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Cleaning Up Our Government
For 70 years, Baltimore County has worked exclusively for the politicians and the big money donors that fund their campaigns.
Pat made an easy choice to be the first candidate for County Executive in Baltimore County history to take public financing. That means he is not taking any corporate or PAC money, only small contributions (less than $250) from actual real people.
As a Delegate and Councilman he experienced first hand the demands of the traditional campaign system. Elected officials spend hours and hours with people who can write checks totaling several thousand dollars each, and over time even the most dedicated public servant begins to lose touch with the concerns of everyday people. Donors get their phone calls returned, their problems solved, and residents are left behind.
By rejecting PAC or corporate contributions, Baltimore County residents can be certain that the actions and policies Pat takes as County Executive are because he believes it is the right thing to do and not because of insider influence.
Pat is committed to ending our pay-to-play system. The public financing system works because small contributions from residents are matched.On the Council, Pat has passed legislation that protects the Democratic process by requiring public posting of amendments ensuring the public has the same access to information as lobbyists and special interests.
This commitment extends to every aspect of how Pat will govern. The most important requirement the County Executive has is to balance the budget. And make no mistake, the budget is a moral document, how we spend our money is the truest measure of where our values are. Residents deserve to know where every dollar goes.
The Federal, State, and Baltimore County Governments provide millions in tax breaks to the rich. Baltimore County spends too much on incentives and tax breaks that benefit large corporations and multimillionaires leaving behind our most vulnerable residents. Our county budget process lacks transparency and hides lobbyist crafted tax incentives and giveaways which does little for our residents.As County Executive, Pat will review every contract, every incentive program, every line of our local tax code. Not because all tax breaks are bad, some make sense, but our choices have consistently put the donor class first and regular residents last.
Pat will protect funding for education, healthcare, the environment, and programs that help people on the lowest end of the economic ladder.
Education
With two boys in our public schools, this issue is personal to Pat. As County Executive, Pat will make sure our schools are fully funded, our teachers and educational professionals supported, and our schools safe.
Pat supports the expanded powers of the Inspector General to oversee BCPS. But more than just oversight, Pat's plan includes fixing the budget process; currently, BCPS does not provide the details necessary for the County Council and County Executive to have a reasonable understanding of where the money is going. Pat has the experience on the budget committees to know what needs to be done to give policymakers and the public a real understanding of our school budget. Budget Transparency. Teacher pay. School construction schedules. Safety. After-school access. These will not be negotiated in back rooms.
As a legislator Pat was a co-sponsor of the Blueprint Plan and as County Executive, Pat will prioritize education funding and specifically expand the community school model. Community schools provide wraparound services like health services, social supports, and family resources into school buildings so that students and families get what they need without navigating separate systems. He will strengthen school-based mental health services, expanding access to counselors and social workers before challenges escalate.
The school budget represents nearly half of the entire county budget. Pat will ensure the public has full access to budget information and that the process is transparent and open — with every resident, parent, and community member having a genuine chance to be heard.
Baltimore County hasn't solved its housing problem because those who write the laws are only answering to those who write their campaign checks.
Pat is not bankrolled by large developer contributions, no PAC or corporate contributions. As County Executive, he will focus growth where it makes sense along our existing corridors like Pulaski Highway, Belair and Harford Road, York Road, Reisterstown Road, and Liberty Road.
It is true Baltimore County has fallen behind competitive jurisdictions when it comes to housing. Currently, the County is operating under a Voluntary Compliance Agreement since 2016 which requires the County to create 1,000 affordable rental units in areas of opportunity by 2028. While the county has made strides in recent years to close the gap, most development opportunities have been met with fierce opposition as necessary conversations with communities are skipped, and council members have blocked attempts to build through the re-zoning process.
We need to have a housing policy that balances the need to increase access to housing with the demands new residents place on our schools and existing infrastructure. One of the reasons Pat is taking public financing is to ensure that residents can trust that his administration is not unduly influenced by developers. While we cannot erase the mistakes of the past we can stop making new mistakes.
That is not to say we can cut developers out of the conversation, nor can we create policies that will prevent new housing from being built because it is challenging. The lack of housing availability is unquestionably a contributing cause to the current affordability crisis. Just as my administration will not be beholden to the interests of developers, we also cannot have a government policy that puts up unnecessary barriers driven by a no-build or “not in my back-yard” mentality.
So how do we move forward? We start with honest conversations that are based on data and grounded in reality. We must ensure that zoning and development decisions are transparent and made with the best interests of the public in mind. We must have an Office of Planning and Zoning and Inspections and Permits that is staffed by planning professionals whose decisions are clear and transparent. Where the public has notice and input, where builders and developers have clear rules that they can understand and plan for, and most importantly a process that ends the long established Baltimore County’s pay-to-play culture.
Pat recognized the need for real investment in West Baltimore County—an area rich with potential that has long been overlooked. To change that, he championed the creation of the West Baltimore County Redevelopment Authority (WBCRA) and introduced Bill 40-23, establishing a dedicated platform to drive economic development, attract new businesses, and enhance local infrastructure. Through the WBCRA, Pat is ensuring that revitalization efforts are community-driven, strategic, and built to last, giving residents and businesses the resources they need to grow and succeed.
Everyone gets a vote, but not one single entity gets a veto.
Housing
Traffic
Every minute a Baltimore County resident spends sitting in traffic is a minute taken from their family, their work, and their life.
or residents a backed-up commute is a direct financial cost, translating into late pickup fees and missed shifts. For a senior trying to reach a doctor's appointment, or a young worker without a car trying to access a job, a transportation system that doesn't work is a barrier to opportunity itself.
Pat's approach is built on three connected principles: fix what exists, expand what works, and align transportation with the way people actually live.
Deal with potholes. Pat will create a map of every pothole in the county and allow residents to directly report potholes and set timelines and hold county employees responsible for repairing them within that timeline.
A fix-it-first infrastructure commitment — prioritizing repair and modernization of existing roads, intersections, and known bottlenecks before chasing new projects. And funding it!
Expanding the Towson Loop model — developing similar rapid transit connections in Owings Mills, Pikesville, Cockeysville, and Catonsville through federal grants and state partnerships.
Strengthening transit partnerships with the State — improving MTA reliability so transit becomes a viable daily option, not a last resort.
Pedestrian and cyclist safety investments — improving sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike infrastructure around schools, senior centers, and transit hubs
Aligning transportation and land use — ensuring new development is matched with infrastructure capacity, not just generating new congestion in existing neighborhoods
Aggressively pursuing federal infrastructure funding — positioning Baltimore County to capture transportation dollars that reduce the burden on county taxpayers
Public Safety
We can't just lock people up to fight crime. Violent criminals need to be removed from society; however, often most proposals, that are not “more enforcement”, are framed as soft on crime.
Pat will continue to support the men and women who protect us from violent criminals. With that said, if we are serious about building a safer community we must do more to tackle the root causes of crime.
The data is clear, the best way to reduce crime is to address poverty and provide opportunity. Pat will work to provide more recreational and mentorship opportunities for our young people. Pat will fight to increase wages, provide more funding for our schools, parks, and implement more community policing initiatives, violence intervention programs, and expand the programs that already exist in the county.
We need to implement programs that lead with opportunity, not because Pat believes we should be “soft” but because the data shows lower crime rates occur when we invest in people. His administration will prioritize investments in greater mental health services and other proven crime reduction policies; and still fully fund our police department.
As a Marine Pat understands the sacrifice of those who serve, and will work to keep our communities safe. He will invest in proven crime reduction strategies that balances the need for enforcement with investment in services that reduce crime.
Public Health
A prevention-first approach is not just the right thing to do — it is the fiscally responsible thing to do.
A healthy community is the foundation of everything else: strong schools, a productive workforce, safe neighborhoods, and resilient families all depend on it. Pat believes that waiting for a crisis to occur causes unnecessary suffering but is also an expensive choice for residents and for taxpayers.
Pat's public health framework is built on coordination, prevention, and equity. Rather than relying on emergency rooms and crisis response as the default, the county will invest upstream in community-based care and early intervention. He will break down silos between the health department, schools, and public safety agencies so that a child struggling in the classroom, a family in crisis, or a resident battling addiction encounters a connected system of support, not a maze of disconnected programs.
Expanding and staffing community health centers in underserved areas, reducing emergency room pressure.
Strengthening behavioral health services — mental health and substance use treatment focused on diversion, treatment, and recovery.
Launching a coordinated maternal and infant health initiative targeting disparities in birth outcomes.
Integrating behavioral health support in schools — counselors, social workers, and intervention resources before challenges escalate
Building out the co-responder model — mental health professionals alongside law enforcement for behavioral health calls
Modernizing emergency preparedness — planning, stockpiling, and coordination so the county is never caught off-guard
Addressing the opioid and fentanyl crisis — expanding harm reduction programs, naloxone access, and recovery support countywide for those suffering from addiction and the families who care about them.
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Pat will work to protect our environment and prepare the county for the future impacts of
climate change.
Baltimore County's natural assets are unmatched. We have roughly 232 miles of shoreline, over 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, and nearly two dozen dams. They are what make living in our county great, and are central to our quality of life and long-term stability. Protecting these resources is not separate from growth. It is fundamental to growing responsibly.
Pat will establish a Resilience Authority. This is a recommendation that other jurisdictions have put into place. It is a dedicated entity focused on long-term planning, infrastructure coordination, flood risk reduction, and positioning the county to compete for state and federal infrastructure funding. Too often, environmental responsibilities are spread across departments, making it harder to move quickly and strategically. The Resilience Authority brings those efforts together.
Smart growth means directing development toward areas that can support it while preserving open space and environmentally sensitive land. We cannot place additional strain on aging dams and stormwater systems. Pat will pursue the stormwater management consent decree obligations with transparency and accountability, expanding the tree canopy, investing in living shorelines, and improving energy efficiency across county facilities. He will work with our neighbors to ensure that we have the capacity to deal with flooding and repair and expand our overburdened wastewater infrastructure.
Clean energy is part of this picture. Baltimore County should be a leader in solar, energy efficiency, and clean infrastructure with clear, fair siting rules that align community character with Maryland's energy goals. Pat will look for opportunities for energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and electric vehicle infrastructure on county property.
Protecting Our Environment
Making Government Work
Government should work for residents, not just well connected insiders and campaign contributors.
When systems are outdated, slow, and hard to navigate, everyday people pay the price in wasted time, frustration, and eroded trust. Pat believes a modern, well-run county government is a baseline obligation. We have the tools to make the government faster, smarter, and more accountable.
Pat's modernization effort is built around three principles: efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Systems will be redesigned around the user experience, not internal bureaucracy. Residents must be able to access services simply and intuitively. Open data initiatives will make it easier for residents, businesses, and researchers to see how the county operates, spends, and responds. Data analytics will guide resource allocation. Cybersecurity will be treated as a core responsibility, not an afterthought.
Pat will streamline permitting, service requests, and payments into intuitive online systems; expand open data access across county operations and budgets; invest in cybersecurity infrastructure; and deploy analytics tools to sharpen government decision-making.
