The Baltimore County executive is the highest elected official representing the government of Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The office was established with the implementation of the county charter for Baltimore County on November 6, 1956. The county executive is elected to post every four years, coinciding with the elections for the county council and governor of Maryland.
Two Baltimore county executives have later achieved prominence after leaving office: Spiro T. Agnew, who went on to become governor of Maryland and Vice President of the United States under Richard Nixon, resigned in 1973 due to scandal while serving in that office; and Dutch Ruppersberger, who went on to represent Maryland's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
The incumbent Baltimore County executive is Katherine A. Klausmeier.
List of Baltimore County executives # Portrait Executive Term start Term end Terms PartyNotes Michael J. Birmingham 1956 December 1958 1 Democratic Did not seek reelection Christian H. Kahl December 1958 December 1962 1 Democratic Lost Reelection Spiro T. Agnew December 1962 December 1966 1 Republican Did not seek reelection. Ran successfully for Governor of Maryland N. Dale Anderson December 1966 March 1974 1 Democratic Convicted on federal charges and resigned from office Frederick L. Dewberry March 1974 December 1974 Partial Democratic Succeeded the County Executive seat as County Administrative Officer following Anderson's resignation Theodore G. "Ted" Venetoulis December 1974 December 1978 1 Democratic Did not seek reelection. Ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Maryland Donald P. Hutchinson December 1978 December 4, 1986 2 Democratic Term limited Dennis F. Rasmussen December 4, 1986 December 3, 1990 1 Democratic Lost reelection Roger B. Hayden December 3, 1990 December 2, 1994 1 Republican Lost reelection C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, III December 2, 1994 December 2, 2002 2 Democratic Term limited. Ran successfully for a seat in the US House of Representatives James T. Smith, Jr. December 2, 2002 December 6, 2010 2 Democratic Term limited Kevin B. Kamenetz December 6, 2010 May 10, 2018 1 Democratic Died in office Frederick J. Homan May 10, 2018 May 29, 2018 Partial Democratic Succeeded the County Executive seat as County Administrative Officer following the death of Kamenetz Donald I. Mohler, III May 29, 2018 December 3, 2018 Partial Democratic Appointed by the Baltimore County Council to fill the remainder of Kamenetz's term Dr. John A. "Johnny O" Olszewski, Jr. December 3, 2018 January 3, 2025 1 Democratic Ran successfully for a seat in the US House of Representatives D'Andrea Walker January 3, 2025 January 7, 2025 Partial Democratic Succeeded the County Executive seat as County Administrative Officer following the resignation of Olszewski. Katherine A. Klausmeier January 7, 2025 Incumbent Democratic Appointed by the Baltimore County Council to fill the remainder of Olszewski's term
Notes Acting county executive after the conviction and resignation of Anderson Acting county executive after the death of Kamenetz Appointed to fill remainder of Kamenetz's term Acting county executive after the resignation of Olszewski
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