Gary V. Hodge, a resident of Waldorf-St. Charles, was elected to his first term as Charles County Commissioner for District 4 on November 7, 2006, receiving more than 23,000 votes.
Commissioner Hodge has more than 35 years of experience in public service, and as an advisor to elected, civic and business leaders. He began his career in 1971 as a law enforcement and public safety planner for the Metropolitan Washington (D.C.) Council of Governments. From 1974 to 1980, Hodge served in administrative positions with the Toledo (Ohio) Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, including two years as Deputy Director. In 1980 he was appointed Executive Director of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, and served in this position for 18 years.
As Executive Director of the Tri-County Council, Commissioner Hodge was responsible for regional advocacy, economic development, infrastructure and transportation planning, environmental quality and agricultural assistance programs. Highlights of his service include the successful campaign to protect and enhance the region’s major naval installations during three rounds of defense base realignment and closure (BRAC) in the 1990s, assistance to the U. S. Navy in facilitating the consolidation of more than 6,000 civilian high-technology jobs in Southern Maryland, and helping to secure the State’s investment of more than $200 million in the region’s infrastructure. In 1998, the U. S. Navy presented Hodge with a citation for meritorious service for his leadership in bringing about these results. In addition, Hodge supervised the development of the Southern Maryland Regional Strategy, which was unanimously adopted by the region’s elected officials. He received the 1999 Professional Achievement Award from the Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association for the development of the Regional Strategy.
During his 18-year tenure, the Tri-County Council addressed more than 250 public policy issues; helped launch the campaign to restore water quality in the Patuxent River; established a permanent MEDEVAC helicopter base in Southern Maryland; completed the first feasibility studies for light rail transit; developed Southern Maryland’s commuter bus system; secured enactment of legislation permanently establishing the Rural Maryland Council, a statewide advocacy organization for rural communities; helped establish the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center; and coordinated Maryland’s 350th Anniversary in 1984. As an appointed regional executive, Hodge was a member of the International City/County Management Association for 25 years.
In 1999, Hodge founded Regional Policy Advisors, a private sector consulting firm providing government relations, economic development, and strategic planning assistance to elected, civic, and business leaders. As an advisor to Southern Maryland’s farmers, he was one of the principal architects of the Maryland Tobacco Buyout Program.
Commissioner Hodge earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Emory University in Atlanta, is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia, and studied Public Administration in the Key Executive Program at The American University.
Commissioner Hodge represents Charles County on the Commission to Study Southern Maryland Transportation Needs, on the Executive Board of the Tri-Council for Southern Maryland, and on the Transportation Committee of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce. On December 13, 2007 he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland. He is the father of three grown sons.
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