Baltimore County Executive

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

Democratic

Name: Julian Jones

Age: 63

Personal: Married, three children and two grandchildren.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, information systems management, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; associate’s degree, Baltimore City Community College.

Experience: Baltimore County Council member, District 4, December 2014-present; county council chair four times: 2018-2019 and 2021-2025.

Questionnaire

Q: How will you address the rising cost of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: What do you think the county spends money on that it should not, and what do you think the county needs to invest more in? Is there any situation in which you would consider raising county taxes?

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: One in four Baltimore County residents is a senior citizen. What will you do to represent the interests of our aging population?

Q: What are your solutions to manage crime, or the perception of a rise in crime, as well as the safety and well-being of county residents?

Name: Izzy Patoka

Age: 69

Personal: Married, wife Denise, son Rory.

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, environmental planning, Towson University.

Experience: Baltimore County Council member, District 2, 2018-present; council chair, 2024.

Questionnaire

Q: How will you address the rising cost of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: What do you think the county spends money on that it should not, and what do you think the county needs to invest more in? Is there any situation in which you would consider raising county taxes?

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: One in four Baltimore County residents is a senior citizen. What will you do to represent the interests of our aging population?

Q: What are your solutions to manage crime, or the perception of a rise in crime, as well as the safety and well-being of county residents?

Name: Mansoor Shams

Age: 44

Personal: Married with children.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, business administration, Campbell University; dual master’s degrees, government and business administration (MBA), Johns Hopkins University.

Experience: Community engagement & outreach officer (leadership team), Baltimore County Department of Recreation & Parks.

Questionnaire

Q: How will you address the rising cost of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: What do you think the county spends money on that it should not, and what do you think the county needs to invest more in? Is there any situation in which you would consider raising county taxes?

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: One in four Baltimore County residents is a senior citizen. What will you do to represent the interests of our aging population?

Q: What are your solutions to manage crime, or the perception of a rise in crime, as well as the safety and well-being of county residents?

Name: Nick Stewart

Age: 42

Personal: Married, wife Katie, four children, Charlotte, Thomas, Henry and William.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, government & politics, University of Maryland, College Park; juris doctor, George Washington University Law School.

Experience: Baltimore County School Board member (including as vice chair); Baltimore County Workforce Development Board member; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutor; staff member for Martin O’Malley as Baltimore mayor and Maryland governor; co-founder, We The People – Baltimore County.

Questionnaire

Q: How will you address the rising cost of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: What do you think the county spends money on that it should not, and what do you think the county needs to invest more in? Is there any situation in which you would consider raising county taxes?

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: One in four Baltimore County residents is a senior citizen. What will you do to represent the interests of our aging population?

Q: What are your solutions to manage crime, or the perception of a rise in crime, as well as the safety and well-being of county residents?

Name: Pat Young

Age: 43

Personal: Married, two sons.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science, religious studies and philosophy, Towson University.

Experience: Baltimore County Council member, District 1 (2022-present); member, House of Delegates (2015-2022); deputy majority whip (2017-2022); chair, Baltimore County delegation, (2018-2022).

Questionnaire

Q: How will you address the rising cost of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: What do you think the county spends money on that it should not, and what do you think the county needs to invest more in? Is there any situation in which you would consider raising county taxes?

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: One in four Baltimore County residents is a senior citizen. What will you do to represent the interests of our aging population?

Q: What are your solutions to manage crime, or the perception of a rise in crime, as well as the safety and well-being of county residents?

Republican

Name: Patrick V. Dyer

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Name: Kimberley Stansbury

Candidate did not respond to The Banner’s voter guide questionnaire.

Unaffiliated

Name: Rob Daniels

Age: 54

Personal: Partnered

Education: Bachelor’s degree, pre-law, University of Baltimore; juris doctor, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Experience: Maryland assistant attorney general representing the Maryland Department of Transportation/State Highway Administration; assistant state’s attorney (Carroll, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City).

Questionnaire

Q: How will you address the rising cost of living and affordability concerns in Baltimore County?

Q: What do you think the county spends money on that it should not, and what do you think the county needs to invest more in? Is there any situation in which you would consider raising county taxes?

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: One in four Baltimore County residents is a senior citizen. What will you do to represent the interests of our aging population?

Q: What are your solutions to manage crime, or the perception of a rise in crime, as well as the safety and well-being of county residents?