The Gist
Home

County

President of the County Council, Harford County

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

What this office does: The council president is elected countywide, presides over the county council and votes on county laws, the budget, taxes and land-use decisions.

Mike Ciufo

Democratic

Certified public accountant; small business owner · Bel Air

The gist

  • Pledges to end council infighting and restore collaboration
  • Proposes review of administrative spending and underperforming programs
  • Pledges to prioritize school funding reaching classrooms
  • Supports county-funded employees serving on council with guardrails
More about Mike
View sources (1)
  1. Pledges to end council infighting and restore collaboration

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “In my first 100 days, I will focus on restoring professionalism and setting a clear tone for collaboration.”
  2. Proposes review of administrative spending and underperforming programs

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “I would start by looking at administrative spending and underperforming programs to identify duplication or outdated processes”
  3. Pledges to prioritize school funding reaching classrooms

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “I would make it a priority to work collaboratively to ensure our schools are properly funded and that resources are getting to the classroom.”
  4. Supports county-funded employees serving on council with guardrails

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “my opinion is yes, they should be allowed to serve; however, there need to be guardrails in place.”

Billy Boniface

Republican

Co-owner and operator of Bonita Farm · Darlington

The gist

  • Pledges to lower the tax rate as assessments rise
  • Opposes any expansion of the development envelope
  • Supports exploring privatization of county bus service
  • Opposes county bus links to Baltimore City or County
  • Supports protecting the agricultural preservation program
  • Proposes commission on council eligibility charter amendment
  • Opposes state limits on sheriff's immigration cooperation
More about Billy
View sources (1)
  1. Pledges to lower the tax rate as assessments rise

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “If elected, I will ensure that the county's tax rate is lowered to counteract rising assessments by the State of Maryland.”
  2. Opposes any expansion of the development envelope

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “we need to hold the line on development and not expand the development envelope.”
  3. Supports exploring privatization of county bus service

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “I would like the administration to consider options for privatizing the bus service.”
  4. Opposes county bus links to Baltimore City or County

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “I do NOT support any county bus link to Baltimore City/County”
  5. Supports protecting the agricultural preservation program

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “An area that I would protect is the county's agriculture preservation program.”
  6. Proposes commission on council eligibility charter amendment

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “create a commission to look at it and make recommendations to the Council within six months for a charter amendment”
  7. Opposes state limits on sheriff's immigration cooperation

    Who is running for Harford County Council in the 2026 election?

    Candidate questionnaire · The Baltimore Sun / Capital Gazette voter guide · May 20, 2026 · baltimoresun.com

    “They have also made us less safe by preventing the Harford County Sheriff's Office from turning criminal illegal aliens over to federal law enforcement authorities.”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.