Diane Fouché for Frederick County

About Diane…

Like many of you, I’ve known both triumph and hardship. I’ve had to make hard decisions. And every time, I chose growth, responsibility, and community. When I say I’ll do something, I get it done. When I say I’ll represent you, I mean it.

I’m originally from Weedville, Pennsylvania — a small, rural town in elk country. It was beautiful. It was tight-knit. But we were poor. Not hopeless — but trailer-living, kerosene-heating, one-income kind of poor. What we had was faith, family, and community. That foundation shaped me. It taught me resilience, gratitude, and personal responsibility.

I couldn’t afford college, but was determined to go. Student loans at 9.9% interest?  Yes.  It took nearly 30 years to pay them off. I went home after graduating, but jobs were scarce. My father told me there were two kinds of jobs in my hometown: factory jobs and good factory jobs. Neither would cover my loans.

So, I made a decision. I moved to Maryland with no job and no money. A cousin helped me with gas. I slept at a friend’s. Within a year, I had steady work, a car, and a rented room right here in Frederick County. I built my life the way many of you have — one step at a time.

I eventually found my calling in public procurement. No child grows up dreaming of becoming a procurement officer, but I quickly learned something important: procurement is the backbone of government. Nothing happens without it. Every school built, every park improved, every public safety contract awarded — it all flows through a transparent, competitive, legal process.

Procurement is where promises become reality — or don’t, depending on the politician.

I began working for Montgomery County Public Schools, helping teachers stretch tight budgets. During my time working there, I realized that teachers are the most impacted when public school administrations become top-heavy and self-serving. We need to ensure that our teachers have the tools and funding necessary to be affective and effective in the classroom so that our children can thrive. Later, I became Assistant Director of Purchasing for Howard County. There, I learned how to negotiate the most advantageous contracts to serve the citizens. I also learned executive leadership — how to build teams, implement financial systems, strengthen minority business programs, and create accountability in spending.

Then came the opportunity of a lifetime: Director of Procurement & Contracting for Frederick County.

For 13 years, I served as our County’s chief procurement officer. I led through charter government transition, developed greater oversight in expenditure, directed risk management, updated 40-year-old procurement legislation, and was the signatory on thousands of contracts worth millions of taxpayer dollars.

If you want someone who understands where your money goes — I do. Intimately.

I have seen which political promises are real and which are campaign slogans. And we’ve all witnessed how politicians can be bought by special interests. I understand the mechanics of government — funding streams, compliance requirements, negotiation frameworks, vendor accountability, and long-term risk. And I will use my knowledge to represent our residents.

But my life hasn’t just been professional growth.

During my career, I became a mother to two incredible daughters. I also faced the heartbreak of addiction in my first marriage. After years of sobriety, my then-husband relapsed. I faced 911 calls, courtrooms, and the fear that comes when addiction invades a home. I became a single mother of two young girls with no support.  Then the housing bubble burst. My mortgage nearly doubled and my home was in foreclosure.

That was not the life I had planned. But leadership is forged in adversity. I made the decision to protect my children, rebuild, and move forward. I worked. I persevered. I leaned on faith and community.

Later, I married a steady, supportive man who adopted my daughters as his own. We were blessed with a son and built our forever home in Thurmont. We planted roots. We healed. We built stability. We started a bird farm!

Through it all, I never stopped serving Frederick County.

I worked directly with small and local businesses, teaching them how to compete for government contracts. I negotiated disputes and built win-win solutions. I ensured funding was available before projects moved forward. I fought for transparency because taxpayers deserve to see where every dollar goes.

Here’s what 25 years in procurement taught me:

♦ Good government requires discipline.
♦ Leadership requires courage.
♦ Transparency requires intention.
♦ And accountability requires action.

I never thought about being a politician. I was content protecting the integrity of your tax dollars. But when I see leadership gaps, I don’t complain — I step up.  And when I saw flagrant abuse, I spoke out.

Frederick County deserves a leader who understands how government actually works. A leader who respects taxpayers. A leader who listens and then acts. A leader who values fiscal stewardship, transparency, and community input.

No silver-spoon here. I’ve worked for everything. I understand struggle. I understand responsibility. And I understand government operations at the highest level.

Frederick is an extraordinary place — its history, its people, its geography, and growing communities. My family is proud to call it home.

Voters deserve to know the character of the person asking for their trust.

I am a servant leader. I am a fiscal steward. And same as you…  I’ve experienced overcrowded roads, overwhelmed infrastructure, and uncontrolled growth.  I’ve felt the tax increases and noticed a reduction in services.  And I’ve heard leadership offer more empty promises – of future solutions.  And I’ve witnessed inaction.  Frederick needs community-led growth, preservation of our ideals, and transparency. 

I ran for County Executive because Frederick County deserves leadership that is experienced, transparent, and accountable. I lost that election to the most worthy opponent. A lifelong Frederick resident, an attorney and civil engineer, who served a term as Frederick City’s mayor, a man who loves Frederick and has the background and integrity to actually lead in this position, someone who wants to get back to the basics of government and make changes that will directly and positively impact our residents, a candidate I admire and am proud to support – William J. Holtzinger. But he’s so down to earth that he’s just “Jeff” to everyone who knows him.

I thought I was out of politics and was happy to support Jeff in his run for County Executive. Then the Republicans had an opening for the County Council At-Large candidacy. I was excited to apply to serve our great County in this capacity.

I would be honored to earn your vote as your next County Council At-Large representative— and I vow to bring action to your voice.

Call me! I’m happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns or suggestions. One-on-one, small groups, family gatherings. I’m absolutely available to meet!