On The Issues

Education

As a product of Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS), husband of an educator, and father of a future FCPS student, Kavonté has and will benefit from the strength and stature of FCPS. He will fight for and support a budget that meets the needs of the school system; advocate for student opportunities for better success outcomes; and fight for livable wages and equitable training to make sure we have the best educators and support staff working in FCPS.

Housing

There is a critical shortage of affordable and workforce housing in Frederick County. The county needs to work more with developers to ensure additional units of affordable and deeply affordable housing are being planned and built, using Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) and other programs and coordinating with state and federal agencies on LIHTC incentives. The county should expand its Home-buyers Assistance Program and funding for the Community Partners Incentive Program fund-matching to broaden the pool for first-time home-buyers.

Transportation

There are many places in Frederick County that have inadequate road
capacity, that are seeing extremely high congestion and degradation of
roadways intended for much lower-capacity use. One of the immediate
options to help mitigate this problem is expanding the County’s TransIT service, offering Sunday service, and creating new routes that encompass many of the newer areas of development. Kavonté also feels we need to incentivize companies to increase options for remote work opportunities which reduce the number of commuters on the road.

Small Business

Small businesses are the pathway to economic success. Kavonté will work to drastically improve the participation of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) in the county’s contracting and procurement process, advocate for tax breaks and fee waivers for new and existing small businesses, and invest in incubator space for start-ups. Another area that the county can and should take the lead on is in developing the creative economy.

Climate & Environment

Kavonté will support small area plans that honor the goals of livable
Frederick; including the need to consider and mitigate long-term
environmental impacts from new development. He would continue to fund the county’s efforts to expand the agricultural preservation, ensuring land is protected from residential development and urbanization and at the same time allowing farmers to ensure a legacy of value from the most important asset they possess.

Vocational Training Program

Kavonté will fight to provide more training opportunities in trades and other industries by building partnerships between local businesses, organizations, schools/colleges, and non-profits to create fundamental world skills and certifications. We have the opportunity to ensure that everyone is given equitable access to succeed and help to improve our economy.