The Washington County Republican Central Committee has recommended Neil Parrott to fill a vacant seat on the Washington County Board of Commissioners, following the recent resignation of Commissioner Derek Harvey.

Harvey, a retired U.S. Army colonel, stepped down from the Board of Commissioners earlier this month. The vacancy triggered the formal replacement process outlined in Maryland law, which applies when a county commissioner leaves office before completing their term.

Under that process, the local central committee for the departing official’s political party submits a nominee to the Governor for consideration.

The central committee announced on March 17, 2026, that it has selected Parrott as its recommended candidate to complete the remainder of Harvey’s term, which runs through December 2026. Parrott is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and has also run as a candidate for Congress. According to the committee’s announcement, he brings experience in engineering, project management, and public service.

The Next Steps

The recommendation now moves to Governor Wes Moore, who is responsible for making the final appointment. Under state law, the Governor may appoint the recommended candidate or request additional names. As a result, the appointment is not yet finalized. The timeline for the appointment may vary, as similar vacancies have taken several weeks to complete due to the required review and confirmation process.

If appointed, Parrott would serve the remainder of the current term until December 2026, when the seat will next be filled through the regular election cycle.