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County Council Member · District A · Harford 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 raceDion F. Guthrie is a Democratic candidate for Harford County Council District A in 2026. Guthrie previously served on the council and was a longtime leader of IBEW Local 1501, but his return bid comes after a major controversy: he was removed from office in 2024 after entering a plea in a felony theft case involving union funds. His 2026 campaign therefore centers not only on his long public presence in Harford County, but also on whether voters are willing to send him back to office after that scandal.
According to Maryland Matters reporting from October 2024, Harford County Council member Dion Guthrie was charged with theft between $1,500 and $25,000 from the union he led for five decades. He stated he will accept a plea deal but claims the charges were politically motivated, comparing them to other political accusations in Maryland. A January 2025 update indicates Guthrie lost another round in his fight to get his Harford County Council seat back.
“Guthrie said he will accept a plea deal related to charges that he stole between $1,500 and $25,000 from a union he led for five decades. But he said the charges were the result of a political witch hunt.”
Source“Guthrie, in a phone interview Tuesday night, said he was not guilty of theft. The charges were the result of politics, he said.”
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