In the final episode of our Frederick Uncut interview series with county executive candidates, the incumbent, Jan Gardner (D), shared highlights from her first term and made the case for a second.

“We need that leadership to extend over time, and that’s why I really believe that we need another term of pragmatic, sensible, stable leadership without all the drama,” Gardner said.

She touted funding the Board of Education above the mandated Maintenance of Effort levels and a higher teacher pay scale. She also said the county’s economy had improved over her term, and she promoted the business incubator ROOT.

One of Gardner’s biggest accomplishments, she said, was retaining county ownership of the long-term care facilities Citizens and Montevue. In September 2016, Gardner announced the final settlement that returned the facility to county ownership. The previous Board of County Commissioners had approved selling the nursing home and the land to Millersville-based Aurora Holdings VII in June 2013.