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County Council Member · District F · 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 raceJacob Bennett is a kindergarten teacher in Harford County who was sworn onto the Council in December 2023 after a Maryland Supreme Court ruling cleared his eligibility to serve despite teaching. He represents District F and lives in downtown Havre De Grace with his wife, where he teaches in the district they reside in. A graduate of Salisbury University and Goucher College, he previously worked at Broadcreek Memorial Scout Reservation and founded a mentoring program during college. He ran for office citing a lack of child advocacy in local government and aims to prioritize children's education over officials' interests.
Sources: Campaign website
Teacher For 10 years I have taught 1st grade and kindergarten right here in Harford County.
I first ran for office because I saw a lack of child advocacy in our local government.
We need to put our children and their education very first and those in office very last.
it's not to expand, it's to replace.
Source: voteforjacobbennett.com
Education Reform
Lobbied MSDE to pass both a reading and math instruction policy to ensure evidence based instructional practices are used in teaching our children how to read and count.
“Education Reform: Lobbied MSDE to pass both a reading and math instruction policy to ensure evidence based instructional practices are used in teaching our children how to read and count.”
Land Use/Development
Capped Warehouse buildings to 250,000 square feet; Keeping apartment buildings out of land zoned for business use.
“Capping Warehouse buildings to 250,000 square feet : When Bob Cassilly wanted to cave to developer interests and allow for warehouses up to 1 million square feet, I organized in the community and pushed back to ensure we held firm to the 250,000 square feet maximum and codified this standard in legislation.”
Fiscal Policy
Making developers pay their fair share through updated Impact Fees for infrastructure costs.
“Making developers pay their fair share : I organized with parents and community members to updated Impact Fees for the first time in over 20 years to help close the gap between what developers pay and what they cost us in infrastructure.”
Gun Safety
Helped distribute hundreds of gun locks out to the community and sent fliers on safe storage with elementary students.
“Safe Gun Storage : Helped our local health department distribute hundreds of gun locks out to the community to help prevent accidental gun use.”
Public Safety
Helped secure additional funding for local fire companies and advocated for accelerated schedule for fire capital projects.
“Supporting our Firefighters: I have helped secure additional funding for our local fire companies and have advocated for an accelerated schedule for fire capital projects.”
A Maryland Supreme Court judge ruled in February 2023 that Bennett's teaching job made him ineligible to serve on the Harford County Council. The court cleared his way to take office in December following this ruling, noting he is a Democrat who teaches middle school science. This was described as an "unexpected civics lesson" for the candidate during his run for office.
“Teacher For 10 years I have taught 1st grade and kindergarten right here in Harford County. During that time I have made it my goal to ensure every child leaves my room with the confidence and skills needed to read.”
Source“Keeping apartment buildings out of land zoned for business use : I stood with the community in ensuring that businesses stay in business zoned land and that apartments stay in residential zoned land.”
Source“Making developers pay their fair share : I organized with parents and community members to updated Impact Fees for the first time in over 20 years.”
Source“Supporting our Firefighters: I have helped secure additional funding for our local fire companies and have advocated for an accelerated schedule for fire capital projects.”
Source“Flood Mitigation : Advocated through multiple budget cycles to ensure capital projects addressed flooding concerns in Perryman, Abingdon and Box Hill.”
Source“Student Voice: Advocated for the Harford County Youth Commission to be started up for the first time in over a decade, giving our highschoolers a way to directly engage with local government.”
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