Montgomery Countryside Alliance releases candidate survey on data centers, water and farms

By AI, Created 2:41 PM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – Montgomery Countryside Alliance has published unedited responses from 2026 local and state candidates in Montgomery County races, with questions centered on data centers, groundwater and support for farms. The survey aims to give voters a clearer view of where candidates stand on issues tied to the county’s agricultural reserve and water supply.

Why it matters: - Montgomery Countryside Alliance is trying to turn environmental and farm policy into a voting issue in Montgomery County’s 2026 races. - The survey focuses on data center development, groundwater protection and the county’s agricultural reserve, all of which affect residents, farms and local water resources. - The group says the questions matter because voters are weighing drought, sewage spills and pressure on the Potomac River.

What happened: - Montgomery Countryside Alliance released its 2026 candidate survey with unedited responses from candidates running for local and state offices in Montgomery County. - The survey has been part of the group’s election work in local election years since 2014. - The questionnaire was sent to candidates for County Executive, At-Large Council seats and all seven Council districts. - The survey also went to candidates for state senate and delegate seats in districts 9A, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 39. - Candidates had more than a month to respond, with frequent reminders.

The details: - MCA asked 10 questions of each candidate this year. - Supporters helped shape the survey by identifying the top issues in a March poll. - The top three topics were data centers, groundwater and the health of the Potomac River. - The Potomac was recently labeled “the nation’s most endangered river” by American Rivers. - That designation cited data centers in Virginia seeking millions of gallons from the river each day and aging infrastructure tied to a sewage spill. - Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve sits outside the WSSC water and sewer service area. - Residents in the reserve rely on groundwater wells for all uses, including agriculture. - MCA says the reserve includes 550-plus farms, generates $250 million in annual revenue and supports 10,000 jobs. - The group says the reserve covers 93,000 acres. - Studies show groundwater is more vulnerable than surface water during droughts. - The area’s fractured geology can let contaminants spread quickly over miles. - There is no other viable water source available for the reserve, according to MCA. - Data centers have become a major issue in Montgomery County because of a proposal for five data centers along the river in Dickerson on the site of the shuttered Pepco coal power plant. - The Dickerson site abuts Agricultural Reserve land. - County lawmakers are also weighing three competing proposals on data centers. - One proposal would allow data centers on all industrial land in the county, which MCA said totals more than 2,000 acres. - Two other proposals would impose moratoriums, one for six months and one for two years, while the issue is studied further. - MCA added a new feature this year that labels which local candidates are using the public financing system. - The addition came after feedback from supporters. - Caroline Taylor, MCA’s executive director, said environmental issues and farm issues get little attention in elections, but remain critically important in Montgomery County. - Taylor also said the survey gives candidates a chance to reach MCA’s network of supporters and stand out. - Taylor said some voters have told MCA the resource helped them decide how to vote.

Between the lines: - The survey puts pressure on candidates to take a public position on a set of local fights that combine land use, water policy and agriculture. - The public-financing label suggests MCA wants voters to compare not just issue positions, but also how campaigns are financed. - By centering groundwater and the Potomac, MCA is framing data center growth as a water-security issue, not just a development debate.

What’s next: - MCA will continue sharing the survey responses on its website, social media and email newsletters. - The results may become a voter guide as Montgomery County candidates campaign into the 2026 election season. - The group’s next round of outreach will likely focus on how candidates respond to development pressure and water-protection concerns.