Anne Arundel County voters will head to the polls June 23 to help decide who will represent them in county government and shape policies affecting their communities.
County elected officials influence issues ranging from zoning and development to public safety, education funding, transportation and county spending. For voters in the greater Laurel area, one of the most relevant races is Anne Arundel County Council District 4, which includes western Anne Arundel County communities stretching from Laurel and Fort Meade to Gambrills and portions of Odenton.
Below is a look at the candidates running for Anne Arundel County Council District 4 and Anne Arundel County executive.
Anne Arundel County Council District 4
What does a county council member do?
County council members serve as the county’s legislative body, approving budgets, passing local laws and making land-use and zoning decisions that affect neighborhoods throughout Anne Arundel County. Council members also influence issues such as education funding, public safety, transportation, economic development and county spending.
Julie Hummer (D)
Julie Hummer is the incumbent District 4 council member and has lived in the Laurel area since 2002.
Hummer became active in local education advocacy while her children attended Anne Arundel County Public Schools. She served as PTA president for four years and helped secure cultural arts grants for local schools. She also advocated for solutions to school overcrowding, efforts that coincided with the opening of Monarch Global Academy in 2014.
In 2015, Hummer was appointed to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education, where she served for five years. During her tenure, she supported policies addressing educational equity, bullying and harassment. As vice president of the board, she helped oversee the development of guidelines for transgender students.
Hummer currently chairs the Laurel Race Course Impact Fund Advisory Committee, which recommends grants for organizations serving communities within 3 miles of Laurel Park.
If reelected, Hummer says she will focus on education, infrastructure improvements, public safety and mental health services. Her priorities include supporting responsible economic growth, expanding crisis intervention programs, improving walkability and road conditions, modernizing libraries and supporting military families.
Josh D. Peters (D)
Josh Peters is a former educator and small-business owner.
Peters began his teaching career at a struggling school in Washington, D.C., where he says he helped students improve multiple reading levels within a single school year. He later taught at The Ridge School of Anne Arundel County in Crownsville.
In 2008, Peters founded Combat Principles Mixed Martial Arts in Burtonsville. The business has grown from four students to more than 100 members.
Peters credits his early involvement with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, House of Ruth, Seniors Against Nuclear Arms and the Grey Panthers with shaping his commitment to community service.
His campaign priorities include education, public safety, economic opportunity, infrastructure, environmental protection and affordable housing. Peters says he would advocate for attracting and retaining qualified teachers, expanding access to mental health services, supporting police training and crisis intervention efforts, promoting union jobs and workforce development, investing in parks and green spaces, and encouraging the development of affordable housing options.
Thomas Dale Wieland (R)
Thomas Dale Wieland is a pharmacist and Republican candidate for Anne Arundel County Council District 4. Wieland previously sought the seat in 2022 and holds degrees in biochemistry and pharmacy. He has also cited volunteer work through the American Legion and youth programs.
Wieland’s campaign has focused on traffic congestion, infrastructure improvements and responsible growth. He says future development should be accompanied by investments in roads and public infrastructure to address increasing traffic concerns throughout western Anne Arundel County. Wieland has also emphasized government accountability and improving quality-of-life issues for residents throughout District 4.
Anne Arundel County Executive
What does the county executive do?
The county executive serves as Anne Arundel County’s chief executive officer and oversees county government operations. The position is responsible for proposing the county budget, managing executive agencies, implementing county laws, directing public services and setting policy priorities on issues such as public safety, education, economic development, transportation and environmental protection.
Five candidates are seeking to become Anne Arundel County’s next county executive.
James Kitchin (D)
James Kitchin has served on County Executive Steuart Pittman’s senior management team since 2018.
Kitchin says his experience in county government has helped him better understand how to engage residents and improve service delivery. His campaign focuses on schools, public safety, environmental protection, affordability and government accountability.
If elected, Kitchin says he would require developers to invest more in transportation infrastructure, continue implementation of Maryland’s Blueprint for education, expand violence prevention programs, protect forests and open space, increase access to public water recreation areas, and support affordable housing and senior services.
Kyle A. Nembhard (D)
Kyle Nembhard is a city and regional planner who says one of his biggest professional accomplishments has been securing millions of dollars in federal grant funding for projects in Maryland.
His campaign priorities include neighborhood empowerment, transportation, housing, education and public safety.
Nembhard says he would work to strengthen communication between residents and elected officials, ensure development keeps pace with school and transportation needs, expand workforce housing opportunities, reduce classroom sizes and support law enforcement training focused on de-escalation.
Allison Pickard (D)
Allison Pickard currently represents District 2 on the Anne Arundel County Council, a position she has held since 2018.
Before joining the council, Pickard served on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education and held leadership roles with county and state PTA organizations.
Her campaign focuses on affordability, education, economic development, environmental protection, public safety and government effectiveness.
Pickard says she would work to reduce financial burdens on working families, expand access to health care, fully implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, strengthen workforce development programs, attract new industries and jobs, invest in climate resilience projects and address staffing shortages among emergency responders.
Pete Smith (D)
Pete Smith has represented District 1 on the Anne Arundel County Council since 2012. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked in the cybersecurity industry.
Smith points to accomplishments that include securing funding for schools, supporting construction of conference facilities at Arundel Mills and championing tax relief measures for veterans.
His campaign priorities include public safety, affordability, education, environmental protection and initiatives aimed at supporting residents across generations. Smith says he would focus on strengthening relationships between law enforcement and communities, supporting economic growth around Fort Meade, BWI Marshall Airport and Arundel Mills, investing in clean-energy infrastructure and expanding resources for older adults.
Dave Crawford (R)
Dave Crawford is chief of the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company and has served as a volunteer firefighter for more than 35 years. He is also a business owner.
Crawford’s campaign focuses on public safety, government accountability, affordability, infrastructure, education and small-business growth.
If elected, Crawford says he would address vacant housing issues, improve roads and sidewalks, strengthen partnerships with local businesses, encourage collaboration among schools, churches and community organizations, reduce government waste, protect environmentally sensitive areas and expand workforce development opportunities.