The Harford County Government administrative offices building. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.
Harford County voters will consider in November whether to impose new term limits on its county council, though the proposal doesn’t go as far as some term limit advocates had hoped.
Question A would set a limit of three consecutive four-year terms for council members. It also would allow an elected official to sit out one term and seek another three terms again in the future.
The proposed amendment to the county charter also differentiates between the offices of councilmember and council president, meaning a current council member could run immediately for council president after 12 years.
It’s those caveats that caused two pro-term limit councilmembers to withhold support from a bill that passed the county council with support from five members.
Supporters of term limits say they create more turnover in elected office, preventing career politicians and allowing for new ideas, new generations of leaders and a better chance for newcomers to get elected.
Opponents cautioned that limits could end the terms of well-liked or well-qualified councilmembers no matter their performance in office, and encourage current elected officials to fundraise for other offices during their service.
Councilmember Aaron Penman (R) sought a stricter two-term limit and did not support the proposed charter change. “That’s not term limits, folks,” he said at a council meeting.
Councilmember Tony Giangiordano (R) said the proposed charter amendment ultimately keeps voters in charge of their elected officials. “If the citizens choose to put you back on the council, they’ll put you back on the council,” he said. “I think it lets the people choose.”
There have been 51 councilmembers in the county council’s history; 39 of them served two terms or less, said Councilmember Dion F. Guthrie (D), who was on the council from 2006 to 2014 before being reelected in 2022.
The council voted 4-3 to pass another proposed charter amendment that would have expanded councilmembers’ budgetary authority, but that was vetoed by County Executive Bob Cassilly (R).
How to vote
Marylanders can register to vote during early voting and on Election Day.
To find out where to drop off a mail ballot at a dropbox, click here. Ballot boxes are open through 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, Election Day.
Want to see a sample ballot for your county? The State Board of Elections has a list of every approved ballot for the November election on its website.