by Ash B.

In election season, media coverage often focuses on presidential and congressional races. However, local elections – such as County Council and Board of Education (“school board”) races – can significantly impact local communities. Howard County Council and Board of Education (BOE) are nonpartisan races, meaning candidates are not separated by party. You do not have to be registered with a political party to vote in this race – even in the primary. And, because these local races are decided by a smaller voting body, your vote often holds considerably more weight. 

Howard County contains five Councilmanic Districts, also known as “Council Districts.” Each district corresponds to one of five County Council members and, as of the 2020 election, one of seven members on the BOE. To determine your Councilmanic District, use the Voter Lookup at https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch 

Previously, all open BOE seats in an election year were voted upon by all registered voters. However, in 2019, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation requiring, “that certain members of the Howard County Board of Education be elected by the voters of certain districts.” Now, five school board members are elected by voters in their respective Councilmanic Districts, and the remaining two members are elected at-large, meaning any registered voter can vote for them. 

BOE members serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with elections held every two years and no term limits. In 2022, there were two seats on the ballot, specifically the at-large positions voted upon by the entire county. This year, five BOE positions are up for election – one for each district.  

As of the time of writing this post, the following candidates are running: 

• District 1: Andre Gao, Pravin Ponnuri, Meg Ricks  
• District 2: Larry Doyle, Antonia Watts (Incumbent) 
• District 3: Jolene Mosley (Incumbent)  
• District 4: Hiruy Hadgu, Julie Kaplan, Jen Mallo (Incumbent) 
• District 5: Catherine Carter, Andrea Chamblee, Trent Kittleman 

The Primary Election 

Only Districts with three or more candidates will be included in the Primary Election. The top two candidates from each district advance to compete in the general election. So, Howard County voters in Districts 1, 4, and 5 have (nonpartisan) BOE choices on their primary ballot this May.

Five Tips for Researching the Candidates 

1. How does each candidate present themselves on their platform(s)? 

All candidates appear on the State Board of Elections website with their contact information, campaign website, and official social media accounts. Take a look at what they list as priorities, what types of policies they’d want to enact if elected, and how they express their views across online platforms. 

2. Watch candidate forums and debates.

Live or recorded, virtual or in-person, candidate forums offer a great way to learn about the candidates’ views and priorities. The public speaking format demonstrates how a candidate communicates under pressure.

On April 18, the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Howard County hosts three virtual forums to address each one of the districts that will have a primary for the Board of Education. They take place on Zoom, with livestreams on Facebook and YouTube. Recordings available online through the May 14 Primary Election. Other local organizations, such as PTAs, also hold BOE candidate forums. Check with your local school or watch the recording of the 2024 PTA Council of Howard County BOE Forum on YouTube. 

Another upcoming BOE candidate forum will be hosted by Dar Al-Tagwa (the Muslim community center) on Sunday, April 21. You can submit questions to the candidates in advance at this link.

3. Read candidate questionnaires and surveys.

While you might get a better sense of a candidate listening to them speak live, candidate questionnaires are another resource for learning more about candidates’ perspectives on relevant topics. As you research, do you find that each candidate is consistent in their views? Are their answers specific and thorough?

The Howard County LWV Primary Voter’s Guide is now available online, and includes candidate answers to five questions regarding parent and student input, safety, facilities, challenges, and the Blueprint for Education goals. If you prefer to compare answers between the candidates for one district at a time, head over to Vote 411, a project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. When you enter your address, the site generates a ballot with candidate information based on your address.

Other local organizations, such as Community Allies of Rainbow Youth, also send questionnaires to candidates, sometimes focused on the concerns of the demographic(s) served by the organization. If you’re involved with any nonprofits, PTAs, religious/faith groups, etc., check to see if they’re distributing a candidate questionnaire.

Ballotpedia has a candidate survey, though none of the HoCo BOE candidates have completed this at this time.

4. Is the candidate endorsed by, or associated with, any (non-partisan or partisan) organizations? 

A good way to see if a candidate’s values align with yours is to see what organizations they’ve been endorsed by and/or are associated with, and assess whether your values align with that organization. This can provide further insight on the professional, political, and sociocultural background of each candidate.

Organizations may decide who to endorse by conducting an interview process with candidates. Written answers to a questionnaire may also be part of the process; the Howard County Education Association (HCEA) is an example of a nonpartisan, professional association that publicizes the questionnaires of the candidates they’re endorsing.

Note: Not all organizations are legally able to endorse candidates. 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations cannot endorse candidates, but they can hold candidate forums, interview candidates, and share candidate survey answers.

5. Read local news coverage – and discuss within your communities!

Because articles about school board candidates are unlikely to be front-page news, especially during the primary, you might have to dig a bit for good information. Searching “Howard County school board” on the websites of local news outlets can help, including (some require subscriptions):

• The Baltimore Banner
• Baltimore Fishbowl
• The Baltimore Sun
  • Note: The Howard County Times can be read as an e-newspaper, and HoCo coverage is included on The Baltimore Sun’s website.
• Business Monthly
• CBS News – Baltimore
• The Daily Record

You can always talk with neighbors, family, friends, and colleagues. Ask if folks are familiar with any of the candidates and if they can point you to any helpful sources. Discussing your opinions on candidates can feel taboo, but local and nonpartisan races are prime opportunities to engage in dialogue with fellow voters.

Why should I care about the Board of Education? 

Even if you do not have school-aged children, the well-being and success of students and staff should be the concern of the entire community. Then consider the nationwide rise of book bans and challenges to curriculum material, and there’s a strong case for getting invested in what’s going on with your local school board.

If you’re interested in learning more about the increasing politicization of school boards and conflicts over public school policies, join us on April 26 at the Elkridge Branch for an author visit with Laura Pappano, an award-winning education journalist. She discusses the key findings in her new book, School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Schools. 

Finalize Your Voting Plan 

Whether you want to vote early, by mail, or in-person on election day… make sure you have a voting plan!

Check your voter registration status, determine your voting method, and preview your ballot at Vote 411.  The Howard County Board of Elections also has useful information on their site, including the polling locations for early voting (May 2 – 9) as well as Mail-In Ballot Drop Box locations.  

Ash is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Central Branch with a passion for information literacy and community engagement. They love music, gardening, hiking, and cuddling with their golden retriever.