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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: Kevin Chin
Age: 38
Personal: I grew up in neighboring Montgomery County, but I have called Ellicott City home since moving here with my wife Alyssa in 2019. I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park. I received a scholarship to study medicine in Miami, and I spent the next 8 years in Miami and then Orlando where I by luck met my wife, a fellow Marylander. We moved back to be closer to family in 2018. Since then I have worked at Medstar as an Emergency Room Physician. Witnessing the affordability crisis at work everyday, I became more active locally to make a positive impact in my community. In my spare time, you can find me playing on the soccer field, exploring our parks in the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area, and enjoying the diverse foods that Howard County offers. My wife and I welcomed our son in 2025, and we are fortunate to call Ellicott City and Howard County home.
Education: Dual Degree B.S. Neurobiology and B.S. Psychology University of Maryland College Park
Doctor of Medicine University of MiamiBoard Certified in Emergency Medicine
Experience: Emergency Medicine Physician at Medstar
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine Georgetown UniversitySteering Committee Member of Howard County Housing Affordability CoalitionBoard Member of Patapsco Heritage GreenwayOperating Budget Review Committee for Howard County Public School System
Questionnaire
Name: James Handley
Age: 41
Personal: My wife, Garima, and I are raising our three sons (ages 5, 2, and 3 months) in Ellicott City, Maryland. Since moving to Ellicott City, nearly a decade ago, I have been active in the community and local politics, volunteering to elect effective Democrats to office, serving on local non-profit boards, and running the Ellicott City & Western Howard Democratic Club.
Education: University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Juris Doctor
Indiana University, Bachelor of Arts – History; Bachelor of Arts – Political Science; Hutton Honors College Notation; and U.S. Army ROTC Cadet
Experience: Assistant Attorney General – Civil Litigation Division, Maryland Office of the Attorney General
I represent Maryland and its agencies, officials and employees in complex and significant civil litigation in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels, including filing Maryland’s lawsuit to stop Trump from firing probationary federal employees.Captain, United States Army - Armor OfficerI led 20 soldiers as a Platoon Leader in 150 combat missions over an 11-month deployment in Northwestern Iraq. I also maintained the availability of combat assets and battlefield information during nine-month deployment to combat operations in Afghanistan as a Squadron Operations Officer.Boy Scouts of America – Eagle Scout; Howard County Leadership Essentials 2020 Cohort; Daily Records’ VIP – Successful By 40 List Award Winner; President of the Ellicott City & Western Howard Democratic Club 2020-2022; Community Ecology Institute Board of Directors 2021-2023.
Questionnaire
Name: Jean Xu
Age: 56
Personal: I am a longtime Howard County resident and a mother who has spent nearly 20 years actively involved in our community. My husband and I raised two children through our public schools.
I immigrated to the United States from China more than 30 years ago in search of opportunity. Over time, I became deeply engaged in our community, serving as a PTA leader, a member of the HCPSS Operating Budget Review Committee, and on county boards including the Ethics Commission and the Board of Appeals.I also founded the Chinese American Parent Association (CAPA) to help families, especially immigrant families, navigate the school system and access resources. My work has focused on supporting students, strengthening families, and building a more connected and inclusive community.
Education: Johns Hopkins University — MBA
University of South Carolina — MS, BiostatisticsPeking University — BS, Statistics
Experience: Chair, Howard County Ethics Commission: Provide oversight on ethics matters, financial disclosures, and advisory opinions to uphold transparency and public trust.
Member, Howard County Board of Appeals: Serve in a quasi-judicial role reviewing land use, zoning, and development cases.Federal Subcontractor, U.S. Department of Labor Supported equal employment cases and compliance efforts.Founder and Community Leader, Chinese American Parent Association (CAPA)
Founded and led a nonprofit supporting families, especially immigrant families, in navigating the school system and accessing resources.Education Advocate and PTA LeaderNearly 20 years of involvement with HCPSS, including the Operating Budget Review Committee and PTA leadership.
Senior Business Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers: Provided litigation support in market infringement cases, including data analysis, financial review, and case support.
