Applicants to succeed Olszewski as Baltimore County Executive announced
Twelve persons have applied to serve out Olszewski’s term, including several former and current legislators
Above: Johnny Olszewski at a 2022 campaign fundraiser. (Facebook)
With the job of Baltimore County Executive up for grabs, hats have been thrown, formally now, into the ring.
The Baltimore County Council has released the names of 12 people vying to serve the remaining two years of the term of outgoing CE Johnny Olszewski Jr.
Olszewski, who was elected last month to an open congressional seat representing the 2nd District, will be sworn into Congress in January.
Before selecting a candidate, the seven-member council said it would hold a public hearing on December 10 to receive testimony on the “desired qualifications” of the person who will serve as county executive until December 2026.
The notice added that the purpose of the hearing was “not to solicit testimony from candidates or public testimony that endorses or supports any specific candidate.”
The process, which an oped in The Brew questioned, means that members of the public will be able to offer their theories on the “desired qualifications” of the next county executive, but not share their opinions on which candidates possess those qualifications.
The applicants listed are:
• Jim Brochin, a former state senator who lost to Olszewski by 17 votes for county executive in 2018.
• State Delegate John S. Cardin, despite the fact that he issued a press release over the weekend saying he is withdrawing his name from consideration.
• Yara Cheikh, community activist and member of the board of the Baltimore County Public Library.
• Gregory A. Dennis, no information provided.
• Paul Drutz-Hannahs, an IT professional who has been working to modernize the federal court system.
• William M. Huhn, a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley.
• Tara E. Ebersole, an administrator and teacher at the Community College of Baltimore County.
• State Senator Kathy Klausmeier, who represented the county in the House of Delegates from 1995 to 2003 and in the Senate from 2003 to the present.
• Aris Mellissaratos, Secretary of Business and Economic Development from 2003 to 2007 during the Ehrlich administration.
• George Perdikakis Sr., an environmental engineer.
• Tom Quirk, a former County Councilman.
• Barry F. Williams, a former Baltimore County Recreation and Parks director, who is the brother of Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones.