Meet the 2026 Howard County Candidates

As Howard County prepares for the 2026 County Executive and County Council elections, the Howard County Chamber is committed to helping the business community stay informed and engaged. To support that effort, we invited all candidates to complete a questionnaire focused on issues that matter most to local employers, including economic development, budgeting, development and the regulatory environment, and education.

Each candidate received the same set of questions, and their unedited responses are provided below. The Chamber does not endorse candidates for public office. Our goal is to offer clear, accessible information so that businesses and community members can make informed decisions in the upcoming election.

Below, you will find submitted questionnaires organized by race and district.

 

County Executive

Vanessa Atterbeary

Bob Cockey (No response received)

Deb Jung

Liz Walsh (No response received)

 

County Council District 3

Amir Naviwala

County Council District 1

Kevin Chin

James Handley

Jean Xu

 

County Council District 4

Linfeng Chen

Regina Clay

Janssen Evelyn

Shamieka Preston

County Council District 2

Arinze Ifekauche

Jessica Nichols

County Council District 5

Cat Carter

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