Fair Election Fund Work Group To Evaluate Public Financing System

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski has formed the Fair Election Fund Work Group, which will make recommendations to the Baltimore County Council about the creation and implementation of a public financing system for candidates running for County Council and county executive in the 2026 election cycle.

“The volume of one’s voice should never depend on the size of their wallet. I thank all the members of this group for their help in tackling the influence of special interests in our elections — continuing to bring Baltimore County out of the shadow of Spiro Agnew,” Olszewski said in a news release. “By creating a fair election fund, we will empower a more diverse group of candidates, create a more level playing field and strengthen our local elections for years to come.”

Baltimore County will now join the state of Maryland, Baltimore City, Montgomery, Howard and Prince George’s counties in offering a public financing option for candidates. In the coming months, the County Council will consider legislation to formally establish a Fair Election Fund System for candidates running in the 2026 election cycle.

Chaired by Baltimore County Council Chairman Julian Jones, the Fair Election Fund Work Group is comprised of a bipartisan group of stakeholders, including:

• Baltimore County Councilman Chairman Julian Jones, (D-District 4)
• Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, (R-District 5)
• Emily Scarr, Director, Maryland PIRG
• Joanne Antoine, Executive Director, Common Cause Maryland
• Samay Kindra, Chair, Yes for A! Baltimore County Citizens' Election Fund
• Sue Garonzi, League of Women Voters Baltimore County
• Eric Washington, Community Member
• Jessica Klaitman, Community Affairs Director, Office of Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones

The work group’s efforts and recommendations will include:

• The process by which candidates opt into the Fair Election Fund System and the requirements for candidates who seek to participate
• Limits and thresholds related to matching fund limits and qualified donors
• The mechanisms of the Fair Election Fund, including the manner and timing of disbursements to campaign committees
• The process by which residents can donate to the voluntary contribution subfund of the Fair Election Fund
• The details involved in standing up the Fair Election Fund Commission, which will be tasked with providing annual recommendations to the County Executive on the appropriations necessary to keep the Fair Election Fund System fully funded

The first meeting of the Baltimore County Fair Election Fund Work Group will be held via Webex April 22 at 2:30 p.m. A schedule for future meetings will be available at baltimorecountymd.gov/fairelectionfund. The work group will issue its recommendations in a final report to the County Council no later than Sept. 30.