What’s the job: The chief executive in Maryland’s largest counties. The executive proposes the county budget and is responsible for services and agencies, such as police, planning and development, and public works. Elected to a four-year term.

Democratic

Name: James Kitchin

James Kitchin, special assistant to Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, is running as a Democrat to succeed his boss.
Candidate James Kitchin. (Courtesy of James Kitchin)

Age: 41

Personal: Married, wife Lauren, two children, Isabela, 15, and Morgan, 13.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Point Loma Nazarene University; master’s degrees, interdisciplinary studies, Western New Mexico University, and international relations, Alliant International University; PhD in public policy, UMBC.

Experience: Member, senior management team of the Pittman administration since December 2018.

Questionnaire

Name: Kyle Nembhard

Kyle Nembhard.
Kyle Nembhard. (Friends of Kyle Nembhard)

Age: 43

Personal: Married, two children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, commerce and engineering, Drexel University; master’s degree, Morgan State University.

Experience: City and regional planner for the past 20 years in Maryland, primarily in transportation; professional certification in city and regional planning; experience in public involvement and stakeholder engagement for major capital projects.

Questionnaire

Name: Allison Pickard

Allison Pickard.
Allison Pickard. (Friends of Allison Pickard)

Age: 54

Personal: Married, three children, Georgia, Henry and Jamie.

Education: Georgetown University; bachelor’s degree, science, sociology; master’s-level certificate, nonprofit management, Georgia State University, School of Policy Studies.

Experience: Anne Arundel County Council, District 2, 2018-present; council chair, 2019, 2023; council representative, Maryland Association of Counties, 2019-present; board member, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Board of Education, 2015-2016; president, Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs, 2016-2017.

Questionnaire

Name: Pete Smith

Pete Smith.
Pete Smith. (Friends of Pete Smith)

Age: 46

Personal: Two children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, information technology, University of Phoenix; associate degree, general studies.

Experience: Anne Arundel County councilman, District 1, 2012-2018; 2022-present.

Questionnaire

Republican

Name: Dave Crawford

Dave Crawford.
Dave Crawford. (Courtesy of Dave Crawford)

Age: 66

Personal: Married, four stepchildren, five grandchildren.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, business management, Wittenberg University.

Experience: District sales manager, Performance Foodservice, 2017-present; chief, Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, 2017-present.

Questionnaire