About the Good Trouble Circle
Rooted in Queen Anne’s County. Inspired by a legacy. Built for this moment.
The Good Trouble Circle was born out of a simple but urgent observation: Queen Anne's County has thousands of registered Democrats who aren't voting — and a civic landscape where too many residents feel like their voices don't matter.
We knew that wasn't a problem advertising alone could solve. What QAC needed wasn't more noise. It needed relationships — trusted, sustained, community-rooted conversations that connect neighbors to each other and to the democratic process.
So we started making good trouble.
Inspired by the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis, the Good Trouble Circle launched with a commitment to do the quiet, unglamorous, essential work of civic engagement: showing up at community meetings, hosting candidate forums, knocking on doors, and making sure that QAC residents — especially those who have been historically overlooked — have a seat at the table.
Our Mission
The Good Trouble Circle exists to build an informed, activated and equitably represented community in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland—through civic education, candidate engagement, and relational organizing.
Our Values
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We don’t see community members as votes to be captured. We see neighbors whose lives are shaped by the decisions made in Annapolis and Washington — and who deserve to shape those decisions in return.
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QAC’s African American community and other underrepresented residents are not afterthoughts in our organizing — they are central to it. Good trouble, by definition, is about making room for those who’ve been kept out.
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We are a Democratic civic initiative, but our voter education work is grounded in factual information, not partisan pressure. We trust QAC residents to make their own informed choices.
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We hold candidates accountable to the community — through public forums, direct questions, and voter education. And we hold ourselves accountable to do this work with integrity.
The Good Trouble Legacy
Congressman John Lewis spent his life making what he called “good trouble” — nonviolent, principled action in service of justice. He believed ordinary people, organized and committed could change the world.
We believe that too. And we believe Queen Anne’s County is ready.
Meet the Team
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Chris Esters
FOUNDER
A lifelong Eastern Shore Marylander with deep roots in Queen Anne’s County. Retired higher education fundraising professional, certified health coach, and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. A member of the Queen Anne’s County Democratic Central Committee running for re-election June 2026. -
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Ed Esters
Core Team Lead
A retired professional project manager with experience in logistics, construction management, and telecommunications. Retired U.S. Air Force veteran. A native New Yorker who fell in love with the Eastern Shore and now calls Queen Anne’s County home. -
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Sonnie Kelly
Core Team Member
A proud product of Queen Anne’s County and one of GTC’s most dedicated organizers. If you found your way to GTC, there’s a good chance Sonnie had something to do with it. A candidate for the Queen Anne’s County Democratic Central Committee, June 2026. -
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Jim Hynson
Core Team Member
A longtime Queen Anne’s County resident and retired engineer with Delmarva Power. Jim has served on the housing authority, planning and zoning, and numerous other county boards. Few people know QAC’s inner workings as well as Jim does. -
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Roxy Hollis
Core Team Member
A native of Queen Anne’s County whose roots run deep in this community. Roxanne has spent years in the county school system shaping the next generation of QAC residents — and her commitment to this county didn’t stop when she retired. She shows up, consistently and wholeheartedly, for the people and places she calls home.
