If Olszewski wins seat in Congress, who will be Baltimore County’s next executive?

Lia Russell

The Baltimore Sun

October 16, 2024

Baltimore County is beginning to consider life after County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. if he wins a U.S. House of Representatives seat on Election Day. It’s unclear who will succeed the two-term Dundalk Democrat, who first won office in November 2018, but several people have come forward to throw their hats in the ring.

If Olszewski wins, County Administrative Officer D’Andrea Walker will take over after he leaves office as interim executive, according to the county charter. A majority of the seven-member council would then vote to appoint a new county executive to serve out the remainder of Olszewski’s term.

Six people have publicly said they are interested in being county executive: education advocates Yara Cheikh and Tara Ebersole; Del. Jon Cardin, a Democrat who represents central Baltimore County; former county official Barry Williams; former State Sen. Jim Brochin, who lost the 2018 Democratic primary to Olszewski by 17 votes; and State Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, who represents southeastern Baltimore County.

No frontrunner has yet emerged as a clear favorite if Olszewski wins his race; his current term expires in 2026. Candidates will need to submit a resume, letter of intent and a financial disclosure form to the council for consideration.

The charter does not specify an appointment process, timeline or criteria, other than that the appointee must be a member of their predecessor’s political party. Council Chair Izzy Patoka said the council will begin accepting applications from interested candidates Nov. 6, the day after Election Day.

The council aims to make a decision by mid-December, a timeline Patoka called “ambitious.”

Brochin declined to comment. Williams, Klausmeier, and Ebersole did not respond to requests for comment.

Cheikh said she would focus on continuing some of Olszewski’s policies, like using data to make policy decisions, with a focus on “improving county government transparency.”

Cardin said he had the most budgetary experience of any candidate, and said it was the “right timing” for him to put his name forth for consideration as he awaits a vacancy to open on the Baltimore County District Court.

The council is also considering former county executives Dennis Rasmussen and Don Hutchinson, and former Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development Aris Melissaratos. Hutchinson served from 1978 to 1986, and Rasmussen served from 1986 to 1990. Melissaratos served from 2003 to 2007 as the head of the agency now known as the state Department of Commerce, a period he said gave him a “taste of public service.”

“I loved it. I’ve had what I call a phenomenal career,” Melissaratos said. He pointed toward his past experiences in government, academia and as an executive at a company later acquired by Northrop Grumman as evidence of his ability to manage large and small organizations.

Hutchinson confirmed that he received calls about his interest, including from a council member, but declined to give details.

“I will talk to anybody that’s involved in the decision-making process,” Hutchinson said in an interview. “[But] I’m not calling or initiating any calls.”

Rasmussen did not respond to requests for comment.

Patoka said the council will consider candidates who have agreed not to run for county executive in 2026, when Olszewski’s term ends. Patoka and Councilman Julian Jones said they will run then. Councilman Pat Young also confirmed he is considering an executive campaign. All three are Democrats.

“We don’t want to give anybody an unfair advantage,” Patoka said. “We want to let democracy work.”

The council can change county executives’ compensation with five members’ votes, but cannot do so while they are in office, according to the charter. Olszewski earns $192,000 a year, according to annual county data and an executive compensation law the council passed last year.

Olszewski is seeking the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger. He faces Republican Kim Klacik on Nov. 5. The 2nd Congressional District is considered safe for any Democrat. The district covers Baltimore and Carroll counties and part of Baltimore City.

Baltimore County previously found itself in need of a new leader when County Executive Kevin Kamenetz unexpectedly died in May 2018. County Administrative Officer Fred Homan served as executive until the council appointed Don Mohler, Kamenetz’s chief of staff, later that month. Mohler served until Olszewski took office Dec. 3, 2018.

“There’s a certain amount of freedom that comes with being someone who publicly states that they have no intention of running,” Mohler said in an interview. “It’s incredibly liberating when you don’t have to pause and think of the political ramifications of your decisions. People like government officials when they’re not running for anything.”

He pointed toward his July 2018 executive order raising fees to fund sewer and infrastructure upgrades as an example.

“It was an easy decision to make. It would’ve been much harder to do that if I was running for office,” Mohler said. “In my 7 1/2 months, I had the freedom to do what I thought was best for Baltimore County. That’s a wonderful thing.”