Jessica Fitzwater is the Frederick County Executive. She centers her leadership in the values of inclusion, accountability, and sustainability and believes Frederick County should be a vibrant and unique community where everyone can live, work, and thrive while enjoying a strong sense of place and belonging.

Fitzwater’s top priority is supporting students, educators, and families. She increased education funding by 30% in her first three budgets and invested heavily in school construction and renovation. Under her leadership, Frederick County is building the new Linganore Creek Elementary School in one year – the fastest a school has ever been built in Maryland, which will relieve overcrowding and save taxpayer dollars.

Fitzwater is committed to managing growth responsibly while preserving Frederick County’s incredible quality of life. She helped to cut in half the number of acres zoned for data centers, limiting their sprawl and ensuring they cannot be built in on 99% of the County’s land. She is focused on tackling housing affordability and using County-owned land to spur the building of affordable units.  She set a land preservation goal of 160,000 acres by 2051 and increased investments in open space, agricultural programs, parks, bikeways, and trails.

Fitzwater spent 16 years as an elementary music teacher at Oakdale Elementary School and served two terms on the County Council prior to being elected County Executive. She was raised in Smithsburg, graduated from public schools, and earned degrees from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Hood College. She lives in Frederick with her two children and is a member of Beth Sholom Congregation.