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County Executive · Howard County · 2026 Primary
The County Executive serves as the chief administrator of the county, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and enforcing laws passed by the County Council. This official proposes the annual budget that directs how local tax dollars are spent on services such as public schools, roads, and emergency response. The County Executive also has the power to appoint department heads and can sign or veto legislation affecting the entire county.
View all candidates in this raceDeb Jung is a Howard County resident for nearly 40 years who served as a County Council member representing District 4 since her election in 2018, holding the position of Council Chair twice in the past six years while previously working as a private practice attorney. Running for County Executive, she campaigns on building a stronger, more transparent Howard County through publicly financed means with small donations only from residents rather than special interest groups or corporations. Her platform emphasizes putting people first, particularly children, and rejecting outside influence on political outcomes. She represents District 4 which includes five of the ten Columbia Villages as well as Fulton, Maple Lawn, and parts of Clarksville, Scaggsville, and North Laurel.
Sources: Campaign website
Deb Jung is running for Howard County Executive as your advocate. Deb is committed to putting people first — especially our children — every step of the way.
She won't take a dime from special interest groups, corporations or outsider PACS, who frequently seek to influence political outcomes.
Deb has always been a champion for fully funding and prioritizing our high-quality public schools. Every year, she advocates for funding new school construction, small class sizes, and programs that prepare students for success.
I don't think it's necessary for whatever is going on here to be a public feud.
Source: debjung.com
Public Schools
Alleviate overcrowding, pay teachers and staff competitive wages, keep schools safe, fully fund high-quality public schools, advocate for new school construction, small class sizes, and programs that prepare students for success.
“Deb will work to alleviate overcrowding, pay our teachers and staff a competitive wage and keep our schools safe. Deb has always been a champion for fully funding and prioritizing our high-quality public schools.”
Public Safety
Ensure every neighborhood gets resources needed to improve public safety, support well-funded professionalized public safety departments, fund new initiatives including body-worn cameras and 911 mental health interventions.
“As County Executive, Deb will work to make sure every neighborhood gets the resources they need to improve public safety. All of our residents deserve to be protected in their communities.”
Environment
Protect open spaces, parks and forests from overdevelopment, combat climate change, fight for changes to flight patterns creating unhealthy airplane noise, support expansion of solar energy facilities.
“As County Executive, Deb will work to protect our open spaces, parks and forests from overdevelopment and to combat climate change. People love living in Howard County because of its mix of suburban convenience and beautiful natural environment.”
Transparency and Accountability
Fight against special interests exerting outsized influence on important County decisions, champion fairer playing field for businesses and community.
“As County Executive, Deb will fight for you and not the special interests. For too long special interests have exerted outsized influence on important County decisions.”
Housing Affordability
Promote affordability and housing diversification throughout the County, prevent concentrations of poverty in certain school districts, make it more affordable to purchase a home so more people can build generational wealth.
“As County Executive, Deb will continue to support efforts to promote affordability and housing diversification throughout the County, prevent concentrations of poverty in certain school districts.”
Economic Development
Support public employees and small businesses to protect county from destructive actions of current president, grow high-quality jobs, spend County revenues responsibly.
“As County Executive, Deb will support our public employees and small businesses to protect our county from the destructive actions of the current president. Our long-term economic health is dependent upon retaining and assisting the highly skilled workforce.”
The Baltimore Banner reports on a controversy involving resignations from Howard County's Board of Appeals where Jung was accused of political interference by board members Gene Ryan and Liz Walsh. Jung denies these allegations, stating it's appropriate to support residents at appeals proceedings and that the situation feels manufactured. She also criticized the current executive's budget proposal for including health care contribution increases while announcing her candidacy early in the 2026 election cycle.
“Deb has always been a champion for fully funding and prioritizing our high-quality public schools. Every year, she advocates for funding new school construction, small class sizes, and programs that prepare students for success.”
Source“As County Executive, Deb will work to make sure every neighborhood gets the resources they need to improve public safety. All of our residents deserve to be protected in their communities.”
Source“As County Executive, Deb will work to protect our open spaces, parks and forests from overdevelopment and to combat climate change. People love living in Howard County because of its mix of suburban convenience and beautiful natural environment.”
Source“As County Executive, Deb will fight for you and not the special interests. For too long special interests have exerted outsized influence on important County decisions.”
Source“As County Executive, Deb will continue to support efforts to promote affordability and housing diversification throughout the County, prevent concentrations of poverty in certain school districts.”
Source“As County Executive, Deb will support our public employees and small businesses to protect our county from the destructive actions of the current president. Our long-term economic health is dependent upon retaining and assisting the highly skilled workforce.”
Source“Voted against tax and fee increases that would make the County more expensive to live in and undermine the commercial tax base. Advocated against excessive spending on Capital projects that would put more of a burden on taxpayers.”
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