County

County Executive, Harford County

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

What this office does: The county executive runs county government day to day, proposes the county budget and appoints department heads.

Candidates Compare by issue

Barbara Osborn Kreamer

Democratic

Retired teacher and lawyer · Aberdeen

The gist

Proposes quarterly meetings of county and municipal officials
Supports a somewhat expanded development envelope
Supports solar on rooftops and parking lots, not farmland
Proposes limits on costly law enforcement vehicle purchases
Proposes business incubators and job-readiness certification
Pledges longer library and recreation building hours
Opposes redrawing district maps before the 2030 census

More about Barbara

View sources (1)

Proposes quarterly meetings of county and municipal officials
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“I would reestablish the practice of quarterly meetings of municipal and county elected officials.”
Supports a somewhat expanded development envelope
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“I favor a somewhat expanded Development Envelope and an associated road network.”
Supports solar on rooftops and parking lots, not farmland
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“I would look for solar opportunities elsewhere besides arable farm land, such as rooftops on government buildings and commercial rooftops and parking lots.”
Proposes limits on costly law enforcement vehicle purchases
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“I would restructure funding for mobile expenditures above the level of squad cars to guard against excessive spending by law enforcement on very expensive vehicles”
Proposes business incubators and job-readiness certification
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“Economic growth under my leadership would have business incubators, employability certification to encourage hiring young workers”
Pledges longer library and recreation building hours
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“Adult education and cultural opportunities and expanded hours of libraries and parks and recreation building usage.”
Opposes redrawing district maps before the 2030 census
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“I testified to the Governor's Redistricting Commission against redrawing District maps before the decennial census of 2030.”

Bob Cassilly

RepublicanIncumbent

Harford County Executive; attorney · Bel Air

The gist

Pledges spending growth that avoids tax rate increases
Opposes expanding the county's development envelope
Supports growth in light manufacturing, health care, entertainment
Secured Sheriff's Office budget increase to $133 million
Pledges work with State Highway Administration on signal timing
Supports farmland preservation through agricultural easements
Secured record county school funding of $348 million

More about Bob

View sources (2)

Pledges spending growth that avoids tax rate increases
Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive
Campaign website · Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive · countyexecutivecassilly.com
“ensures that the rate of growth in county spending matches the rate of growth in tax returns, thereby avoiding any increases in tax rates”
Opposes expanding the county's development envelope
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“I do not support expansion of the development envelope. There is plenty of land within the development envelope available for redevelopment.”
Supports growth in light manufacturing, health care, entertainment
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“My administration will continue to support these three areas – light manufacturing, health care, entertainment – along with strong support for agriculture”
Secured Sheriff's Office budget increase to $133 million
Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive
Campaign website · Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive · countyexecutivecassilly.com
“Increased the Sheriff's annual operating budget from $114 million to $133 million per year (17% increase).”
Pledges work with State Highway Administration on signal timing
Who is running for Harford County executive in the 2026 election?
Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com
“one of my key short rage tasks is to work even more closely with the State Highway Administration improve traffic light timing on state roads”
Supports farmland preservation through agricultural easements
Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive
Campaign website · Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive · countyexecutivecassilly.com
“Acquired easements on 4,261 acres of farmland through our Agricultural Preservation to ensure those properties will remain farmland”
Secured record county school funding of $348 million
Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive
Campaign website · Bob Cassilly for Harford County Executive · countyexecutivecassilly.com
“Highest education funding in county history for Harford County Public Schools in FY26 - $348 million.”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.