Baltimore County Council District 1

What’s the job: The legislative branch of Maryland’s county governments. Responsible for introducing and voting on legislation, approving county spending and providing oversight of county operations. Elected to a four-year term.

Democratic

Name: Paul Dongarra

Age: 56

Personal: Married, wife Rebecca, three children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, history, St. Mary’s College of Maryland; teaching certificate, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; project management professional certification, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Experience: Treasurer and co-chair, Executive Committee of the Sierra Club Greater Baltimore Group; district captain for Maryland Sierra Club Lobby Night; owner, Tablefield Catering; co-chair, Catonsville Presbyterian Child Care Center; member, Board of Deacons at Catonsville Presbyterian Church.

Questionnaire

Q: What is the number one issue in your district, and how do you plan to address it?

Q: What policies would you pursue to address rising costs of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: Baltimore County is facing a 19,000-unit deficit in housing. How do you plan to address this?

Q: Baltimore County has long faced accusations about backdoor dealing and limited transparency. How do you plan to earn people’s trust in local government?

Q: As the council expands and becomes more diverse, how will you work to build consensus and collaborate with colleagues who hold different perspectives?

Name: Mandy Remmell

Age: 36

Personal: Married, one son and one step-daughter

Education: Lansdowne High School; attended Community College of Baltimore County.

Experience: District director for Congressman Johnny Olszewski; District 1 coordinator and director of community engagement, County Executive’s Office.

Questionnaire

Q: What is the number one issue in your district, and how do you plan to address it?

Q: What policies would you pursue to address rising costs of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: Baltimore County is facing a 19,000-unit deficit in housing. How do you plan to address this?

Q: Baltimore County has long faced accusations about backdoor dealing and limited transparency. How do you plan to earn people’s trust in local government?

Q: As the council expands and becomes more diverse, how will you work to build consensus and collaborate with colleagues who hold different perspectives?

Name: N. Westcott, V

Age: 60

Personal: Born and Raised in Maryland.

Education: Attended Hampton University, Old Dominion University, UMBC

Experience: Ran for State Senate in 1998.

Questionnaire

Q: What is the number one issue in your district, and how do you plan to address it?

Q: What policies would you pursue to address rising costs of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: Baltimore County is facing a 19,000-unit deficit in housing. How do you plan to address this?

Q: Baltimore County has long faced accusations about backdoor dealing and limited transparency. How do you plan to earn people’s trust in local government?

Q: As the council expands and becomes more diverse, how will you work to build consensus and collaborate with colleagues who hold different perspectives?

Republican

Name: Rheagan Kindle

Age: 46

Personal: Married, mother of three.

Education: I am a High School graduate who pursued diverse studies at Howard Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), focusing on interior design and criminal justice.

Experience: Childcare worker and tutor; treasurer, Baltimore County GOP.

Questionnaire

Q: What is the number one issue in your district, and how do you plan to address it?

Q: What policies would you pursue to address rising costs of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: Baltimore County is facing a 19,000-unit deficit in housing. How do you plan to address this?

Q: Baltimore County has long faced accusations about backdoor dealing and limited transparency. How do you plan to earn people’s trust in local government?

Q: As the council expands and becomes more diverse, how will you work to build consensus and collaborate with colleagues who hold different perspectives?