County

County Council Member, Baltimore County

District 1

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county council member votes on county laws, the budget, taxes and land-use decisions.

Candidates Compare by issue

Paul Dongarra

Democratic

Owner, Tablefield Catering

The gist

Supports missing-middle housing such as townhomes, duplexes and ADUs
Supports focusing growth in transit-served areas over sprawl
Opposes large-scale data center developments
Proposes public portals tracking council positions and decisions
Supports an independent, well-resourced Inspector General's Office

More about Paul

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Supports missing-middle housing such as townhomes, duplexes and ADUs
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“I also support expanding "missing middle" housing, such as townhomes, duplexes, and accessory units”
Supports focusing growth in transit-served areas over sprawl
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“I support Smart Growth focused on transit-oriented areas where infrastructure: schools, water, sewer, and roads can support development”
Opposes large-scale data center developments
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“standing up to large-scale data center developments that increase energy demand and upward pressure on costs”
Proposes public portals tracking council positions and decisions
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“We will create public testimony and decision-tracking portals so residents can clearly see positions on legislation”
Supports an independent, well-resourced Inspector General's Office
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“I have been and will be a strong defender of the Inspector General's Office, ensuring it remains independent and well-resourced”

Rheagan Kindle

Republican

Childcare worker and tutor

The gist

Pledges to vote against budgets raising taxes without cuts
Opposes any new county fees
Proposes a line-item audit of the school budget
Supports utility rate caps on BGE
Supports incentives to renovate older homes over new development
Proposes an online dashboard logging her votes within 24 hours

More about Rheagan

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Pledges to vote against budgets raising taxes without cuts
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“I will vote 'No' on any budget that increases the tax burden without cutting waste”
Opposes any new county fees
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“First, I will halt local fee creep. No new County fees.”
Proposes a line-item audit of the school budget
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“demand a line-item audit of the $2.5 billion school budget to find administrative bloat”
Supports utility rate caps on BGE
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“I will demand rate caps and force utilities to reinvest locally”
Supports incentives to renovate older homes over new development
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“I will incentivize renovating older dwellings to preserve community character and improve affordability without straining infrastructure”
Proposes an online dashboard logging her votes within 24 hours
Baltimore County Council District 1: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com
“Every vote I cast, every meeting I attend, and every amendment I propose will be posted there within 24 hours”

Joseph D. "Joe" Hooe

Unaffiliated

Founder, The Tire Network

The gist

Supports better pay, housing and training for police and firefighters
Supports building a new Lansdowne firehouse
Pledges to repeal the ten-dump limit at Western Collection Facility
Opposes overdevelopment of communities by large businesses
Supports affordable health care for county workers and residents

More about Joseph

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Supports better pay, housing and training for police and firefighters
Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council: Issues
Campaign website · Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council · joehooe.org
“better pay, housing, training, working conditions and legislative protection”
Supports building a new Lansdowne firehouse
Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council: Issues
Campaign website · Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council · joehooe.org
“Lansdowne Needs A new Firehouse”
Pledges to repeal the ten-dump limit at Western Collection Facility
Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council: Issues
Campaign website · Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council · joehooe.org
“repeal the ridiculous ten dump limit”
Opposes overdevelopment of communities by large businesses
Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council: Issues
Campaign website · Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council · joehooe.org
“stop big business from over developing our communities”
Supports affordable health care for county workers and residents
Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council: Issues
Campaign website · Joe Hooe for Baltimore County Council · joehooe.org
“county workers, and residents have a right to affordable healthcare”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 9 issues covered in this race.