Shoge Stands Apart in County Commissioner Candidate Responses on New Middle School Funding

To read the full article, click here: The Chestertown Report.

In a recent Chestertown Report candidate questionnaire, Sam Shoge, candidate for Kent County Commissioner, offered one of the clearest and most forward-looking responses on the future of school construction in Kent County.

The question focused on whether Kent County should use a significant portion of its surplus funds to help move construction of a new Kent County Middle School forward. While several candidates focused primarily on the risks, limits, or mechanics of the financing plan, Shoge used his response to draw a sharper contrast between old thinking and new leadership.

“If affordability is the only test, Kent County will never do anything bold,” Shoge said.

Shoge emphasized that a new middle school is not just a facilities project, but a generational investment in Kent County’s children, families, and future. He acknowledged that the financing is complex, but argued that complexity should not be used as an excuse for inaction.

“Commissioners are not elected to simply explain why hard things cannot happen,” Shoge said. “They are elected to make the impossible possible.”

In his response, Shoge pointed to several financial tools available to the county, including retiring debt service over the next three years, state reimbursement beginning in 2028, and multiple funding levers that can be used to responsibly build the capital stack needed to move the project forward.

His answer stood out because it reframed the entire debate. Rather than asking whether Kent County can afford to act, Shoge challenged residents and county leaders to ask a better question: how do we make it work?

“Old thinking says, ‘We can’t afford it.’ New thinking asks, ‘How do we make it work?’” Shoge said.

For Shoge, the issue is about whether Kent County is willing to make bold, strategic investments at a time when the county is working to reverse declining population trends, shrinking school enrollment trends, and workforce challenges.

“We have seen what happens when communities defer critical investments in infrastructure because the price tag feels uncomfortable,” Shoge said. “Eventually, the bill comes due anyway. Kent County cannot afford to make that same mistake with our schools.”

Shoge’s response reflects a central theme of his campaign: Kent County cannot protect what makes it special by standing still. It must invest wisely, plan responsibly, and act with the urgency required to build a stronger future.

The full Chestertown Report article includes responses from candidates in both parties and can be read by clicking the link below.

To read the full article, click here: The Chestertown Report.