Senator Cardin Receives Standing Ovation at Final #MACoCon Town Hall

Following decades of public service and hosting an annual town hall at the MACo Summer Conference, Senator Cardin bids farewell to his final town hall forum audience.

The annual town hall forum, a cherished tradition hosted by Senator Ben Cardin at the MACo Summer Conference, has been a cornerstone of local politics. This year, it marked the poignant end of an era as Senator Cardin announced his retirement from public office in 2023. His send-off forum was met with praise and tokens of appreciation from MACo and the Mayor of Ocean City.

The forum has long been an opportunity for county officials to ask candid questions and discuss matters important to the local governments that play out at the federal level. This year was no exception, and the answers are not always the ones locals wanted to hear. One question in particular touched on whether federal funds that typically go through state agencies and then on to locals could begin to be funneled directly to county governments. Senator Cardin shared that while he thinks that is preferable, as long as federal and state budgets remain unreasonable, it will likely not happen. Sharing the good and the bad has been an important component of this open and candid format that counties appreciate and will miss.