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County Council Member · District 1 · Baltimore 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 racePaul Dongarra is running for Baltimore County Council Member in District One, including Catonsville. He grew up in a working-class family with immigrant grandparents who instilled values of fairness and social justice, becoming the first in his family to attend college with a history degree from St. Mary's College of Maryland and post-graduate studies at UMBC. For nearly 35 years, he and his wife Rebecca have lived in District One while raising three children and running a special events firm for over 27 years. As a certified Project Management Professional and environmental leader, Dongarra serves on the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club's Greater Baltimore Group and advocates for Smart Growth redevelopment, open space protection, equitable housing, public safety reform, and infrastructure investment.
Sources: Campaign website
Bold, Honest Leadership I'm running to help us confront today's challenges and harness tomorrow's opportunities—renewing communities through smart redevelopment that protect open space, strengthens schools, and makes your neighborhood safer.
As a publicly financed candidate, Paul accepts zero special interest or business donations — this campaign is 100% grassroots funded to give our community a real seat at the table.
The unsustainable tax base, caused by decades of suburban sprawl , is the leading reason Baltimore County's schools are struggling. I will encourage and support: Increasing educator pay and planning time to reduce turnover and improve competitiveness with neighboring districts.
Source: paulforcouncil.net
Education
Dongarra addresses the unsustainable tax base caused by suburban sprawl affecting schools, supports extending Inspector General oversight into the school system, and advocates for increasing educator pay and planning time to reduce turnover while ensuring funds reach where needed most.
“The unsustainable tax base, caused by decades of suburban sprawl , is the leading reason Baltimore County's schools are struggling. I support extending the Inspector General to provide oversight into the school system.”
Housing
He advocates for community-driven planning with resident input, set-aside affordable units when developers request increased density, mixed-income redevelopment of commercial corridors, and incremental growth through Accessory Dwelling Units to promote multi-generational housing.
“Set-aside affordable units and other community benefits whenever developers request increased density. Redevelopment of commercial corridors using mixed-income models to provide opportunities for residents across income levels.”
Environment
Dongarra is committed to holding the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) as a planning boundary, investing in redevelopment inside the URDL near mass transit and job centers while protecting open space around reservoirs that safeguard drinking water.
“Regarding the environment, there is nothing more important than holding the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL). The equitable and sustainable path forward is to invest in redevelopment where it belongs, inside the URDL— near mass transit, job centers, and aging commercial corridors — while protecting open space.”
Public Safety
He argues public safety requires deconstructing unjust systems and strengthening social services that prevent crime before it happens, holding unacceptable officer behavior accountable while expanding de-escalation training and advancing community-based policing strategies.
“Public safety is about more than policing . It requires us to deconstruct unjust systems and strengthen the social services that prevent crime before it happens. Law enforcement is an integral partner for reviving neighborhoods. But to be effective, we must rebuild trust.”
Infrastructure
Dongarra addresses deteriorating roads, sewers, and stormwater systems from decades of car-centered planning, advocating for appropriate road design that distinguishes between efficient car-moving roads and neighborhood streets where community safety comes first.
“Decades of car-centered planning have created a tidal wave of infrastructure liabilities , leaving roads, sewers, and stormwater systems in poor condition. When repaving roads, every project should: Design appropriately to distinguish between roads that move cars efficiently and neighborhood streets where community safety and slowed traffic come first.”
Government Ethics
He champions transparency and has organized 200+ neighbors to fight for fair redistricting, exposed illegal developer contributions, pushed to close pay-to-play loopholes, and continues to champion the independence of the Office of the Inspector General.
“Transparency Paul believes people deserve a true voice in their government. He organized 200+ neighbors to fight for fair redistricting, exposed illegal developer contributions, pushed to close pay-to-play loopholes, and continues to champion the independence of the Office of the Inspector General.”
According to WYPR News from March 2026, Paul Dongarra qualified for public campaign financing in Baltimore County, receiving $52,000 in matching funds that put him in the same cash territory as his opponent Mandy Remmell. Dongarra noted that qualifying was difficult because he had to raise small donations from people who weren't yet thinking about council races. He stated, 'It was more difficult than I thought it was going to be,' and confirmed he has more total money than Remmell after including county matching funds.
“The unsustainable tax base, caused by decades of suburban sprawl , is the leading reason Baltimore County's schools are struggling. I support extending the Inspector General to provide oversight into the school system.”
Source“Set-aside affordable units and other community benefits whenever developers request increased density. Redevelopment of commercial corridors using mixed-income models to provide opportunities for residents across income levels.”
Source“Regarding the environment, there is nothing more important than holding the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL). The equitable and sustainable path forward is to invest in redevelopment where it belongs, inside the URDL— near mass transit, job centers, and aging commercial corridors — while protecting open space.”
Source“Public safety is about more than policing . It requires us to deconstruct unjust systems and strengthen the social services that prevent crime before it happens.”
Source“Decades of car-centered planning have created a tidal wave of infrastructure liabilities , leaving roads, sewers, and stormwater systems in poor condition.”
Source“The sustainable path forward is to invest in redevelopment where it belongs, inside the URDL— near mass transit, job centers, and aging commercial corridors — while protecting open space to protect our drinking water.”
Source“He organized 200+ neighbors to fight for fair redistricting, exposed illegal developer contributions, pushed to close pay-to-play loopholes, and continues to champion the independence of the Office of the Inspector General.”
Source