Five candidates vying to be the next Baltimore County executive offered public presentations Monday night before the County Council.

The candidates were given a list of questions by the council and were instructed to incorporate their responses into 15-minute speeches. The talks touched on public safety, housing, education, county finances, permitting, and rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

After listening to the presentations but not asking any questions, the seven-member council plans to select the next county executive by a simple majority vote at an undetermined date, County Council Chair Izzy Patoka previously said. That person will replace outgoing County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. after he leaves for Congress in January.

Below is a look at what each candidate said Monday night.

Barry Williams: ‘The capital needs are only going to increase’

First up to present before the council was Barry Williams, who’s served as director of two Baltimore County departments —recreation and parks, and workforce development.

Williams noted that the county must adjust spending as federal COVID-19 funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act are set to run out in 2026.

“It is fiscal year 2027 that’s the biggest concern,” Williams said. “The capital needs are only going to increase.”

On public safety, Williams spoke about working with recruits in the police training division and noted the nearly 300 vacancies in the police department.

“I tend to take a harder view on dealing with poor behaviors wherever they may occur, regardless of age,” he said. “With youth, more wraparound services are needed, not a slap on the wrist. More presence on the street and problem areas helps.”

Williams also noted the county’s move toward creating 1,000 affordable housing units, but added that “creation of new housing will not be enough to meet the need.” He suggested rehabilitating “older communities” and creating areas that combine businesses with housing.

Jim Brochin: ‘No tax or fee increases, period’

Former State Sen. Jim Brochin kicked off his speech by referring to a stack of papers he brought with him, saying he’d signed a sworn affidavit under penalty of perjury stating that he won’t run for county executive in 2026 or 2030.

“I’m happy to have a press conference with all of you and attest to that to the press and the media and everybody else,” he said.

Patoka previously told The Baltimore Sun the council had asked that the next executive not run for the office in 2026, to avoid unfairly weighting the race toward the incumbent.

Brochin committed that under his administration there would be “no tax or fee increases, period.” He also promised no cuts to public safety or code enforcement. He suggested having all department heads make recommendations on budget cuts anywhere between 10-20%.

On crime, he gave a number of proposals: hire a private recruiting firm to bring more officers, incentivize retirees to come back to work, outsource administrative duties, and send kids who commit gun crimes to diversion programs instead of sending them to their homes with ankle monitors.

Brochin also stated that in cases where a migrant has crossed the U.S. border illegally and been convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor, “the federal government has every right to interview you to see if your crime makes you subject to deportation,” he said.

George Perdikakis: ‘People need to live fearless of any problem’

Before diving into policy issues, George Perdikakis, former head of Baltimore County’s Department of Environment and Resource Management, started by reminiscing on the day he moved to America from Greece.

“I arrived in New York City the 23rd of [December] 1966 with $50 in my pocket. Two vocabulary words of English, ‘liberty’ and ‘stop,’” he said.

Perdikakis eventually went on to serve under the former Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer as transportation commissioner. He also previously served as head of the Maryland Environmental Service.

Among Perdikakis’ priorities are safety and education.

“Baltimore County people need to live fearless of any problem,” he said.

He also told council members that his wife made him promise not to get “upset or vindictive” if he didn’t get the job.

“I know all of you,” he said to the council. “You give me this job, you don’t give me this job – we’re still gonna be friends.”

Katherine Klausmeier: ‘Always advocating for people’

Top priorities for State Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, a Baltimore County Democrat, include reviewing the county budget and addressing public safety, including juvenile crime.

“I will work with our police department, state’s attorney, school system and social services to ensure that we are providing the resources where they are needed most,” she said.

She also emphasized rebuilding the Key Bridge as a “top economic and quality of life priority.”

“The bridge is an essential component in our region’s and, quite frankly, our nation’s economic engine, which is the Port of Baltimore,” she said.

Caitlin Klimm-Kellner attended the interview in support of Klausmeier.

“I’ve known her for a very long time,” Klimm-Kellner said. “She is a tough female senator… She is not afraid to pick up the phone, come out, see what needs to be done. And she’s always advocating for people.”

Yara Cheikh: ‘A breath of fresh air in the county’

Yara Cheikh, president of the Baltimore County Public Library Board of Trustees, said she demonstrated leadership shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began by helping feed hungry families.

“Within weeks, I was coordinating efforts to feed 1,600 families at three sites across the county,” she said.

Cheikh spoke on teaching children to read using the “science of reading” and making sure students leave the county schools “college and career ready.” She also emphasized providing professional development for teachers to entice them to stay in Baltimore County.

“I’m also supporting efforts to make our school budget, like our county budget, more transparent so we know how the dollars are being spent in our school houses to support student achievement,” she said.

Several supporters of Cheikh attended the event dressed in green as a nod to her Irish heritage.

“What she’s actually done already in terms of reaching out when there was a need,” said Anne George, from Timonium. “She’s a real leader, and she’s a breath of fresh air in the county.”

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