Op-Ed: We Need More Opportunity in Kent County By Sam Shoge

Like many people in Kent County, I’ve had moments where it felt like there was just too much month left at the end of a paycheck.

For me, those moments were especially real when we had two kids in daycare. Anyone who has been there knows—those bills don’t care what you earn or where you live. They show up the same every month.

Those experiences reinforced something many working families already know: there’s a common misconception that Kent County is a cheap place to live—that because we’re rural, salaries don’t need to be as high. But that hasn’t been my experience. And I know I’m not alone. Childcare, housing, and everyday costs don’t adjust just because we’re rural.

Because the truth is, if you didn’t have help buying your home, aren’t already connected to an established local business or profession, or aren’t in one of the few fields with strong local demand, making a real living here—without commuting long distances or relying on extra income—can be incredibly difficult.

I’ve lived that reality.

Over the years, my career hasn’t followed a straight line. I’ve worked at Washington College, Talbot County Government, and had the honor of leading the Kent County Chamber of Commerce. Along the way, I started a drone photography business, launched a product-based business, and became a licensed commercial real estate broker.

From the outside, that might look like bouncing around.

But what it really was—was trying to make it work.

Each move had a reason. I left roles when I hit ceilings with no path to grow. I took on side ventures to build new skills and bring in additional income when my primary job wasn’t enough. When I was running the Chamber—one of the greatest honors of my life—I was also raising a family, and a modest salary without benefits simply wasn’t sustainable.

That’s the quiet reality for a lot of people here. This isn’t about complaining—it’s about being honest about what it takes to make a life here today.

We piece things together. We take on extra work. We make tradeoffs. And too often, we’re forced to look outside the county—either for opportunity or for a future.

The reality for many is simple: there aren’t enough opportunities here.

And the numbers tell the same story. Since 2002, Kent County’s civilian labor force has declined by nearly 20 percent. That’s thousands fewer working-age residents participating in our local economy than a generation ago. At the same time, many of the employers that once provided career opportunities for dozens of local residents have disappeared, downsized, or consolidated. Where Kent County once had a number of employers with more than fifty employees, today only a handful remain.

Too few employers have the scale to offer real career pathways. Too few positions allow people to grow into leadership roles. And when someone does move on from a job or a company, there are very few lateral—or upward—options available here in Kent County.

That leaves people with a choice: commute, relocate, or start over.

It also keeps wages suppressed. I’ve seen firsthand, through nonprofit work and board service, a mindset that a $40,000–$50,000 salary without benefits is a strong full-time executive wage in Kent County. That expectation doesn’t reflect today’s reality—and it contributes to constant turnover and instability in organizations we depend on.

And even when a local employer finds the right candidate—someone who could truly make an impact—there’s another challenge: their spouse often can’t find a suitable job here. So they leave.

This is how communities stagnate—not because people don’t care, but because the system doesn’t give them enough to stay.

I’m fortunate today to be in a different position. I now run my own firm, which will celebrate five years this September. But getting here wasn’t a straight path—and it shouldn’t require entrepreneurial risk for people who want to build a life in the community they love.

That’s one of the reasons I’m running for County Commissioner.

We need to focus on increasing opportunity in Kent County.

That means making economic opportunity a priority. It means supporting the businesses we have, attracting new employers, and creating an environment where companies can invest, grow, and hire locally. Most importantly, it means creating more pathways for people to build a career, support a family, and see a future for themselves right here in Kent County.

For too many people, pursuing opportunity has meant leaving Kent County, commuting elsewhere, or putting their ambitions on hold. It doesn’t have to be that way.

If we get this right, more people won’t just stay here—they’ll be able to build their future here. They’ll be able to build careers, support their families, and contribute to the community they love.

That’s the Kent County I believe in. And that’s the future worth working toward.