Berlin, August 7, 2026 – Matthew Stoehr, current Chairman of the Berlin Planning Commission, has officially declared his intention to run for the District 1 seat on the Berlin Town Council this fall. Stoehr, a Berlin resident since 2015, seeks to leverage his extensive professional background and experience on the Planning Commission to serve the community.
Stoehr’s Background and Professional Experience
Stoehr, who moved to Berlin from Ocean City in 2015, has been an active participant in the town’s civic life. He joined the Berlin Planning Commission in 2019 and has held the position of chairman for the past two and a half years. His decision to run for Town Council comes as Councilmember Steve Green, who currently holds the District 1 seat, prepares to vacate his position to assume a role on the Worcester County Commissioners after the November general election.
A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School in 2006, Stoehr holds an undergraduate degree in finance from Salisbury University and a Master of Business Administration from Wilmington University in Delaware. His professional career began at the age of 22, primarily in office settings. He is also the owner of Mast Contracting, a home remodeling company.
Stoehr believes his diverse professional experience will be a significant asset on the Town Council. “Although those are a little different than what goes into the public sector, you always have to be able to learn something new because you have to be the expert in everything,” Stoehr stated. He emphasized the importance of research, asking pertinent questions, and providing clear answers to residents. He also highlighted that owning a business has equipped him with the ability to make “tough and unpopular decisions,” a quality he deems crucial for a council member.
Key Issues and Campaign Platform
Communication stands as a central pillar of Stoehr’s campaign. While acknowledging that the municipality has improved transparency, he noted that the prevalence of social media has created an expectation among residents for constant information, which can be challenging for town leaders to meet. “With Facebook, Instagram, and social media, people want information continuously,” Stoehr said. “I think sometimes that can be tough to do, but you need to have open and honest communication, and that’s what I plan on doing.” He added that he is prepared to deliver unpopular truths if necessary, prioritizing honesty over false expectations.
Another significant issue for Stoehr is annexation. As a member of the Planning Commission, he has consistently opposed expanding the town’s boundaries. Instead, he advocates for prioritizing construction on infill lots within Berlin’s existing borders. “The other thing I hope to accomplish is continuing with infill,” he explained. “We go up, and we fill in the empty lots in town. I want to continue to push for that, whether it’s commercial, mixed residential, mixed commercial, mixed use.” Stoehr argues that infill development generates additional tax revenue without placing further strain on the town’s resources such as trash collection, wastewater management, fire, and police services, thereby preserving Berlin’s small-town character.
Commitment to Constituent Service and Open Dialogue
Stoehr expressed his commitment to serving his constituents through open and honest communication and a willingness to consider diverse perspectives. He credits his time on the Berlin Planning Commission for honing these skills. “Sitting in meetings, there would be other people on the planning commission who had differing viewpoints,” he recalled. “I would talk to them before, during, and after the meetings, and it was so important to hear a different person’s viewpoint to get out of your own echo chamber. And there were times it absolutely changed my opinion on something because I began to listen to stuff from the other side.”
Upcoming Municipal Election Details
The Berlin municipal election is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, and will determine the town’s District 1, District 4, and at-large delegates. Those elected will serve four-year terms. So far, Tony Weeg, founder of We Heart Berlin, has filed for the District 4 seat, which is currently held by Council Vice President Dean Burrell, who intends to step down. Incumbent Jay Knerr has also filed for re-election to the at-large seat. The deadline for other interested candidates to file is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8. For write-in candidates, the filing deadline is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22.
Source: https://www.octodaydispatch.com/news/current-berlin-commission-chair-will-seek-council-seat/article_a71f1140-801e-4cca-babe-95da9dac75ab.html
