My name is
Josh Coder
Vote for me for Commissioner
You Have a CHOICE!
Let's put Oxford's CommUNITY First!
I am tired of waiting for ACTION,
are you?
Welcome Oxford friends!
Many people have asked me why I am running for Commissioner.
The town government has not been meeting the needs of many residents. It has been inconsistent in presenting and disseminating information to the community.
There have been decades of studies without significant action.
I have seen the beginnings of positive change, with many excellent common sense initiatives being put forth by Commissioner Greer.
I am a man of action. My professional experience will bring best practices to Oxford.
I am asking for your vote on June 18th.
Sincerely,
My Qualifications
- Degree in International Affairs and Economics
- Masters Degree in Geology
- Leadership of many multi-disciplinary teams of up to 200 people
- Hands-on work with permitting, environmental compliance, construction, safety, logistics, infrastructure, water management, and flooding
- Managed budgets up to $25m
- Experience in creating and managing Sarbanes-Oxley-compliant audit documentation and financial disclosures
- Extensive experience writing RFPs/RFQ (requests for contract bids), reviewing bids, awarding, and managing contracts
- Management experience, including Research/Selection Manager in investment and acquisition for a Fortune 500 Europe company
Metalsmith and Artist
Degrees in Geology and International Affairs
Oxford Volunteer
Firefighter and EMT
Army Veteran
Owner of
"Intermittent Waterfront Property"
in Oxford
My focus is on
serving my commUNITY
I Believe In...
These are the things that I believe in.
Transparency
I am frustrated at how hard it is to get information in this town.
I will immediately work to overhaul our Town’s website so that future PIAs become unnecessary.
A Zero-Deficit Budget
I think it is unacceptable that our town would even consider running a budget deficit.
I will never approve a budget with a deficit.
Requiring Annexation Referendums
I don’t want Big Development to land in Oxford.
I believe that Townspeople should vote on EVERY annexation and expansion – not just the Commissioners.
I will do everything in my power to have the Town Charter amended to require a referendum on EVERY proposed annexation and expansion decision.
Reduced Spending
I will scrutinize all town expenses to reduce spending.
Our spending should be sensible, and our salaries and benefits should be competitive and in-line with industry standards.
Comprehensive Review
Oxford residents deserve modern, efficient town management.
I will ensure that town management and committees adhere to Best Practices.
Town Committees
Our committees are real and vital parts of our Town Government and should be treated as such.
All of our committees should have well-developed charters that will explain the committee scope and how it aligns to town priorities.
All committees should have defined term limits which should be enforced. Applications for committee membership should be posted to the Town website for transparency. Committee meetings should be streamed online, just as the Commissioners meetings are, available after the meeting, and minutes should be posted to the Town website.
My priorities as Commissioner
Reduce Spending
As a taxpayer, I am concerned with the huge increase in our spending as a town, and lack of transparency in our budget.
As Commissioner I will:
- Thoroughly scrutinize our budget to eliminate all unnecessary expenses
- Insist on zero-deficit budgets
- Reduce spending wherever possible
Flooding
Everyone in our CommUNITY is affected by this issue. As a first responder, I see first-hand how important it is to maintain emergency access to all residents during flood/tide events.
This issue has been studied to death. But our progress has been a patchwork of projects and studies.
As Commissioner I will:
- Listen to the community to ensure that ALL neighborhoods have their needs examined and considered
- Prioritize the work that needs to be done so that we can start and complete critical projects
- Ensure that ALL studies on flooding and storm water management are posted on the Town’s website for all to review
Transparency
Our Town’s lack of transparency has resulted in inefficiencies, divisive rumors, and frustration.
As Commissioner I will:
- Institute standard reporting for all areas of Town management and operations so that citizens know what is going on
- Ensure that all information available under the Public Information Act (PIA-able information) is readily available on the town website
Safety
I have seen this happen in Oxford first-hand. As an active First Responder in the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department, I have a deep commitment to the safety of our town and all its citizens.
Because we do not have a full complement of Police Officers, there are gaps in our protection. The State Police, and Sheriff’s Officers must provide coverage when our Officers are off duty or out of the area on business. But that means at least a 15 minute response time – if they are available to respond at all.
This needs to be fixed.
As Commissioner I will:
- Work with our police force to fix this issue
- Work to have at least one police officer live in town
- Improve traffic safety in ALL neighborhoods
Annexation Referendums
Growth by way of annexation is currently solely in the hands of our Commissioners.
As Commissioner I will:
- Champion amending our Town Charter to require referendums for ALL annexations
- Vote AGAINST any annexation that has not had a Town Referendum
Arts District
Due to land and development limitations, Oxford will never have a “Gallery District” in the traditional sense. But I believe that Oxford can easily support a cottage industry of solo artists along with our current venues that host performance art.
Becoming a recognized Arts District means that local artists, along with the Community Center, churches, museums, and other venues that display, sell, and produce art of various types, could benefit from State tax breaks on art/performance produced in Oxford.
As Commissioner I will:
- Work to have Oxford declared an Arts District
- Encourage formation of an Oxford Arts League
- Provide appropriate town resources, such as a more comprehensive town calendar
- Facilitate coordination and planning with the Town to ensure events do not impact town safety
Bringing diverse artists together to showcase their artwork will help bring the CommUNITY together.
Can I count on your vote?
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
We need to deal with the flooding issue affecting many areas of our town. Not just pay for studies, then do nothing for years while our neighbors’ homes and businesses get damaged or destroyed.
We also need to make sure that any increased traffic and congestion are sufficiently supported by Police, Fire, and EMS. Right now, in our Police Department we have too many changes, lack of stability, and don’t have a policeman living in town. I will work to get these safety issues addressed and solved, once and for all.
Art is a great unifier and I believe that supporting our artists and performance venues will improve the quality of life in our town and bring us all together.
I grew up in D.C. and spent quite a bit of time in the region as a child, both on day trips and vacations. I very fondly remember those days and when opportunity arose, the decision to move to the Eastern Shore was a no-brainer. For some reason, the Eastern Shore had always felt like home.
Later in life when I researched my genealogy, I found the explanation: one of my family lines began its American journey in the Tidewater Region of Maryland and Virginia in the 1600’s.
I am so happy that we connect on these issues! Click on the link below and fill out the form so we know how you would like to support my campaign. Every offer of help is gratefully accepted.
Voting and Absentee Ballots
The elections take place on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. at the Oxford Community Services Building (Town Office – 2nd Floor, Large Conference Room), 101 Market St., Oxford, Md.
Voting takes place on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. at the Oxford Community Services Building (Town Office – 2nd Floor, Large Conference Room), 101 Market St., Oxford, Md.
Voter qualifications (per the Town Website and Town Charter, Article V Section C5-1) are:
- Must be a citizen of the United States.
- Is at least 18 years of age.
- Has resided within the corporate limits of the Town for thirty (30) days next preceding any Town election.
- Is registered to vote in accordance with the provision of the Charter.
Note that the DEADLINE to register to vote is Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
YES, Under Article 5 Section C5-1 and C5-6 of Oxford’s Town Charter.
However, you will have to go to the Town Office to register to vote BEFORE Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
NO, as long as you are a voter in Maryland. You can keep your National elections voter rights where you have them and still vote in Oxford for a Commissioner if you live here 30 days prior to the elections, and register to vote at the Town Office before Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Remember: You MUST be a registered voter in Oxford to request an absentee ballot. (The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, May 21, 2024.)
To request an absentee ballot either:
- Visit the Town Office in person during regular business hours on or before Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, to obtain, fill out, and return a request for an absentee ballot.
OR
- CLICK on the button below to go to the Town Website’s Absentee Ballot Request Form
- PRINT the form
- FILL OUT the form
- RETURN the form to the Town Office (either in person or via USPS) on or before Tuesday, June 11th, 2024.
Once you have your absentee ballot, and have filled it out:
- You can send your completed absentee ballot by mail BEFORE June 14th, 2024 (Town Charter Article 5 Section C5-11)
OR
- You, or anyone else can drop your absentee ballot in the mailbox outside the Town Office.
YES. Click on the button below to visit the Elections page on the town website.
Want to show your support?
Have other Questions?
