Campaign Phone
410-404-8854
My top fiscal priority is for the County to continue to provide services to its residents without raising taxes.
First, I will focus on responsible budgeting. Spending must be in line with revenues.
Second, I will prioritize essential services such as public safety and education. These are the core responsibilities of government.
Third, I will work to identify efficiencies and eliminate waste wherever possible.
I am opposed to expanding the development envelope.
As I have done in the Town of Bel Air, I will focus on common-sense actions that encourage growth which fits our community - protecting green space, preserving our farms, thoughtfully managing density, and ensuring new development enhances rather than overwhelms our infrastructure and diminishes our quality of life.
I will also work to address the new threats of data centers and large-scale solar fields.
First, APG is the biggest economic driver in the County. Working to grow APG’s operations and its workforce will bring more high-paying jobs to the County.
Second, we need to continue investing in workforce development. Our public schools and the HCC provide training in fields such as healthcare, welding, electrical, and HVAC.
Third, I support funding the Department of Economic Development programs that help businesses navigate start up and provide ongoing training.
The only cost of living the Council directly controls is the property tax rate. I am opposed to raising taxes - especially when residents are already facing increasing costs for such essentials as food, gas, and vehicle registration fees.
The major factors driving up the cost of living—such as inflation, interest rates, food and energy costs—are beyond the control of the Council. Keeping County government fiscally disciplined is the most effective way we can help residents afford to live here.
The high cost of housing is driven by many factors beyond the control of the County Council, including inflation, rising mortgage rates, and the increasing cost of land, building materials, and labor.
Given these realities, one of the most effective ways the County can help control housing costs is by not raising the property tax rate.
Property taxes are often one of the largest expenses for homeowners after their mortgage and keeping them in check is critical to overall affordability.
I was elected to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners in 2021 and have served as Mayor since 2023.
I have a proven record of fiscal discipline. Every budget I supported was balanced—without raising taxes or cutting services.
I voted for legislation to prevent high density development in Bel Air and to protect its green space in order to preserve its small-town character.
Now I am ready to bring that same leadership to the County Council.
Campaign Phone
4439105969
A safe and secure Harford County, funding the sheriff's office, EMT and soon to be fire department.
An affordable and livable County, funding and keeping our children as they grow into adults to keep our community stabilized.
Oversight on budgets within the County Executives and Councils purview but also the Board of Education so our money is spent wisely and not to fund special interest groups ideas of what students should learn.
We need to focus on a way to keep our farming communities, working with them for ways to increase their income and not sell the land to developers. Future developments should be based on current infrastructure unless completely funded by the developer. Residents are getting caught up in new regulations for communities built near them that they have to implement when doing improvements or replacing water/wells. Infrastructure needs to be evaluated /planned but funds ready for emergencies.
Continue to encourage business growth in the enterprise zones in HDG/Aberdeen and Edgewood/Joppa. Work with businesses to initiate new business.
Special funding for local businesses to be established, grow and thrive.
Continue to work with the community college in establishing and continuing technical/trade programs for adults and a job placement feature tied with local businesses.
Keep the tax rate as is or lower, keep our bond rating and look to establish new business and new homeowner loans. Eliminate fees that just appear or rise without adequate input and clarity of reasons for need and what facts were evaluated in making any decision to raise fees or taxes. Show us how the decisions and made.
Work with local financial institutions to encourage lending to new homeowners, especially new teachers and emergency personnel.
I am focused on citizen centered government. On the County Council I will evaluate bills and ideas on three questions:
- Does this make Harford safer and more secure for our families?
-Does this make it more affordable and livable—protecting our farms, fighting overdevelopment, and keeping our rural character intact?
-Does this make government efficient, transparent, and truly accountable to the people who live here?
Ask your neighbors if they know me through HCPS and ask would you vote for me?
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Campaign Phone
(301)776-0404
Campaign Instagram
jrh4countycouncil
My top fiscal priorities are transparency, protecting taxpayers, and funding core services. First, we must fully account for taxpayer funds budgeted for positions that have remained vacant long-term. Second, I do not support raising property taxes until household incomes better reflect today’s cost of living. Third, after reviewing the budget carefully, we should prioritize public safety, schools, infrastructure, and open space preservation with strong fiscal discipline and stewardship.
I support strong open space, farmland preservation and responsible planning that protects our natural environment, wildlife and quality of life. I do not support up-zoning while our roads, schools, and infrastructure are already stretched too thin. Once open space is lost, it cannot be replaced. Development must align with infrastructure capacity. I support expanding Harford Transit Link routes and schedules and expanding bike and walking
paths to improve safety, mobility, and sustainability.
First, ensure infrastructure keeps pace with growth so businesses can operate efficiently and congestion does not discourage investment. Second, support small and local businesses by maintaining reasonable taxes and reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers. Third, strengthen partnerships with Harford Community College, trade programs, and major employers such as Aberdeen Proving Ground to ensure our workforce has the skills employers need. Families need access to stable, well-paying jobs.
Affordability means protecting household budgets. While County Council has limited control over many costs families face, we can keep local taxes stable and spending responsible. I will oppose property tax increases until household incomes better reflect
today’s cost of living. Careful budget review and transparency can prevent waste. Smart land use planning and zoning also helps avoid costly infrastructure expansions that ultimately raise taxes.
Workforce housing should be addressed through thoughtful planning, not unchecked growth. I will prioritize repurposing underused commercial properties and existing
buildings to create housing where infrastructure already exists. Redevelopment in appropriate areas can help meet workforce housing needs while reducing sprawl, protecting open space, and preserving the character of our community.
My professional background is in mental health and social services, where I work directly with people facing real challenges and see issues through to resolution. I also work in the Thoroughbred racing industry managing large programs and budgets. I have testified before the Maryland House of Delegates and take public service seriously. I am not a career politician and I will work tirelessly for people of all political affiliations while bringing greater civility and respect to local politics.
