Cameron Wells, Frederick, MD
As a lifelong Frederick County resident, graduate of Frederick Community College, class of 2026 at Hood College, and as a future social worker committed to policy, advocacy, and the well-being of my community; I strongly support Derek Shackelford and oppose Katie Nash for City Council. Communities thrive when the people who live, work, and pay taxes truly feel represented by their elected officials. In my view, Katie Nash does not reflect the values or priorities of Frederick City residents, particularly given her active lobbying for data centers and large energy corporations. Her close relationships with these companies raise significant concerns about bias in her role as Council President.

Beyond the numerous health risks associated with data centers, risks that disproportionately affect already vulnerable residents, Nash’s associations with companies such as Amazon, NTT Data Services, and especially Vistra (located in Texas) do not, in my opinion, generate meaningful job growth or economic benefit for Frederick City. Instead, they appear to serve the interests of those corporations and Nash herself. Nash has received over $350,000 from Vistra, while HUD’s 2025 data shows that the median income for Frederick City residents is $62,515. This contrast underscores how far removed her priorities seem from those of the general community, and why I believe she is not the right choice to represent us.

Additionally, democracy is a constitutional right. Any effort to transfer decision-making power away from voters and into the hands of the council, under any circumstances, undermines Frederick City’s democratic process. The people affected by council decisions should be the ones selecting their representatives. In closing, I want to reiterate that, based on her actions and affiliations, I do not believe Katie Nash is an ethical or community-aligned choice for City Council. I fully and strongly support Derek Shackelford.

My name is Caroline Dato and I am a citizen of downtown Frederick, MD. As a social worker working in the City of Frederick for over 4 years, I am deeply committed to bringing more diversity and equity to our amazing city. I am in deep support of Derek Shackleford for City Council president and oppose Katie Nash for City Council president. As a tax paying citizen who wants to uphold the democratic processes and firmly opposes corporate corruption, I have major concerns over Nash’s previous lobbying registrations such as Amazon, NTT Data Services and Schneider Electric Buildings America, all of which have dealings involving data centers. Data centers wreck havoc for working class citizens in which they operate while filling the pockets of those who lobby for them. From May 1 to October 31, 2025 Nash was a lobbyist for Vistra receiving over $30,000 from Vistra during that period. A 2024 research project at the University of California, Riverside and Caltech found that data centers could contribute to 600,000 asthma-related symptom cases by 2030, with overall public health costs exceeding $20 billion. And we know in America those who are most marginalized see the worst outcomes. Between environmental racism and gentrification, these troubling health impacts will disproportionately affect communities of color and exacerbate existing health disparities. While Nash may dismiss her conflict of interest, we all know that this is a catalyst for biased work that will support the will of corporations over the citizens of Frederick. I also oppose the 2021 legislative changed that allowed current City Council president to make a vote for that City Council president seat over a citizen vote. In a time where democracy is fading in our country, it is disheartening and shameful to hear this decision was made back in 2021. May I remind everyone that our constitution starts with "We the People" because we - the working class - are the people who are in power and guide our civil servants - you, the elected. Again, I strongly support Derek Shackleford as City Council president and strongly oppose any decision that does not align with the wants and needs of Frederick citizens.