By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Photo credit: Courtesy photo
With Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski securing the Democratic nomination for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, consideration has begun on who would finish the rest of his four-year term and potentially succeed him.
One potential candidate named was the previous chair of the council, Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones (D-District 4).
“I’m humbled and honored that people would consider me,” said Jones, emphasizing that there is no current vacancy, so his focus is not on the potential opening at this time. “Right now, I’m just humbled and really focused on doing my job as being the best councilperson I can be for all the citizens of Baltimore County.”
The Charter of Baltimore County states that the county administrative officer would immediately be the interim county executive upon Olszewski’s resignation, but the County Council is left to make a definitive decision on who will finish his term.
“I’m confident that my colleagues, as well as myself, will do what’s best for Baltimore County,” said Jones.
The council’s current chairman, Izzy Patoka (D-District 2), was also named.
“Quite a few people have reached out to me and asked me to consider that and I will be making some sort of decision towards my future at the end of this year,” said Patoka.
Matthew Crenson, professor emeritus of political science at Johns Hopkins University, said Patoka and Jones have both been vocal on the council and are more likely to get re-elected because they are Democrats.
“It’s critical that our next county executive continue to build on the foundational and transformative reforms we’ve put in place to open our government like never before, to further embed principles of equity and suitability into the culture of governing and to embrace data and innovation so that we can keep building a better Baltimore County for decades to come,” said Olszewski, when asked about his thoughts on who should succeed him.
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ 2020 list of eligible active voters in Baltimore County, of the 566,408 people listed, 55 percent were registered as Democrats and 25 percent were Republicans.
Currently, on the County Council, there are four Democrats and three Republicans.
County Councilman David Marks (R-District 5) revealed the names of a few more potential persons that may run based on the county’s ability to either select a council member for the position or choose a “caretaker” to carry out the rest of the county executive’s term.
“If you follow what happened in 2018, when County Executive Kamenetz passed away, the council’s impulse was to appoint a caretaker who would serve until the next election,” said Marks. “I have a feeling that’s probably the direction the council is going to go.”
Marks said Barry Williams, former Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks director and State Senator Kathy Klausmeier (D-Md.-08) are among the names of potentially interested “caretakers.”
Williams worked for 16 years in the Baltimore County Government. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society and the Pikesville Armory Foundation. He has also worked in several overseeing positions in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County school systems.
Klausmeier has been a state senator for 21 years, during which she has co-led legislation to create the nation’s first Prescription Drug Affordability Board and a bill in 2018 to prohibit the use of gag clauses which prevent pharmacists from discussing lower drug prices with customers.
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.
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