raised in Australia, and came to the US over 30 years ago. I met my wife in Annapolis and our two children were raised here and both attended public schools. Together we also established a number of successful local restaurants in Annapolis. In 2017, I was elected Mayor of Annapolis and sought to build partnerships and bring investment to the city in order to tackle long-neglected problems such as flooding at City Dock, rebuilding the downtown parking garage, and deliver much needed infrastructure, including a new pool as well as new trails and parks.
I have always been someone who drives new ideas and local solutions by building partnerships, thinking creatively, and doing the hard work for change. I believe this positive vision and my belief that we should think bigger, not smaller, in the face of challenges is what sets me apart from other candidates.
How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you've outlined in your campaign and/or the office you're seeking?
As a businessman on West Street, I worked with others to revitalize what was then a run-down part of town. Through partnership and investment, West Street was transformed into a thriving hub for locals and visitors alike, now known as the Annapolis Arts District. Working together, we were able to introduce new events and celebrations such as Dining Under the Stars and others mentioned above. We were also able to preserve historic homes that were threatened with destruction and transform these into new businesses which further boosted the local economy.
As Mayor of Annapolis, I used a similar approach to tackle long-neglected challenges. I worked to build partnerships across the community and all levels of government to bring new ideas, shared effort and new funding to Annapolis.
The results include: new environmental protections, including no discharge laws and stronger green canopy and stormwater management requirements
These results speak to my vision, commitment and energy for our community and my experience as Mayor, in which I was one vote on the City Council, speaks to my ability to work with colleagues, craft legislation, and plan and budget effectively to get things done. These are the skills and experience I will bring as representative for District 6.
What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you're looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues?
My highest overall priority is sustainability - by which I mean ensuring we find ways to address the challenges we face without compromising opportunity and quality of life for future generations.
That is the key consideration in my mind as I meet with residents across the district and discuss local concerns. Issues that residents are raising with me include how to manage increasing traffic on General's Highway and other road corridors; how and when we will move forward on the Crownsville Development Plan; dealing with aging water and sewer infrastructure; and ensuring local investment continues in vital green spaces like Waterworks Park, Carr's Beach and Saltworks Creek, as well as connecting them with residential neighborhood areas by extending our trail network (which has potential to help with our traffic problems). These are some of the immediate district issues I will be focusing on.
Long term sustainability will also require continued investment in public schools and education, and working to improve affordability, quality of life, and public safety through fair wages and conditions for workers and their families; expanded transportation alternatives; and ensuring all members of our community are safe and have a voice in their local government.
What is your opinion of the work being done by the current officeholder, and how will you improve on it? If you are running for reelection, please state how you would expand on your previous term.
I have utmost respect and admiration for our current District 6 representative Lisa Rodvien and I am very proud to have earned her endorsement. Lisa and I have collaborated on many priorities and goals over the past eight years and I'm inspired by her commitment to our residents, our schools, and our environment. I'm also proud to have the endorsement of the previous District 6 council member Chris Trumbauer. Chris has an incredible grasp of the practical and fiscal considerations in achieving change. I'm so lucky to count both Lisa and Chris as friends and advisors and I'll be drawing on their wisdom and experience, as well as consulting across our whole community. Listening and collaborating are key to balancing different goals and priorities across the community and I am committed to doing that and to drawing on the extensive partnerships and experience I've gained as mayor in order to keep delivering for District 6.
How do you believe Anne Arundel County should address data centers? What type of legislation — moratorium or temporary pause — should be put in place? Explain.
Anne Arundel County must take a proactive, climate-focused approach to regulating data centers, which is why I support the County Council's unanimous moratorium on data centers through January 2028. Tech development must not outpace our public infrastructure.
Data centers consume vast amounts of electricity, with potential to threaten Maryland's climate goals and grid capacity.
On the County Council, I will consider exclusion zones to bar data centers from residential areas, schools, or environmental buffer zones. I'd also like to see any future data center in Anne Arundel County implement closed-loop, water-free cooling systems, and operate on a carbon-neutral basis through investment in local clean energy.
What steps would you take to offset data center impacts to residents' standard of living, such as rising energy prices?
I'd like to see a "User Pays" policy implemented, with tech companies funding required grid expansions and utility upgrades so working families aren't called upon to subsidize corporate energy needs.
That's why I also support Governor Wes Moore's efforts to repeal the state's 2020 data center sales tax exemptions. Tech giants operating in Anne Arundel County must pay their fair share, with revenues reinvested directly into our public schools, transportation, and public lands.
How would you distinguish between a good vs. bad data center?
For a new data center to warrant County consideration and approval, I believe it should:
Gov. Wes Moore signed bills banning agreements between local police and federal immigration officials in February.
What is your opinion of the legislation? What steps would you take to support or readjust that initiative?
As an immigrant who loves this community and this country, I've always believed our strength lies in diversity. Immigration needs to be managed within a legal, economic and community framework but data from across the nation shows that the vast majority of immigrants are law-abiding folks who pay taxes, contribute to our economic growth, and enrich our community life.
That's why I strongly support Governor Wes Moore's decision to prohibit local law enforcement from being deputized for federal civil immigration enforcement. Building and maintaining trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities is essential for effective public safety. Blurring the lines between state and federal authority undermines that trust.
The new law provides a necessary check against federal overreach, protects constitutional policing practices and helps to safeguard our immigrant neighbors. Importantly, this legislation still allows local police to collaborate on joint criminal investigations and address serious offenses while keeping local resources focused on community priorities.
What is your stance on the establishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the county and/or your district? What actionable plans would you undertake to address illegal immigration?
I don't believe we need ICE detention centers in Anne Arundel County. I support all humane and legal approaches to law enforcement and I believe we already have all the tools we need to manage illegal immigration in a humane way.
Education: What is the biggest issue facing Anne Arundel County Public Schools? How would you address it?
One of our biggest challenges for Anne Arundel County public schools is how to secure stable long-term funding so that we compensate our teachers fairly, provide the support our kids deserve, and address service gaps and staffing shortages.
Public education currently represents approximately 50% of the entire County budget, and I will ensure that as county revenues grow we continue to dedicate a proportional amount to our school system. State law allows the County to exceed the property tax revenue cap for education funding and that will certainly be a consideration if needed to meet critical school funding needs. I support continuing the policy of the Pittman Administration to ensure that COLAs for school system employees generally match COLAs for other County employees. I believe COLAs should match the predicted rate of inflation as they are meant to offset the increase in cost of living.
Traditionally, the Council member for District 6 has been a champion for public education and teachers (e.g. Rodvien, Trumbauer, etc). I intend to keep that tradition. As a parent whose children benefited from public schooling, I know how important public education is as a foundation for equity, opportunity and quality of life for all. My goal will be to ensure every resident has access to those opportunities by working to support and enhance our county public schools.
A student brings a gun/weapon to campus without setting off any red flags.
What security measures would you advocate for to prevent such an incident? Do you believe schools need stricter security measures? Metal detectors? Explain.
As the Mayor who led our community through two mass shootings, and a spate of gun violence following the pandemic, I know first hand the devastation and heartache it causes. Addressing gun violence requires a comprehensive approach: preventing violence before it occurs wherever possible; reducing the number of guns in our community; ensuring legally acquired firearms are stored safely and, in the absence of commonsense federal gun laws, addressing the root causes of violence in our community.
That is exactly the approach I took as Mayor, working with County Executive Pittman to implement our first local gun violence prevention strategy, along with programs that seek to prevent and disrupt cycles of violence within the community. We now have targeted violence prevention programs in different areas of Annapolis and across the county. In particular, we now have programs working directly with 'at risk' kids in our schools. These programs have been backed by common sense measures including gun turn in programs and gun-lock distribution programs to help keep adults and children safe. We have seen a significant reduction in gun violence and violent crimes generally since these initiatives were introduced over the past three years.
I am very proud to have received the designation of 'Gun Sense Candidate' from Moms Demand Action and I will do everything in my power as representative for District 6 to keep fighting the scourge of gun violence across our community.
Anne Arundel County is experiencing a housing shortage. What steps would you take to address the crisis? What will you do to encourage affordable/public housing?
Housing is one of our most critical challenges. We need a multi-pronged approach that balances smart development with community character and environmental preservation so our children and working families can afford to live and work here without sacrificing all the fundamentals that make living here so special.
During my time as Mayor of Annapolis, some of the initiatives we adopted included updating our zoning code and closing loopholes to expand Moderately Priced Dwelling Units; improving housing enforcement and tenant protections; and legislative reforms to increase options for missing-middle housing. On the County Council, I will advocate for similar policies and strengthened protections such as updating zoning to support mixed-income and mixed-use development close to existing infrastructure.
How will you address crime in the county/your district?
I was really pleased to see the County's FY27 budget make significant investments in public safety staffing, facilities, and technology, including funding 21 new firefighter positions, 9 new police positions, and constructing new police and fire stations. Ensuring our public safety teams are staffed and well-resourced is critical.
In tackling crime specifically, we need well-resourced police and justice teams empowered to utilize technology and work in partnership to share information that helps prevent and resolve crime. Public safety is also enhanced when we invest in community through well-funded social services, violence and hate-crime prevention programs, and targeted services to youth.
I believe this two-pronged approach ensures reliable, efficient and well-resourced services as well as a strong foundation of trust that supports and enhances overall community safety. I will aim to meet regularly with public safety personnel and with community stakeholders to maintain strong communication, and help achieve this balance.
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