County Executive Primary Preview

The 2010 election will bring huge change to Baltimore County government. Four members of the seven-member County Council are retiring or running for higher office.

Two of those council members, Democrats Kevin Kamenetz and Joe Bartenfelder, are running for County Executive to replace the term-limited James T. Smith, Jr.

The Democrats will face off in the primary election on Sept. 14 against a third opponent, Ron Harvey.  The Republican is running unopposed in his primary.

Here's a look at the candidates:

Democrats

Kevin Kamenetz

Age: 52

Family: married to Jill Kamenetz, two sons

Hometown: Lochearn

Current position: County Councilman for District 2, family attorney

Years in current job: 15

Other professional qualifications: Former Baltimore City assistant state's attorney

Major endorsements: County Executive Jim Smith, Attorney General Doug Gansler, Teachers Association of Baltimore County, Laborers International Union of North America, Councilman Vince Gardina

Proposals and platforms for county executive job: More technology for police units, emphasis on his experience in local government

Kamenetz, a longtime county councilman, currently serves the second district, which includes parts of Timonium, Ruxton, Owings Mills, Pikesville and Reisterstown. The four-time council chairman touts his record as a fiscal watchdog and has received numerous awards from community organizations and business groups in Pikesville and other areas. Kamenetz's campaign has spent more than $1 million on the race so far, with an aggressive media strategy.

Joe Bartenfelder

Age: 54

Family: Married to Robin Bartenfelder, two daughters and two sons

Hometown: Fullerton

Current position: County Councilman for district 2, manager of family-owned farm

Years in current job: 16 as Councilman, 12 as Delegate, 32 as farmer

Other professional qualifications: Former state Delegate

Major endorsements: Fraternal Order of Police, AFL-CIO, United Food and Commercial Workers, Professional Firefighters Association of Baltimore County, Federation of Public Employees, United Auto Workers

Proposals and platforms for county executive job: Work with state to mitigate effects of budget issues, bring more vocational training to schools

Bartenfelder, a farmer by trade, is a graduate of Calvert Hall College High School and Towson University. His first run for political office came just after graduating TU in 1978, an unsuccessful campaign for the House of Delegates. He later won in his own right in 1982 and served for 12 years before his election to the county council. Bartenfelder only recently started running television ads, but with more than $460,000, he has more money in the bank than any other candidate.

Ron Harvey

Age: 63

Hometown: Nottingham

Current position: Retired from the county office of human resources

Harvey, a Democratic longshot and the last candidate to enter the fray, filed to run in early July. Harvey's campaign does not have a website and did not respond to a request for comment, but according to state finance records, Harvey filed an affidavit certifying he had neither raised nor spent more than $1,000 as of Aug. 17.

Republican

Kenneth Holt

Family: Married to Mary Holt, has two children

Hometown: Kingsville

Current position: Executive for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Baltimore

Years in current job: 25

Other professional qualifications: Member of House of Delegates, 1995-1999

Proposals and platforms for county executive job: Infrastructure improvements, Incentives for business development, Efficiency within county government

Holt is a moderate Republican running for the executive's office. Holt, an investment executive who serves as senior vice president for wealth management for the Holt Group within Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination. Holt is financing much of his run himself; a recent campaign finance report showed $95,000 in personal loans. When not managing investments or running a campaign, Holt and his family run the Mount Peru farm in Kingsville.