Frederick County Board hears four candidates for vacant Back Creek seat; no appointment made
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Summary
At a Nov. 5 public meeting, four applicants — Jeremy Birkbaum, Sonia Marfatiagood, Albert Orndoff and Barry Van Meter — presented qualifications for the vacant Back Creek District seat and outlined priorities including schools, infrastructure and fiscal restraint. The board adjourned without making an appointment.
Frederick County Board of Supervisors members heard presentations from four applicants for the vacant Back Creek District seat at a public meeting on Nov. 5, 2025, but did not appoint anyone and adjourned without a recorded vote.
Jeremy Birkbaum, a Back Creek District resident and local business owner, told the board he owns the franchise 'College Chunks' and cited experience in real estate investing and small-business management. "Everybody's opinion matters," Birkbaum said, adding he prioritizes fiscal responsibility and maintaining public safety services while keeping taxes under control.
Sonia Marfatiagood, who identified her civic work with Frederick County Strong, emphasized resident engagement during budget season and the need to address infrastructure strains. "This county has been developed at a faster rate than the infrastructure can withstand," Marfatiagood said, pointing to traffic congestion on Routes 7 and 11, tight school budgets and local food deserts. She urged the board to expand resident surveys and to coordinate with Frederick County Public Schools and the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee.
Albert Orndoff described more than four decades in public education and administrative roles, including involvement in the design and construction of Millbrook High School and oversight of contracting methods such as design–bid–build and construction management at risk. Orndoff said that technical familiarity with capital projects and budgets would inform his work on the board.
Barry Van Meter, a longtime Back Creek resident and current sanitary-district official with more than two decades in law enforcement, cited community ties and experience in local advisory roles as qualifications. Van Meter stressed communication and teamwork, saying those approaches help manage growth without overly burdening county finances.
Two other applicants listed by the county, Kermit Gaither and Micah Jacobs, were announced by staff as unable to attend. The board reviewed the applicants' remarks but did not conduct a selection or roll-call vote at the meeting. A motion to adjourn was moved and seconded and the meeting ended.
No formal appointment, vote tally or next-meeting date for selecting an interim supervisor was recorded in the meeting transcript.
