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Commissioners recommend Amy Bledsoe to governor for county emergency-manager appointment
Summary
By voice vote the board authorized the president to request that Governor Moore appoint Amy Bledsoe as St. Mary's County emergency manager, formalizing a role she has held since 2023 and completing a required state appointment process.
The St. Mary's County commissioners voted April 1 to recommend Amy Bledsoe for appointment by the governor as the county’s official emergency manager, a procedural step required by Maryland law.
Officials said Bledsoe has served in the role since 2023 and is qualified for the permanent appointment. County staff cited Maryland Annotated Code, Public Safety Article §14-109, which requires the governor to appoint the local emergency manager following recommendation by the governing body. "Amy has been serving as our emergency manager since 2023," a department presentation stated. Staff said the recommendation will allow Bledsoe to complete the state portal processes so she can be officially named.
Commissioners and staff described Bledsoe’s duties — preparedness planning, coordinating partner agencies, staffing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during incidents, and communicating with fire, EMS and other partners. Bledsoe summarized operational steps taken when a hurricane approaches: "We start making contacts to all the partner agencies, fire department, EMS. We up staff. We start planning for EOC operations," she said.
The board approved a motion recommending the governor appoint the county emergency manager; staff also asked for procedural flexibility to streamline future appointment steps for this merit position. The recommendation will be forwarded to the governor's office and Bledsoe must complete the state appointment portal steps for finalization.
