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Justin Kiska to Run for At-large County Council Seat

Frederick County businessman Justin M. Kiska will be a candidate for the new Frederick County Council in this year’s election.  The 34-year-old business executive and theatre producer will be running for one of the two at-large council seats.  His official paperwork will be filed with the Board of Elections later this week.

Frederick County has been Justin’s home since he was five years old.   Growing up in Walkersville, he graduated from Walkersville High School then attended The George Washington University where he earned a degree in Communications and studied Political Science.

While still in college, Justin joined the Presidential Campaign of Former Transportation and Labor Secretary Elizabeth Dole, starting as a volunteer and working his way up to joining the Campaign Finance team.  Following the campaign he went to work for Jack Kemp and Bill Bennett as a Policy Intern at Empower America.  He returned to Elizabeth Dole’s office in 2000, where he served as Secretary Dole’s Special Assistant and Scheduler for the next two years.

Having "grown up" at the feet of such luminaries and true public servants like Jack Kemp, Bill Bennett, and Bob and Elizabeth Dole, he learned how service and doing what is right is far more important than politics.  Serving one’s community, at any level, is a serious responsibility.

 While always interested in business and government, Justin was also very involved with the area’s theatre community.  He returned to Frederick when his family took over The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre twelve years ago, where he is currently the company’s President and Managing Director.  He is also the Chairman of WOB LIVE! Entertainment, the division of Way Off Broadway that handles all of the company’s activities outside of the theatre itself.  His years in business have only strengthened his belief that practical, common sense solutions are what are needed in a leader. 

Active in the community, Justin is the President of the Golden Mile Alliance, an organization created to help revitalize the Golden Mile Corridor.  Justin was appointed to the organization by Mayor Randy McClement who originally created it as an ad hoc committee of the City of Frederick.  Upon the group’s incorporation into an independent non-profit, Justin was elected the GMA’s first Secretary of the Board of Directors in 2012.

 "This year’s election is extremely important," says Justin.  "With Frederick's new form of government, it is important for the new County Council to have leaders ready to guide Frederick into the future.  The members of the County Council will be faced with countless decisions over the next four years, and they need to be willing to do what is best for the people of Frederick regardless of politics.  Practical, common sense leadership is key to Frederick's future success."