Longtime Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach resigns

Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach, who has represented the northernmost reaches of the district for 12 years, has resigned from his position, effective immediately.

Kach, who has been ill for several months and rarely attended meetings in person this year, said his resignation was effective May 7. But his colleagues on the County Council only learned of his departure Friday night.

“It is with deep regret that I must step down due to health reasons that were unforeseeable prior to my last election in 2022,” Kach wrote in a letter to Chairman Mike Ertel. “I have spent over 51 years in public service, and my greatest pleasure has been representing my constituents in the northern, western and eastern areas of Baltimore County.”

Kach, 79, is the longest serving Republican in Maryland history. Prior to his election to the council, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 40 years.

Kach’s sudden resignation leaves about 120,000 residents of North County unrepresented. The district is the largest, land-wise, in the county and includes developed areas like Lutherville and Timonium as well as rural ones like Monkton and Parkton. It stretches all the way to the Pennsylvania line up Interstate 83 and York Roads.

The Republican Central Committee for Kach’s district has 30 days to select his replacement. The committee consists of four individuals who can make the decision themselves, though constituents can write in with nominees.

Kach’s previously announced retirement created a competitive race in the district he long dominated, especially when Del. Nino Mangione announced he would leave the Maryland General Assembly to run for the seat. While Kach is a moderate Republican who focused on land preservation, Mangione is a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump who has focused on issues like opposing gender-affirming care and banning library books he deems offensive.

Mangione also hails from a developer family, and many North County residents are ardent preservationists. The Urban-Rural Demarcation Line, or URDL, sets aside two-thirds of the county’s land for conservation and only limited development as much of it does not have sewer service or other infrastructure. Recently, pressure has mounted to “break the URDL” to alleviate the county’s housing crunch; Kach has been steadfast in his support of the URDL remaining intact.

Mangione had the contest to himself for months, but more recently, Gunpowder Riverkeeper Theaux Le Gardeur jumped in to challenge Mangione. On the Democratic side, longtime community activist Shawn McIntosh is running, making the race one of the more competitive contests.

Kach’s council colleagues say they were surprised by the timing, but not of the decision. Kach’s health had vacillated for months; in an interview in February, Kach said he planned to show up in person from then on, citing improvement. But he continued to mostly participate online.

County Executive Kathy Klausmeier thanked her “friend and colleague” for his years of service.

“I had the opportunity to serve with Wade in Annapolis, where he earned respect on both sides of the aisle because people knew where he stood and how deeply he cared about the residents he represented,” Klausmeier said. “His dedication to public service has left a lasting impact on Baltimore County.”

During his tenure, Kach fought for funding for new high schools in Towson and Dulaney Valley. He opposed large solar farms and the Maryland Pipeline Reliability Project, which is slated to run through Baltimore County farmland. He also fought to create a separate department of agriculture.

Kach was also the architect of a pension boost that would have doubled the retirement windfall for departing council members. The council overturned that legislation in March after intense criticism. Kach has also faced criticism for downzoning Lutherville Station, a struggling shopping center next to a light rail stop that state officials are eager to see developed into a mixed-use community that would include hundreds of apartments. After years of negotiations, the project remains stalled.

County Councilman David Marks acknowledged Kach’s legacy and said his “successor must continue his legacy of land preservation and environmental conservation, the most important issues facing northern Baltimore County.”

“Wade Kach has been a trusted colleague and friend,” Marks said. “Councilman Kach’s public service is unmatched in Baltimore County history.”

Councilman Izzy Patoka said he’d miss his Republican colleague.

“Wade has given a lifetime of public service. He’s tried to be fair and deliberate,” he said. “He’s been a good colleague, and I wish him well.”