Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater

It’s Primary Election Day!🗳️ Polls are open until 8PM! Find your polling place here: https://elections.maryland.gov/voting/where.html

If you still have your mail-in ballot, it must be placed in a secure ballot drop box by 8PM this evening. There are 12 boxes around Frederick County, find the list of locations: https://frederickcountymd.gov/8233/Ballot-Drop-Boxes

It’s Election Day, and every vote counts! 🎉 Polls are open from 7:00 am–8:00 pm today, so stop by your polling place and make your voice heard. Returning a mail in ballot? Today is the last day to do so. Use a drop box or get it postmarked by USPS before the deadline.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, and father figures across Frederick County! Fatherhood takes many forms, and today we celebrate everyone who provides love, guidance, support, and strength to the people who depend on them. A special happy Father's Day to my own amazing dad!

To those who are missing their fathers today, please know that you are in my thoughts.

Happy to join this evening’s AARCH Society Juneteenth Celebration, a moving and powerful tribute to freedom, remembrance, and community. From the uplifting worship music of the Frederick County Mass Choir to the benedictions and rituals offered by elders and the candle-lighting ceremony honoring ancestors, the program reflected the strength and resilience that have sustained generations. It was a reminder of the power of legacy and the importance of understanding that we stand on the shoulders of those whose courage, determination, and perseverance helped shape a better future.

I was honored to proclaim Juneteenth in Frederick County and speak about how it is both a celebration of liberation and a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of justice, equality, and civil rights. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas and informed enslaved Black Americans that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation, months after their freedom had been deliberately withheld.

Thank you to AARCH and everyone whose hard work, dedication, and vision made this meaningful celebration possible!

What a beautiful morning at Mullinix Park celebrating the first-ever Community Juneteenth with The City of Frederick! The celebration was a fun-filled and packed event with incredible talent, including powerful poetry from Lanai Monroe and Elaine Bond, and a moving rendition of the Black National Anthem by the gifted Keith Bowins. It was also wonderful to see and connect with so many Black-owned businesses, community organizations, and Black-led groups sharing their products, services, and missions, plus delicious food, activities, dancing, and music.

Juneteenth reminds us that the struggle for justice and civil rights for Black Americans is a continuing call to action. By honoring those who came before us and working together, we can build a stronger, more just, and more equitable future. Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration so meaningful and memorable!

Today, we honor Juneteenth, a defining moment in American history that commemorates the day news of emancipation in 1865 finally reached enslaved people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the enduring promise of liberty. It is also a time to reflect on our nation’s history, recognize the sacrifices and contributions of Black Americans, and acknowledge the ongoing work to advance equality, justice, and opportunity for all. Frederick County continues working to build communities where every person is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

Over the past year, I have heard growing concerns about the impact of expanded federal immigration enforcement on families and communities across Frederick County. While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, local governments have a duty to protect public safety while upholding privacy, due process, and the dignity of every resident.

Today, alongside County Council Vice President Kavonté Duckett, I announced new legislation titled the Frederick County Values Act, which that formalizes our commitment to supporting and protecting our immigrant community. The bill builds on actions already underway, including confirming that private detention facilities are not permitted under County land-use regulations and providing clear protocols and training for employees who may interact with federal immigration officials.

The Frederick County Values Act will ensure these protections remain in place for years to come. Earlier this year, we implemented procedures that guide staff on requests from immigration officials, access to County facilities, and compliance with judicial warrants.

Together, these measures provide clarity for residents, support for employees, and confidence that County government will continue serving all members of our community fairly, lawfully, and respectfully.

I am grateful to bill sponsor Council Member Kavonte Duckett, Renee Knapp, Frederick County Council Member, the Frederick County Immigrant Affairs Commission, and the many advocates and community members whose partnership has helped move this work forward.

The proposed bill will be presented to the County Council this summer. The bill and staff report will be linked in the meeting agenda, which will be available at FrederickCountyMD.gov/Council

Can-gratulations to The Frederick Rescue Mission on an outstanding Canstruction Charity Event!

I was honored to serve as a judge and help evaluate the incredible can sculptures, each one made with remarkable creativity and ingenuity. Altogether, participants collecting more than 25,000 cans of food to support the Mission and the families it serves.

The event was also a chance to celebrate a special ribbon cutting and recognize the retirement of the Mission's Executive Director, Arnold Farlow, whose leadership has made a lasting impact on Frederick County. Thank you to The Frederick Rescue Mission, the event organizers, participants, and volunteers who made this event such a success while helping support members of our community in need. Everyone can make a difference for a great cause!

After its monthly meeting, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission visited Transit Services of Frederick County to view the new America 250 bus wrap! Special thanks to Frederick Frederick Youthcouncil member, Liam Kalbskopf, who joined the Commission this year and will be reading the Declaration of Independence on July 8th. Be sure to scan the QR code on the bus to learn about the many America 250 and historical events taking place throughout Frederick County this year or learn more at Visit Frederick - Maryland: www.visitfrederick.org/america250/

Happy last day of school, FCPS Maryland students! Wishing all of our students, teachers, and families a fun, safe, and relaxing summer! Be sure to check out Frederick County Parks and Recreation, MD's programs, activities, and camps during the break at www.recreater.com ☀️

Happy last day of school, FCPS Maryland students! 🎉 As we head into summer, please remember to stay alert on the roads! Kids will be out walking, biking, and enjoying the extra sunshine in our neighborhoods!

Looking for ways to keep the fun going? Check out Frederick County Parks and Recreation, MD for open summer camps and programs! Let’s help our kids stay active, safe, and smiling all summer long! 😄🌻

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Frederick County Immigrant Affairs Commission, its Chair Claudia Hernandez and Vice Chair Seema Sharma, and to everyone who joined us for “Our Neighbors’ Stories: Journeys That Shape Frederick County,” talk tonight.

A special thank you to speakers Dr. Ben, originally from Kenya, and Zohreh, originally from Iran, for sharing their journeys from childhood to their residence in Frederick County. Dr. Ben spoke about the challenges of balancing work and education while being far from family, and how those sacrifices ultimately created greater opportunities. Zohreh reflected on her journey through Iran, Italy, and the United States, sharing how studying and working in architecture abroad has allowed her to embrace and reconnect with her Iranian heritage while also shaping her identity as an American. Their stories highlighted the resilience, determination, and hope that define so many immigrant experiences.

While there, I proclaimed June as Immigrant Heritage Month. As we honor our nation’s history as a country of immigrants, we know that immigrants and immigrant communities are woven into Frederick County’s past, present, and future. They strengthen our economy, start and grow businesses, expand opportunity, and enrich our community through their diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Their experiences, like those shared tonight, remind us that Frederick County is stronger and more connected because of the people who choose to make it their home.