Part of a series on candidates running for Baltimore County Executive
A Democrat, Pat Young has served as a Baltimore County Council member representing District 1 since 2022. He is running for Baltimore County Executive.
Young, 43, is a former U. S. Marine who served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 44B, from 2015 to 2022. He is a graduate of Towson University.
Jmore recently spoke with Young, who is a lifelong resident of Catonsville, where he lives with his wife and two sons.
What do you feel is the most critical challenge facing the county?
For regular folks in Baltimore County, the most pertinent thing is affordability, the cost of living, and the ability of people to age in place in the neighborhoods and communities in which they’ve built families and careers.
I think the affordability problem drives to a larger issue: economic opportunity. We have a housing crisis with too little housing stock.
That is the reason I chose this historic opportunity to take public financing to run my campaign. A lot of decisions over the last 70 years have moved us in the direction where we’ve focused less on what communities want and what would benefit Baltimore County taxpayers and residents, to being focused on a select few folks that can either purchase access or just know who to reach. These people have a vested interest in moving things forward that benefit them.
Baltimore County government has traditionally put the focus on people who have supported the people in power. They have wanted to maintain the status quo and not change things to benefit regular folks. That’s what I’m trying to change by running for County Executive.
Why are you the most qualified candidate?
I have a unique perspective based on a wealth of experience. I’m the only candidate with experience at the state level as a state legislator. I served in the General Assembly for eight years, on the Appropriations Committee for all eight. I chaired the Baltimore County Delegation and have been able to bring that experience to the Council.
I grew up in Baltimore County. I’m an Eagle Scout, and over time, I’ve realized that the reason I’m in public service stems from that experience with the Scouts. I’ve always believed that government was the place to go to solve problems and make people’s lives better.
How do we make people’s lives better is the question we should be asking. That’s the fundamental difference that I bring to the table.
I am not the only candidate, but I served in the Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005, in the First Battalion of Marine Infantry Regiment. Serving as a non-commissioned officer has given me a perspective on leadership and, especially, on service-oriented leadership. That means protecting people and accomplishing a mission.
I am the only candidate who has qualified to receive public financing. I’m very proud of the work we did to qualify, so my campaign is funded by and focused on regular people. I can’t take contributions from PACs, businesses or special interests.
And I’m proud to say we’ve got the most Baltimore County donors of any current campaign. Money donated to my campaign has to come from a person. We’ve returned checks sent by individuals but actually come from their company.
So at the end of the day, although we might not agree on final decisions, you can be sure that the decisions I’m making are based on what I believe are best for the folks that live here. Not on outside interests that are trying to influence me.
How would you characterize the current state of the county?
I’d say the county has unrealized potential. It has a lack of vision. When you try to talk about why we do something this way, the answer I get is, ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it.’ Baltimore County is stuck in the ‘70s.
We’ve done some positive things, but the focus is not on making people’s lives better. This has to get fixed. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be thriving, realizing there are so many positive things for the future. Now is the time to act, to engage the public in solving our problems. This is the time to be proactive.
What would be some of your most pressing priorities as County Executive?
We need to take an inventory of what property is owned by Baltimore County so we can focus on public-private partnerships related to redevelopment.
Another priority is recognizing that there will be nine members on the council and several will be brand new. I already have good relationships with the prospective new council members.
As County Executive, building a good relationship with the legislative branch is key. Making sure from the beginning that the right tone is set, and while we are separate branches of government, being a partner, not an adversary.
With antisemitism rising everywhere, how can the Jewish community feel more secure and safe in the county?
What I’ve experienced from the police department as well as the Jewish community is resilience. But I think Baltimore County has to be more proactive with meeting the lived experience of our faith communities: the Jewish community, the Christian community, the Muslim community. We are too reactive.
I would say the police department has not had a comprehensive approach to antisemitism, islamophobia, African-American churches and communities, and the threats that have affected them.
To develop a comprehensive approach, I’d like to create a liaison through the County Executive office with the police chief and each precinct. That would go a long way to everyone having a point of contact.
The County Council is in a unique place to provide forums and opportunities for folks in communities of faith to engage with each other and build empathy. Government has an active role to play in facilitating those conversations and relationships.
The way I try to lead and want government to change is to include the community. The County Executive would organize events and facilitate engagement. That is a way we can hear from faith leaders how to be more proactive to build relationships among communities.
What are your feelings about doing business with Israel at this time?
I think we want to take every opportunity to do business with any entity where Baltimore County folks can benefit. Our goal, to make the lives of Baltimore County residents better, is value-added.
I don’t have any reason why the county would be against any kind of international partnership with Israel or any other country that fell within those guardrails of making the lives of Baltimore County residents better.
Peter Arnold is an independent journalist.
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