This political season has brought no shortage of national talking points into state and local races. Some of those issues matter deeply to voters. But in local government, candidates should be judged first on the responsibilities of the offices they seek, and on the problems they have the power to address.

A “red herring” is an argument or claim that distracts from the central issue. In Montgomery County, the central issue should be whether local leaders have managed the County effectively and whether candidates are offering realistic solutions to the challenges directly within their authority.

Adam Pagnucco of “Montgomery Perspective” recently made a similar point, writing that “…there is not a whole lot a state legislator or County official can do about Trump… .” He added that many state and local candidates continue to talk about national politics frequently, even when the offices they seek have limited or no influence over national matters. Can you say “Red Herring”?

His broader point is worth considering: voters deserve more than national slogans. They deserve clear answers about local budgets, taxes, public safety, schools, housing, and economic growth.

The County’s spending has gone up 44% in 8 years under candidate Marc Elrich and the current County Council. We don’t have a revenue problem in the County, we have a spending problem. The current political class candidates offer no solutions to this issue they created. Voters are entitled to ask whether that level of spending and required taxation is sustainable, how it compares with inflation, and whether current services are producing adequate results. The debate should not simply be framed as whether the County needs more revenue. It should also include serious discussion about spending priorities, efficiency, and long-term fiscal discipline.

I discussed some of these concerns in a recent WJLA interview on county spending and taxes.

Each budget season seems like the movie “Ground Hog Day.” The County Executive proposes an impossible budget, the County Council debates reductions, and the final result often still represents significant spending growth over the current rate of inflation, and they blame it on Washington. This is a local County problem.

Economic development is another area where local officials have direct responsibility. Candidates often promise to “bring jobs to Montgomery County,” but job creation depends heavily on whether private employers believe the county is a good place to invest, grow, hire, and remain. Again, this is a local County issue. If the political class knew how to bring jobs to the County, they would have done it by now.

“Government itself does not create private-sector jobs, businesses do.” Local government’s role is to create an environment where businesses can succeed. That means competitive taxes, predictable regulations, responsive permitting, responsible planning, and a practical understanding of what employers and small-business owners face every day. Again, this is a local County issue.

It was the locally elected members of the County Council that voted to remove school resource officers (SROs) from schools, and look at the violence that we are experiencing in MCPS.

Another self-inflicted wound is rent control which effectively halted the planning for new multifamily housing in the County. Rent control and related housing regulations may be well-intentioned, but they can also affect whether developers move forward with new multifamily housing. If the County wants more housing supply, affordability, and economic growth, local officials must honestly evaluate whether current policies are helping or discouraging new construction.

National politics will always influence local campaigns, and candidates are free to discuss national issues. But voters should expect those candidates to connect their local arguments to the actual powers and duties of the office they seek.

Montgomery County faces real local challenges: budget growth, taxes, school safety, housing supply, business climate, and population trends. These issues deserve more than campaign rhetoric. They require specific plans, measurable goals, and accountability from the people asked to govern.

Local candidates should focus less on national political theater and more on the work they can actually do. Voters deserve to know how they will manage the County’s finances, improve schools, support public safety, expand housing, and create conditions for private-sector job growth.

I’m calling out the political class to step up and present specific ideas that fall within your office’s authority.