Rothstein is leaving his District 5 seat on July 31, about 17 months early. The retired Army colonel was named by Gov. Wes Moore last week to lead the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families.

The Republican’s second and final term was set to end in December 2026, so the local central committee is tasked with nominating his replacement to serve his remaining term. Once a nomination is submitted to the governor, the individual must be appointed within 15 days.

Carroll County’s commissioners can only serve two consecutive four-year terms. Rothstein was reelected to his District 5 post in 2022, defeating two Republican challengers in the July primary, Kate M. Maerten and Cathey Allison.

Up until late last week, there were no candidates for Rothstein’s District 5 seat. On Friday, former Sykesville Town Council member Alan Grasley, a Republican, turned in his paperwork to run in 2026.

When contacted Monday, Grasley would not comment about whether he would consider filling the remainder of Rothstein’s term.

District 5 covers the southeastern portion of Carroll County, including Eldersburg and Sykesville.

Each of the four other members of the Board of Carroll County Commissioners has filed to run for reelection in their respective districts. All are Republicans.

Joe Vigliotti, who represents District 1, which includes the City of Taneytown, was the first to file, in March. District 2 Commissioner Kenneth Kiler and District 4 Commissioner Michael Guerin filed for reelection in May. As of Monday none of the three had an opponent.

In District 3 there are two candidates on the ballot — incumbent Tom Gordon and candidate Marsha Herbert, both Republicans. The two also faced off in 2022 for the District 3 seat. Gordon won the 2022 Republican primary with 1,710 votes to Herbert’s 1,511.

Rothstein’s military career spanned three decades, with several deployments and multiple duty stations. He began his military career in 1983, when he enlisted in the Army Reserve. In 1990, he transitioned to military intelligence corps. During his final military assignment, Rothstein served as garrison commander at Fort George G. Meade U.S. Army Installation, where he supported more than 227,000 personnel across five states. He retired in 2014.

“Ed’s track record as a distinguished Army veteran and a devoted public servant demonstrates his commitment to live mission first, people always,” Moore said. “During this next critical phase of our work, he will help lead our efforts to build a state that is safer, more affordable, more competitive — and one that leaves no one behind.”

Rothstein, of Eldersburg, called it an “honor” to represent Carroll County’s District 5.

“I promise to bring the same work ethic, passion, and integrity to this new role,” he said in a county-issued news release last week.