Baltimore County Council Elects New Chair For 2021

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Councilman Julian Jones was elected chairman of the Baltimore County Council Monday night. It is the second time holding the title for Jones, who was chair from January 2018 to January 2019.

"Tonight history was made, as I became the first African-American Councilman to be selected as Chairman, twice, in the history of Baltimore County!" Jones posted on social media after the vote.

In 2018, he made history as the first Black person to be elected chair of the council, according to The Baltimore Sun.

He was reelected Monday night 6-0, with Councilman Todd Crandell, of Dundalk, abstaining. It was unclear why he abstained. However, The Baltimore Sun reported he in the past took issue with the tradition of electing a chair on a council that is split with four Democrats to three Republicans, since that means the chair sways Democrat.

“I will be fair, as I have always been, and treat everybody with the utmost respect and dignity they are due,” Jones, a Democrat from Randallstown, said following the vote.

Tonight history was made, as I became the first African-American Councilman to be selected as Chairman, twice, in the history of Baltimore County! pic.twitter.com/6YRNCQNb1E
— Councilman Julian E. Jones Jr (@julianejonesjr) January 5, 2021

Jones will take over the role of chair from Cathy Bevins, a Democrat who represents the Middle River area. She said it was her third time in 10 years serving as chairperson.

"It's always a privilege to do so," Bevins said.

The chairperson is in charge of presiding over council meetings and the agenda.

"You work more closely with your colleagues when you're the chair," she said, adding it is also vital to work with the administration on certain issues.

"It was a hard year," Bevins said during Monday night's virtual meeting, because of the pandemic. "But I believe every decision that we have made this year has made Baltimore County better ... and that's what we're here for."

Since the spring, the council has held its sessions virtually, and Bevins said she struggled with technical difficulties.

She advised Jones: "You're going to have to have more than one laptop on at a time."