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County Council Member · District C · 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 racePaula S. Etting is a long-time Harford County resident and conservative Republican seeking election to the Harford County Council for District C. She currently serves as the Mayor of Bel Air, having been first elected to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners in 2021 and re-elected in 2025. Her professional background includes serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore County and as a Senior Assistant County Attorney for Harford County. Etting's platform emphasizes fiscal responsibility, highlighting her record of passing four balanced budgets without raising taxes. She is focused on managing rapid development to protect green space and infrastructure while prioritizing public safety and core educational foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics.
Sources: Campaign website
“We must be on guard for those who have recently changed parties – there is a move to weaken our party by those who do not truly share our values.”
“Every budget that I voted for, every budget the Town Board has passed, has been balanced without raising taxes, without cutting services, and while still providing raises for Town employees.”
“We need to continue focusing on practical, common-sense actions that allow only growth that truly benefits our community—protecting green space, thoughtfully managing density, and ensuring development enhances rather than overwhelms our infrastructure and diminishes our quality of life.”
“As the first in my family to graduate from college and the only one with a professional degree, I understand the value of education. I am committed to seeing that our public schools provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and mathematics to all students.”
Source: paulasetting.com
Fiscal Responsibility
Etting pledges to protect taxpayer dollars and hold the line on taxes, citing her record of voting for four balanced budgets without tax increases or service cuts.
“As District C’s representative, Paula will continue to be fiscally conservative, protect taxpayer dollars, and hold the line on taxes.”
Overdevelopment
She advocates for common-sense reforms to manage rapid growth, protect green space, and limit high-density development to prevent overwhelming local infrastructure.
“Paula voted for practical reforms to the Town’s development regulations to preserve green space, limit high-density development, and address school overcrowding.”
Public Safety
Etting supports full funding for law enforcement and competitive compensation to attract and retain qualified officers, viewing public safety as essential to community stability.
“We need to remain competitive to continue to attract and retain well-qualified candidates.”
Education
She believes public schools should focus on a core mission of providing a strong foundation in essential academic subjects.
“She is committed to ensuring public schools focus on their core mission: providing students with strong foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics so they are prepared for lifelong success.”
“Fiscal responsibility here in Harford County is more important than ever. We owe it to our residents to hold the line on taxes.”
Source“Every budget that I voted for... has been balanced without raising taxes.”
Source“Public safety must remain one of our top priorities. We have seen what happens in nearby jurisdictions when crime is allowed to take hold—it is corrosive.”
Source“Paula voted for practical reforms to the Town’s development regulations to preserve green space, limit high-density development, and address school overcrowding.”
Source“I am committed to seeing that our public schools provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and mathematics to all students.”
Source“ensuring development enhances rather than overwhelms our infrastructure”
Source“Paula has championed common-sense reforms to protect green space”
Source