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: Cat Carter

Cat Carter.
Cat Carter. (Erin White Photography)

Age: 40

Personal: Cat Carter is a mother, advocate, small cybersecurity business owner, and District 5 resident whose life has been shaped by perseverance. Raised by Army parents, she learned early the value of service. After her father commuted hours to work in Maryland because housing was unaffordable, Cat was determined to create a different path for her own children. She and her husband bought a fixer-upper and spent almost 20 years rebuilding it so their family could stay in Howard County and attend its public schools. As District 5 County Council member, she will advocate for living within our revenue through policies that make Howard County more livable and affordable.

Living in Woodbine deepened Cat’s commitment to preserving Western Howard’s green spaces. As a landowner who stood up against development pressure on her own property, she understands what residents are fighting to protect. Her advocacy is also rooted in motherhood—her fight for her son’s educational rights helped inspire broader policy changes benefiting other families. Having knocked on thousands of doors across District 5, Cat has built strong ties throughout the community and is running to protect the quality of life that brought her family here. Find out more at vote4catcarter.com

Education: Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a focus in English.

Experience: Cat Carter is a small cybersecurity business owner, former teacher, PTA Council of Howard County President, and longtime advocate with a record of turning ideas into action. As a candidate of change and the only publicly financed candidate in District 5, she has focused her service on stronger schools, fiscal responsibility, healthcare access, and protecting quality of life. Through the HCPSS Operating Budget Review Committee and Security Taskforce, she has worked on responsible budgeting, school safety reforms, and ensuring growth does not outpace infrastructure and emergency services.

Her advocacy has produced meaningful results, including advancing the Atticus Act and Screening Reporting Bill, reforming education policy for visually disabled students, protecting Maryland physicians treating Lyme disease, improving care for soldiers with traumatic brain injuries, and helping shape Maryland Board of Education policy requiring schools to share reportable offenses when students transfer. She has championed Federally Qualified Health Centers, sustainable vision care access, and practical affordability solutions. Endorsed by educators, labor, environmental advocates, and community leaders, Cat has knocked on over 4,000 doors hearing one clear message: keep big money out of politics. She is running to bring fresh leadership, proven results, and a woman’s voice to District 5.

Questionnaire

Name: Felita Phillips

Felita Phillips.
Felita Phillips. (Friends of Felita Phillips)

Age: 59

Personal: I grew up in Columbia when it was a new, diverse community. I loved it so much that I raised my 2 kids there. Both of my children graduated from Howard County public schools. My daughter is a public school teacher, and my son is in the Army National Guard. I am an avid soccer player, referee, fan, and coach. I coach soccer at Chaplegate Christian Academy. I am very practical, and I look for solutions that solve problems not just quick fixes that are good camera opportunities. I live and love the county that I live in. I want to serve on the council to better my county not myself.

Education: I am a University of Maryland graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Experience: I currently serve on the Board of Appeals, where I see firsthand where some changes should be made to make the Board of Appeals more accessible to the residents of this county.

Questionnaire

Republican

Name: Ryan O’Connor

Ryan O'Connor.
Ryan O'Connor. (Courtesy of Ryan O'Connor)

Age: 48

Personal: I was born and raised in Ellicott City and attended the HCPSS throughout my childhood. My wife and I have 3 children who have all benefitted from HCPSS, 2 of which will be in HCPSS through my term as councilman.

Education: Loyola University (MD) MBA Finance

Experience: Farmer Mac - Relationship Manager

U.S. Department of Energy - Supervisory, Credit Risk OfficerNextEra Energy - Senior Manager, Project Finance

Questionnaire