Frequently Asked Questions

My name is Lara (rhymes with Sara) Shepherd. I was born in Washington County Hospital and was raised here by two parents who have worked in the Washington County School System. I went to Lincolnshire Elementary, Northern Middle, and graduated from North Hagerstown, and then went on to college at Shippensburg University to get my Bachelors Degree in Speech Communications. I have two kids, and both went to Washington County public schools and are now in college. Since they both left and I noticed there was a lot going on in this community, I wanted to get more involved. So, that is why I began my county commissioner campaign. 

I work in a pretty blue-collar environment, and when people discuss diversity, equity and inclusion, I always add that we were always taught to diversify and that we need to build equity. And don’t we all want to be invited? Don't we all want to be heard? If we move off of these basic pillars, then it’s a no-brainer that all persons, all adults, and all children need to be invited and have a voice. We need to make sure that we include everyone in the community; and that includes making sure every citizen has the opportunity to speak at the BOCC meetings. 

One of the things that I am actively involved in as a part of a second-chance employer is reentry. People that are ready for work release can come if they have skills that are eligible for one of our skilled positions, or they can come in for an entry level position and work to build their careers. I got involved with Gatekeepers Resource Club, and one of the things that I have learned is that the recidivism rate drops tremendously when people have access to pathways to move forward and live a secure life. They can gain a job and use public transportation, then begin making money to provide for themselves, and then they become a taxpayer that gives back to the community. It has been amazing to watch people come out and start their journey because they have someone supporting them. I want to continue being part of that support. 

Teacher and staff pay and retention are a huge deal here. As someone who works in human resources, I understand how much pay matters, especially when you go through times like this; times where people are working to afford gas, food, etc. As of right now, teachers are not our top earners, and they need to be. They’re doing way more than just teaching. They’re acting as social workers and parents. We need to show them value by making sure that they are able to take care of themselves and their families. One of the things I want to focus on is the cannabis tax. There is so much money coming in from this tax, and I look at all the different possibilities that there are for tweaking the avenues in which this tax money can be spent. There has got to be a way to take all of this money and start moving it into our education system with teacher pay, youth programs, mental health support and resources. 

I care about our fire and EMS services. Our call volumes are going up. Our community is growing. If your home is on fire with your loved one trapped inside every minute of response time counts. We need to make sure we are prepared for growth. We need to continue to fund equipment, training and personnel.

I am very involved in the community, and there are so many things that I like and so many things I would like to do more with. One of the things that I got to watch take off is a non-profit called Eliza’s House downtown. I talked with the creator, who made me their Chief Inspiration Officer. One of the coolest things about this place is that we’re meeting people where they are. A lot of people say that they hate downtown, and that they are uncomfortable with what they were seeing on the street. I remember thinking that I could probably name those people out there, and that I had probably served them coffee or given them clothes when they came into Eliza’s House. It’s become a safe place where they feel welcomed when they walk in there. What a great space. It got me thinking if we could do more. Instead of having policies where people are woken up by the police and asked to move on. While we aren’t locking them up, it’s uncomfortable to be moved away by an officer. While there are more and more people that need affordable housing, creating safe spaces is something we need to focus on.