HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Neil Parrott, a Republican former state delegate and traffic engineer with decades of public service experience, was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners.
Parrott was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to complete the term of Commissioner Derek Harvey, who resigned effective Feb. 24, citing new business opportunities. Harvey, a Republican elected in 2022, had been serving a four-year term.
The Washington County Republican Central Committee nominated Parrott in March, and Moore – a Democrat – made the appointment March 26 despite policy disagreements with Parrott. State law required the governor to name the committee’s nominee.
The Maryland Senate confirmed the appointment 43-0 on April 8.
Parrott, who lives in Washington County with his wife, April, said he was grateful Moore followed state law.
“I look forward to working with the governor to help improve the lives of Washington County residents,” he said in a statement, citing support for widening Interstate 81 as one example.
A lifelong Marylander born in Bethesda, Parrott, 55, earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1994 and later obtained his professional engineer’s license.
He worked as a traffic engineer with the Maryland State Highway Administration in Frederick County and as an engineer for the city of Frederick before founding Traffic Solutions Inc., a Hagerstown-based traffic consulting firm, in 2003. He also holds an MBA from Mount St. Mary’s University.
Parrott served three terms in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 2B from 2011 to 2015 and District 2A from 2015 to 2023. He chaired the Washington County delegation from 2015 to 2018 and was a member of the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland. His legislative priorities included public safety, support for seniors and veterans, and economic development.
In the community, Parrott and his family founded the Hagerstown Area Summer Swimming program in 2016. As head coach, he helped expand it to serve more than 1,000 young swimmers across the county and partnered with the Boys & Girls Club and the city of Hagerstown to offer affordable swim lessons. An Eagle Scout, he previously coached swim teams from 1989 to 1999 and soccer.
Parrott has run unsuccessfully for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District three times, most recently in 2024. He said he does not plan to seek election to the commissioner seat in 2026.
Parrott’s first board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28. In welcoming him, the commissioners lauded his engineering expertise, business leadership and community involvement.
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