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County Council Member, Baltimore County

District 7

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

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

The County Council grows from seven to nine districts with this election, under a new district map. David Marks represents District 5 under the previous seven-district map.

CandidatesCompare by issue
Photo of Caridad "Cari" Santiago
Caridad "Cari" SantiagoCampaign photo — The Baltimore Banner voter guide

Caridad "Cari" Santiago

Democratic

Former small business owner; school and PTA board volunteer

The gist

  • Supports more oversight and accountability of county schools
  • Supports development and redevelopment under the 2030 Master Plan
  • Opposes excessive down-zoning that limits housing
  • Supports predictable, common-sense development impact fees
  • Opposes councilmanic courtesy and targeted legislation
More about Caridad
View sources (1)

  1. Supports more oversight and accountability of county schools

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “Demanding oversight and accountability of BCPS, elevating our school system, will support current residents”

  2. Supports development and redevelopment under the 2030 Master Plan

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “willing to support the responsible development and redevelopment outlined in the 2030 Master Plan”

  3. Opposes excessive down-zoning that limits housing

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “We are in a cycle of excessive down-zoning, which takes away housing opportunities for our residents.”

  4. Supports predictable, common-sense development impact fees

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “implement common-sense impact fees that both homeowners and construction teams can predict”

  5. Opposes councilmanic courtesy and targeted legislation

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “We need council members who are willing to reject retail politics, targeted legislation, and councilmanic courtesy.”
Photo of David Marks
David MarksCampaign photo — The Baltimore Banner voter guide

David Marks

Republican

Baltimore County Council member (District 5)

The gist

  • Sponsored Question A requiring six votes to move the URDL
  • Supports creating a county Department of Agriculture
  • Sponsored a cap on development impact fees pending a study
  • Supports a concurrent, presumption-of-approval permitting system
  • Supports property tax relief for seniors on fixed incomes
  • Sponsored resolution seeking Inspector General review of school system
  • Opposes moving the URDL to build affordable housing
More about David
View sources (1)

  1. Sponsored Question A requiring six votes to move the URDL

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “I proudly sponsored Question A, the proposed charter change that will make it tougher to build beyond Baltimore County's urban boundary.”

  2. Supports creating a county Department of Agriculture

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “I supported another charter change, strongly supported by farmers, that will create a Department of Agriculture.”

  3. Sponsored a cap on development impact fees pending a study

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “I sponsored legislation that will reduce housing costs for thousands of Baltimore Countians by capping development impact fees”

  4. Supports a concurrent, presumption-of-approval permitting system

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “The county should move toward a concurrent permitting system in which multiple agencies work together to identify potential issues.”

  5. Supports property tax relief for seniors on fixed incomes

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “I strongly support property tax relief, particularly for senior citizens on fixed income.”

  6. Sponsored resolution seeking Inspector General review of school system

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “In 2025, I sponsored a resolution that asked the Maryland General Assembly to allow the Inspector General to investigate Baltimore County Public Schools.”

  7. Opposes moving the URDL to build affordable housing

    Baltimore County Council District 7: 2026 Maryland Voter Guide

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Banner · thebanner.com

    “I will not support breaking the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line or sacrificing our green space to build more affordable housing”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.