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County Council Member · District 5 · Howard County · 2026 Primary
County Council Members serve as the legislative branch of county government, passing local laws and approving the annual budget that funds public schools, roads, and emergency services. They set local tax rates and make final decisions on land use and zoning, which determines where new homes and businesses can be built. This office is responsible for prioritizing how your tax dollars are spent and managing the long-term growth and infrastructure of your community.
View all candidates in this raceCat Carter is a Woodbine resident running for Howard County Council District 5 as a community advocate, small tech business owner, educator, and President of the PTA Council of Howard County. Her campaign emphasizes being funded by voters rather than developers or lobbyists through participation in the Howard County Citizen's Election Fund (CEF). She describes her background as rooted in service—raised by Army parents—and notes she fought for her son to get needed school support, which grew into a national advocacy effort including helping pass legislation on vision-related disabilities and improving care for soldiers with traumatic brain injuries. Her priorities include addressing school overcrowding, cost of living concerns, protecting green spaces and farms in Western Howard County, expanding healthcare access through Federally Qualified Health Centers, ensuring fire tax funding for first responders, and fixing county budget problems by prioritizing spending over revenue.
Sources: Campaign website
Funded by voters, not developers or lobbyists, Cat will invest in our community and public schools—living within our revenue.
Cat Carter's journey began as a parent advocate, fighting for her son to get the support he needed in school. That fight grew into a mission—leading to a national memorandum requiring schools to recognize and accommodate certain vision-related disabilities, helping students across the country.
Protect our Community: Now more than ever, our district needs a guardian to protect our schools, green spaces, farms, and equestrian community.
She wants to empower the people in our community and keep big money out of politics. That is why she is participating in the Howard County's Citizen's Election Fund (CEF).
Source: vote4catcarter.com
Education
Investing in public schools as a strategic investment in children, community future, and local economy. Addressing school overcrowding, staff cuts, and class increases to balance budget.
“Funded by voters, not developers or lobbyists, Cat will invest in our community and public schools—living within our revenue.”
Healthcare
Expanding support for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), including establishing a sustainable vision care clinic. Working with community health partners to ease hospital overcrowding.
“She's committed to expanding support for our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), including establishing a sustainable vision care clinic.”
Environment
Protecting green spaces, farms, and rural way of life in Western Howard County. Standing up against development trying to build on her property.
“The farms, forests, and equestrian lifestyle of Western Howard County are what brought Cat Carter to Woodbine to raise her family.”
Fiscal Policy
Fixing county budget problems by addressing spending and priorities rather than revenue. Bringing small business mindset to stretch budgets and make every dollar count.
“In Howard County, the problem isn't revenue—it's spending and priorities. Cat Carter believes it's time to fix that.”
Public Safety
Ensuring roads, emergency services, and schools keep pace with development. Protecting fire tax funding so first responders have resources needed.
“Cat will work to ensure our roads, emergency services, and schools keep pace with development, and she'll protect fire tax funding so first responders have the resources they need.”
Government Ethics
Keeping big money out of politics through participation in Howard County's Citizen's Election Fund (CEF). Only donations from Howard County residents qualify for matching funds.
“She wants to empower the people in our community and keep big money out of politics. That is why she is participating in the Howard County's Citizen's Election Fund (CEF).”
According to a June 12, 2025 Yahoo News article from the Howard County Times, Cat Carter is a Woodbine resident running to represent District 5 on the Howard County Council. A February 2, 2026 Capital Gazette report notes that campaign finance reports are available for Howard County Council candidates but does not provide specific fundraising details about Cat Carter in the provided text.
“Cat will invest in our community and public schools—living within our revenue. Funding our public schools is not just a budget line—it's a strategic investment in our children, our community's future, and our local economy.”
Source“She's committed to expanding support for our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), including establishing a sustainable vision care clinic.”
Source“The farms, forests, and equestrian lifestyle of Western Howard County are what brought Cat Carter to Woodbine to raise her family. As a landowner who stood up to development trying to build on her property.”
Source“In Howard County, the problem isn't revenue—it's spending and priorities. Cat Carter believes it's time to fix that.”
Source“Cat will work to ensure our roads, emergency services, and schools keep pace with development, and she'll protect fire tax funding so first responders have the resources they need.”
Source“She wants to empower the people in our community and keep big money out of politics. That is why she is participating in the Howard County's Citizen's Election Fund (CEF).”
Source