Vanessa Atterbeary Enters Howard County Executive Race as Fourth Democratic Woman Candidate

Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, formally announced her candidacy for Howard County Executive before a crowd of over 300 supporters Wednesday night, becoming the fourth Democratic woman to enter what promises to be a competitive primary race. Atterbeary promised to continue her legislative focus on school funding, affordable housing, police reform and gun control if elected to lead the county government where she grew up. The announcement sets up a potentially divisive Democratic primary among fellow lawmakers, with the winner likely to become chief executive for Howard County's 340,000 residents.

The race already features significant political divisions within the Democratic establishment. Before Atterbeary's announcement, much of the party leadership had endorsed Delegate Jessica Feldmark of District 12A, including Atterbeary's own state senator and District 13 slate-leader Guy Guzzone, who chairs the Senate Budget and Tax Committee. Feldmark received additional endorsements Wednesday from former Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, for whom she served as chief of staff, former delegate Shane Pendergrass, and current Delegate Pam Guzzone, Guy's ex-wife. This endorsement landscape reveals the complex political dynamics at play in the county executive race.

Atterbeary nevertheless demonstrated substantial support of her own. She was introduced by State Treasurer Dereck Davis, a 27-year veteran of the House of Delegates from Prince George's County, while House Speaker Adrienne Jones sat prominently on stage applauding though she did not speak. County Council member Opel Jones spoke to the crowd endorsing Atterbeary, even as two of his fellow Democratic County Council colleagues—Deb Jung of West Columbia and Liz Walsh of Ellicott City-Elkridge—are also running for county executive. Additional supporters include Howard County State's Attorney Rich Gibson and Delegate Chao Wu of District 9.

The announcement event at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia drew a heavily African American audience to the auditorium of what was formerly the county's all-black high school before desegregation in 1965. The crowd included many current and former elected officials from outside Howard County, including Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates and former Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker. Atterbeary's family presence was notable, with her daughter, two sons, parents, and 96-year-old grandmother seated in the front row during her 17-minute speech.

We have an opportunity for a fresh start next year here in Howard County with new people and new ideas, said Atterbeary, who appeared to acknowledge the potentially contentious primary ahead. I like to think of our county government as a family. Behind closed doors, we all know that families can argue, but when those doors open, we have to come together around a vision for the betterment of the county. The county executive, the county council and the school board. At the core, we all have the same goals to support in our community, protect our home and ensure a bright future for our county.

Atterbeary emphasized her legislative experience and commitment to maintaining Howard County's progressive values. Howard County will continue to stand as a beacon of inclusion and progress, and we will not let hate, division or fear find a way in our county. As county executive, I will also go to Annapolis, a place I'm a little familiar with, to make sure Howard County has the resources that we need, whether we're dealing with the government shutdown, economic uncertainty, or political gridlock. Together, we can make sure we're building workforce housing, working in strong partnership for a better school system and preserve the things that make this county so special.

Addressing perceptions of her political style, Atterbeary acknowledged, Some people say I'm tough, as I look at my colleagues from Annapolis, and they're right, but I've had to be tough. It's tough when you're trying to make her-story, and it's tough when you're trying to take care of a community that you love and you care about so deeply. She concluded by framing her candidacy around leadership qualities she believes the county needs: Howard County deserves a leader who listens, who unites, who gets things done and who does not forget what she is fighting for. That's what I've done in Annapolis, and that is what I intend to do, as your next county executive. The announcement positions Atterbeary as a significant contender in what has become a crowded Democratic field seeking to shape Howard County's future direction.