By Natalie Bland, Christina Hershey, Owen DiDonna, and Tim Utzig
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
The Baltimore County Council will remain mostly unchanged after Tuesday’s election, allowing Democrats to hold onto their 4-3 majority.
All six incumbents won re-election on the seven-member body, including Democrats Tom Quirk (District 1), Julian E. Jones Jr. (District 4) and Cathy Bevins (District 6), and Republicans Wade Kach (District 3), David Marks (District 5) and Todd Crandell (District 7).
The only change occurred in the District 2 race, where Democrat Izzy Patoka defeated Republican Michael Lee, 71.6 to 28.3 percent. Patoka will replace Vicki Almond, who gave up the seat to run an unsuccessful campaign for county executive in the Democratic primary last June.
“I’m looking forward to servicing the residents of Baltimore County and working with our new county executive,” Patoka said.
Bevins is now the only woman on the council.
“My seat was in jeopardy and I saved that and now I’m the last woman on the council,” Bevins said. “If there’s any woman to be on the council with these six men, it’s me.”
Almond said she is confident in Democrat John “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr., who defeated Republican Al Redmer Jr. for county executive.
“He’s going to be a great county executive and he’s got great people around him,” Almond said.
Bevins and Quirk said they are looking forward to start working with Olszewski.
“I want to build schools and build infrastructure and I’m excited to do that with our new county executive,” Bevins said.
“It’s time to make sure education is first and we have great schools,” Quirk said.
Hopes were high at the start of the Redmer campaign party in Nottingham.
“I’m just excited to see what happens,” said Jon Hong, 20, an intern with Redmer’s campaign. “Most of the races are already decided, but I’m most excited to see what happens in District 6.”
The results in District 6 had the potential to flip the council from Democratic to Republican control if Republican Ryan Nawrocki had defeated Bevins.
Bevins won 54.7 to 45.1 percent.