Issue Position: Tourism

Issue Position

Tourism requires a comprehensive plan to tie the county's many attractions together. St. Mary's County is rich with natural, historic, and entertainment resources. I will be your tourism advocate in Annapolis. I pledge to work with all levels of government and advocacy groups to coordinate and expand these tourism opportunities; we need to ensure the business growth that will correspond with increased travel to our beautiful county and the corresponding tax revenue it brings.

Tidewater Tourism

A peninsula, St. Mary's County is a sportsman's paradise with plentiful fishing, crabbing, and oystering opportunities as well as recreational boating of all types, including some of the world's finest sailing waters. Tall Timbers, Piney Point, Point Lookout, St Inigoes, and Dameron are great places for both sporting and eco-tourism. Utilizing these resources can allow us to keep our distinctively rural and aquatic charm while enhancing our economic well-being.

History Abounds

Historic St. Mary's City is a centerpiece of tourism in our county, and we must work to prepare for its 400th anniversary. The City played a role in the formation of our democracy. Many of the colony's political ideas, drafted in 1634, were later adopted in the United States Constitution.

In addition, our county offers visitors opportunities to see historic sites such as:

Sotterley Plantation

Drayden African American School

African American War Monument

Manor houses, many of which had roles in the Civil War

Piney Point and Point Lookout Lighthouses

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

Our county should maximize its efforts around historic tourism. There is so much to see and learn!

Agriculture and Art

We are very lucky to live in an area that combines a rich agricultural history with a thriving modern-day farming community. From large farms to small, we need to promote our agricultural economy. In the era of "buy local," farmers' markets lure shoppers from outside areas and offer significant opportunities for economic growth. We need to advertise our local farm destinations in the DC area to increase tourism to our farms themselves as well as to our bountiful farmers' markets.

Finally, St. Mary's offers a host of art and music festivals, unique restaurants, and the County Fair, to name just a few of the other attractions. With a polished tourism package, we can increase travel to these events, and therefore, increase traffic to local bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, hotels, and restaurants.

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