HOWARD DIGEST Less than a month before the June 26 primary, the campaign account of the incumbent county executive, Republican Allan H.

Kittleman, is more than three times larger than that of his likely Democratic challenger, Councilman Calvin Ball, records show.

Kittleman continues to lead Ball in fundraising, with $822,692 compared to Ball’s $250,767. Columbia Democrat Harry Dunbar has $1,083. Both Kittleman’s and Ball’s campaigns ramped up their spending efforts: Ball’s team spent the most on field expenses with $31,795, while Kittleman focused on media, spending $61,321.

Ball faced a Board of Elections complaint earlier this year based on errors in his campaign’s January finance report. The campaign submitted an amended report. The complaint is still under review, an elections spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, candidates for Howard County Council have stepped up fundraising efforts, according to the latest finance reports.

District 3 Democrat Christina Rigby of Columbia led the pack of of 16 council candidates by doubling cash on hand to $20,198, according to reports from the last filing period ending May 15. District 3 is the most crowded council primary race, with four Democrats. Greg Jennings of Laurel listed the most money, now with $23,177, while Hiruy Hadgu of Savage has $6,981 and Steve Hunt of Laurel has $5,851.

In District 2, Republican John Liao of Columbia surpassed Columbia Democrat Opel Jones. Liao nearly doubled his cash on hand and now has $9,075, while Jones, who was the first in the county to declare his candidacy, has $6,044.

District 4 has had the greatest number of candidate changes, with three candidate withdrawals since December and the lastminute entry of a former Board of Education member, Fulton Democrat Janet Siddiqui, who is still in the financial lead with $95,135 on hand.

Siddqui’s campaign faced a state Board of Elections investigation in March after it was discovered that the Excellence for Howard County Slate exceeded the state law prohibiting contributions of more than $24,000 from a slate to a campaign; the slate, financed by the political committee Friends of Nayab Siddiqui, Siddiqui’s husband, donated $100,000 to the campaign.

The investigation resulted in a $2,000 fine against the contributor, who also returned the $76,000 that was over the contribution limit, according to Assistant State Prosecutor Stephannie Krulevitz. The $76,000 is now loaned to the Siddiqui campaign.

Democrat Deb Jung of Columbia is second in the district with $12,982 on hand, while Republican Lisa Kim of Columbia has $811.

Columbia Democrat Ian Bradley Moller- Knudsen filed an affidavit stating that his campaign did not spend or receive more than $1,000.

In District 5, Woodbine Republican David Yungmann outpaced his primary opponent, Columbia Republican Jim Walsh in funding.

Yungmann has $30,539 on hand compared to Walsh’s $5,847. Democrat China Williams has $13,266 on hand.

In District 1, the only seat with an incumbent eligible for re-election, incumbent Democrat Jon Weinstein of Ellicott City has $83,218 while his primary opponent, Ellicott City resident Liz Walsh, lists $1,630.

Ellicott City Republican Raj Kathuria has $12,037.02.

The final finance report filing before the primary is due June15.

School unions reach tentative contract accords Unions representing Howard County public schools teachers, administrators and staff have reached tentative contracts with the school system. None of the contracts with the Howard County Education Association, the Howard County Administrators Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees contain a cost-of-living adjustment.

All of the unions received a pay increase for the first year of their two-year contracts and all employee health benefits will be maintained through 2020. The teacher’s union will also establish a benefits advisory committee to make recommendations in ensuring health care for all employees.

Colleen Morris, president of the 6,200- member teachers union, said for teachers with certification credentials, raises will range from $100 to $1,000, Morris said.

The raises are based on what is known as a half-step in previously established salary tables. However, not all teachers will receive araise. “We have a huge amount of teachers not on a step program,” since they have reached the top of the salary tables, Morris said.

Edward Cosentino, president of the administrators association, said that union’s 260 members, who are either school administrators and other certificated school and system leaders, will receive a half-step increase ranging from $1,000 to $1,500. Not all administrators will receive a raise if they are at the top of the pay scale, Cosentino said.

Members will get an additional personal leave day, bringing the annual total to four days.

And Robert Coleman, president of the county and municipal employees union, said most of the employees will receive a raise as they are still in the pay scale. The union has about 300 members who work in custodial, maintenance, grounds and warehouse or the audio-visual department. County and municipal employees members received an additional personal day, bringing their total to three.

Union members will vote on the contracts in the coming weeks.

— Jess Nocera, Baltimore Sun Media Group