Meet the Black Women Running for Baltimore County Council
The ballot features seven Black women, the largest number that election watchers can recall in the council’s history
Mandy Remmell, District 1
As a district director for Democratic U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, Remmell runs the outfit that serves as a link between the congressional office and the constituents in the 2nd district. In that role, she has helped residents with veterans’ and immigration services, SNAP benefits, Social Security and more. Remmell, a Democrat who lives in Catonsville, says her priorities include public safety, funding for first responders, education investments and housing issues. She says she would work with the council on property tax relief that could help seniors stay in their homes.
Danita Tolson, District 2
At the top of Tolson’s list are the school system’s budget, particularly recruiting and retaining teachers, and addressing the need for infrastructure improvements and redevelopment. Tolson, a Democrat who lives in Woodstock, chaired Coppin State University’s undergraduate nursing program. She organized outreach to neighborhoods for the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Under her leadership, the local NAACP chapter worked with county police on community gun-buyback events.
Linda Dorsey-Walker, District 3
The longtime civic leader would prioritize the need for a new hospital on the county’s western side, where she says there’s a shortage of acute-care beds. Other key issues include rebuilding the tax base in the county, attracting jobs and finding housing and employment training for young people aging out of foster care, making use of a Job Corps center in the county that was a casualty of federal budget cuts. Dorsey-Walker, an Owings Mills resident, served as a HUD block-grant administrator for the county. She’s a member of the Baltimore County Democratic State Central Committee and founder of VOTE4MORE!, which fought for more seats and diversity on the council.
Makeda Scott, District 3
A former chair of the county’s school board, Scott now serves as co-chair of the schools’ equity council. The Democrat from Owings Mills plans to emphasize constituent services in part by setting up a system to track their requests on everything from potholes to public safety issues – and ensure a county response. Other priorities include redevelopment of aging commercial properties, healthy food options and, of course, schools.
Sharonda Dillard-Huffman, District 8
The Essex Democrat, chair of the Baltimore County Housing Committee for the nonprofit Maryland Inclusive Housing, says she’s focused on housing equity and public safety. If she’s elected, Dillard-Huffman would also work to address the county’s public campaign financing requirements for council candidates – which she says create an uneven playing field. She has been frustrated by what she describes as a lack of transparency and accountability, such as the council’s handling of a pension loophole that could have provided generous benefits to a councilman who recently resigned. The council voted on June 1 to close the loophole after sharp public criticism.
Crystal Cody, District 8
Cody’s agenda would include addressing aging public infrastructure, funding first responders, protecting green space and pressing for full funding of schools, including competitive wages for teachers. The Middle River resident is a manager for a public benefit corporation and has two decades of experience working for the state and federal governments. Cody, a Democrat, works for the Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform and helped lead Georgetown University’s Pivot Program, a professional-development initiative for former prison inmates.
Arkia Wade, District 9
Wade has deep roots in the area. Her grandfather, William Wade, was a well-known doctor in the historically Black community of Turner Station. The Dundalk resident founded the nonprofit Neighborhood Companions, which started by offering companionship and free transportation for older adults who needed to get to medical appointments. Wade, a Democrat, serves as a commissioner on the county’s Department of Aging and a board member of NeighborSpace of Baltimore County. She says she wants to address the needs of a growing population of seniors through services to help them age in place. Other priorities include support for small businesses and education.
