(6/2018) In 2017, I was honored to be appointed as one of three Frederick County Judges of the Orphans' Court by Governor Larry Hogan and was designated as Chief in March of this year. The Orphans’ Court is Maryland’s probate court. In other-words a court that handles the estates of the deceased or by definition, a court for the bereaved.

One of the many things I have learned from life and especially from the bench is that grief has no mercy. One of my mentors Kirby Maybush once asked in his self-defense class, "What is the worst thing that could happen to you?" Most would reply, you may die; but, his response would always be, the loss of a loved one. This put into perspective that most of life’s problems are not going to be the worst possible scenario. However, death and the ensuing grief remains. We have very little control over death, but the power to make everlasting decisions, now, that will affect our loved ones indefinitely. This means making our final wishes known and putting them to paper appropriately, thereby limiting the need for someone else's interpretation and court intervention.

I currently reside in Jefferson with my wife and daughter. My family has strong ties to Frederick County Maryland going back to the mid 1700s. My 5th great-grandfather, Peter Mantz was also a Judge of the Orphans’ Court for Frederick County, amongst his many other accomplishments. He was also brother-in-law to Barbara Fritchie.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in management from Hood College in 2005, I have served as a supervisor for judicial security in local government for the past 11 years. I have been a member of New Market District Volunteer Fire Company for 16 years and formerly served as secretary and vice president. I also own two small businesses and assist with operations at my family’s farm, New Market Plains Vineyards. I have formerly served as secretary and public relations subcommittee chair for the Frederick County Republican Central Committee and I am a member of the Hood College Alumni Executive Board.

My first introduction to the Orphans’ Court was when my family’s farm was involved in an eight-year probate process a few years back; this left a deep impact on me. The future of our "bicentennial" farm was at stake and this left the question of whether it would be sustainable for future generations of our family. The process was also detrimental to agricultural operations. The serious impacts on families and loved ones after death are not lost on me and this understanding only adds to my desire to continue serving in this capacity.

On June 26th I humbly ask to be one of your three candidates for Judge of the Orphans’ Court. I have the experience and understand the stress involved in making life changing decisions. I am ready to continue to lend an empathetic ear, exact fairness, and execute the necessary decisions by applying the laws of our great State of Maryland.