Baltimore County Executives: Duties, Elections, and Salary

The Baltimore County Executive is the elected chief executive of Baltimore County, Maryland, responsible for running daily operations, preparing the annual budget, appointing department heads, and signing or vetoing legislation passed by the County Council. Kathy Klausmeier currently holds the office, sworn in on January 7, 2025 as the fifteenth person to serve since the position was created.¹ The office sits at the top of a government structure that voters adopted in 1956, separating executive authority from the seven-member legislative council.

What the County Executive Does

Section 402 of the Baltimore County Charter makes the executive responsible for the “proper administration of the affairs of the county.”² In practice, the work falls into three big areas.

Running the Departments

The County Executive appoints the County Administrative Officer, who manages day-to-day government operations and serves at the executive’s pleasure. That appointment requires confirmation by a majority of the County Council. The executive also appoints the heads of all county departments, including the Director of Public Works and the Chief of Police, each subject to council confirmation.³ Because these appointees serve at the executive’s pleasure, a new County Executive typically reshapes department leadership at the start of each term.

Controlling the Budget

Budget authority is where the office carries the most weight. The charter requires the County Executive to submit a current expense budget, a capital budget, and a budget message to the County Council no later than 75 days before the end of the fiscal year.² The Administrative Officer and the Director of Budget and Finance prepare the detailed proposal, but the executive has final say over what is submitted.⁴ The County Council can reduce or reject items the executive proposes, but it cannot increase spending beyond those recommendations. That one rule shapes nearly every funding fight in the county.

Signing or Vetoing Legislation

Every bill the County Council passes must be presented to the County Executive within two calendar days. The executive then has ten days to sign the bill into law or return it with a written explanation of the reasons for disapproval.² If the executive takes no action within the ten-day window, the bill automatically becomes law without a signature.

A veto is not final. The County Council can override by a vote of five of its seven members, described in the charter as “a majority plus one,” and the override vote must happen no later than the council’s next regular session after the veto message arrives.⁵ The five-vote threshold is high enough that overrides are difficult, which gives the executive real leverage over legislation even when the council disagrees.

Who Can Run for County Executive

Section 402 of the charter sets three baseline requirements. A candidate must be a registered voter in the county, at least 25 years old at the time of the election, and a county resident for no fewer than five years before the election.⁶ The charter also requires the officeholder to devote full time to the duties of the office, which effectively bars drawing a salary from any other government position while serving.²

Candidates must also file a financial disclosure statement covering the prior calendar year at the same time they submit their certificate of candidacy, unless one is already on file. Those disclosures are governed by the Baltimore County Ethics Law and posted publicly online, and the obligation continues throughout a County Executive’s tenure.⁷

Elections and Term Limits

The County Executive is elected countywide on the same ballot as the Maryland Governor, which puts the race on a four-year cycle. The next election is in 2026.⁶ The winner qualifies on the first Monday in December following the election and begins duties immediately upon qualification.²

The charter limits the County Executive to two consecutive four-year terms, a cap that has been in effect since the 1978 election. After eight consecutive years, the officeholder must step aside. The charter does not bar someone from running again after sitting out a full term, though no former executive has done so.

What Happens if the Office Becomes Vacant

If the County Executive’s office becomes vacant for any reason, the County Council fills it by majority vote. The person chosen must meet the same qualifications as an elected executive and must belong to the same political party as the predecessor. The appointee serves out the remainder of the unexpired term.²

For temporary situations, the charter sets a clear chain of command. If the County Executive is temporarily absent or unable to perform duties, the County Administrative Officer steps in as acting executive. If both are unavailable, the Director of Budget and Finance fills the role unless the council designates another department head. If the County Executive fails to actively perform duties for six continuous months, the council can declare the office vacant by majority vote and appoint a replacement.

Salary

As of January 2026, the County Executive position falls under Grade EPE4 of the executive pay plan, with a salary range from $180,540 to $284,513.⁸ The officeholder also participates in the Baltimore County Employees’ Retirement System, with a current employee contribution rate of seven percent of salary.⁹

People Who Have Held the Office

Fifteen people have served as Baltimore County Executive since voters created the office in 1956:¹⁰

Michael J. Birmingham, 1956–1958
Christian H. Kahl, 1958–1962
Spiro T. Agnew, 1962–1966, later elected Governor of Maryland and Vice President of the United States
Dale Anderson, 1966–1974
Frederick L. Dewberry, 1974 (acting)
Theodore G. Venetoulis, 1974–1978
Donald P. Hutchinson, 1978–1986
Dennis F. Rasmussen, 1986–1990
Roger B. Hayden, 1990–1994
C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger III, 1994–2002
James T. Smith, Jr., 2002–2010
Kevin B. Kamenetz, 2010–2018
Frederick J. Homan, 2018 (acting)
Donald I. Mohler III, 2018
John A. Olszewski, Jr., 2018–2025
Katherine A. Klausmeier, 2025–present

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Baltimore County Government. Kathy Klausmeier Sworn in as Baltimore County’s Fifteenth County Executive
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Baltimore County Government. Baltimore County Charter
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Baltimore County Government. County Executive Vacancy Announcement
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Baltimore County Government. Budget Formulation and Administration
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Baltimore County Council. About
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Baltimore County Government. Run For Office
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Baltimore County Government. File a Financial Disclosure Statement
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Baltimore County Government. Executive Pay Plan
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Baltimore County Government. Retirement
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Maryland State Archives. Baltimore County – County Executives