FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2025

Stewart Unveils Bold “One County” Initiative for Baltimore County

Former County Executive Jim Smith Praises Stewart’s Leadership and Fresh Approach

What Leaders Are Saying about Nick Stewart

• Jim Smith, former Baltimore County Executive and former Maryland Transportation Secretary:
  “He has vision.  He has enthusiasm.  He is new.  He brings an opportunity for Baltimore County to actually take off.  And it’s not taking off now.”
• Owen McEvoy, former Acting Secretary, Maryland DHCD:
  “Nick Stewart is one of Maryland’s leading housing champions.  As County Executive, he will bring a pro-housing vision that drives prosperity and opportunity for all.”
• Sharonda Huffman, Maryland Inclusive Housing Corporation, Baltimore County Housing Committee Chair:
  “Nick didn’t hesitate when asked to fight for accessible, inclusive housing.  That’s the kind of leadership we need to make Baltimore County a place all families can call home.”
• Marsha L. McLaughlin, Civic Leader and Former Planning Director:
  “Nick Stewart understands that every Baltimore County community is unique, and he’s ready to turn struggling sites into vibrant hubs that serve their neighborhoods.”

Cockeysville, MD —

Last week, Democratic candidate Nick Stewart picked up major momentum for his campaign for Baltimore County Executive at a fall event at Padonia (formerly known as Padonia Park Club).  Surrounded by family, friends and community leaders, former County Executive Jim Smith energized the crowd and introduced Stewart, and Stewart then announced his bold One County Initiative—the most comprehensive plan for housing reform and revitalization in the County’s history.

The One County Initiative sets forth not only an individualized vision of housing and revitalization for 13 specific communities throughout Baltimore County, but also the step-by-step plans necessary to deliver it with urgency and radical transparency.  This initiative is the most important plank of Stewart’s platform to make Baltimore County more affordable, inclusive and modern because it turns the affordability crisis into a force for systemic reform.  Stewart’s vision can be found here and the accompanying plan here.

The County has not had such a complete vision for revitalization since County Executive Smith established his Renaissance initiative, which delivered investment in every part of the County. This included revitalizing older neighborhoods and vacant commercial sites through innovative zoning tools and strong community engagement. One County refreshes Renaissance for a new generation of residents and advances its core tenet that investments in one part of the County improves the County for everyone. 

Smith, whom Stewart praised as one of the County’s “very best leaders,” introduced Stewart by sharing this:

“I really congratulate you on seeing the value of having someone like Nick willing … to run for County Executive to serve you, the people. So how can you help? On the local level, what you can do is have your local governments caring about the people, functioning well, and delivering services.  And the people respond to that. If you don’t have that, you just have a continuation of what is happening at the national level. And nobody in this room could endorse that.”

“Like all of you, I love this County,” Stewart said, recounting how his father commuted two hours each way for decades so the family could grow up in Baltimore County. “But this County we love is at a crossroads. It’s facing a crisis—an affordability crisis. And because of that, this isn’t any other election.”

Addressing the Affordability Crisis

The data are sobering: Two-thirds of residents are forced to choose between food and other necessities. Utility and healthcare costs continue to rise—9% and 18%, respectively.  And County incomes have declined 8% in the last 7 years.  Meanwhile, 74% of students in Baltimore County Public Schools live in poverty. 

However, “[t]he biggest reason life feels so hard is housing,” Stewart said.  “It’s the single biggest driver of unaffordability across the country, and it’s been brought here to Baltimore County.  It’s the very reason why the County saw its first population loss in a century.”

The “One County” Initiative

In response, Stewart formally announced his bold One County Initiative—a detailed strategy to address the housing crisis and revitalize communities.  It is built on Stewart’s experience as the co-founder of We The People – Baltimore County (link), a board member of the Southwest Visions Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving as the community development organization for the Southwest area of the County (link), and a member of the Maryland Inclusive Housing Corporation’s Baltimore County Housing Committee (link), among other civic roles.  It is also built on the more than 400 individual conversations that Stewart has had with civic, political and thought leaders throughout the County in the last 15 months.

“It’s a time for big ideas. It’s a time for creativity and courage,” Stewart said. “We’re One County, far greater than the sum of our parts—whether it’s the West Side, North County or the East Side.  And we’ll rise or fall together.”

Broad Support for Stewart’s Housing Agenda

Community leaders, housing experts and civic advocates praised Stewart’s vision for affordable, inclusive housing and revitalization:

• Owen McEvoy, former Acting Secretary, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development:
  “Nick Stewart is one of Maryland’s leading housing champions.  He knows that Baltimore County’s future depends on bold leadership—and as County Executive, he will bring a pro-housing vision that drives prosperity, growth and opportunity for all.”
•  Sharonda Huffman, Chair of the Baltimore County Housing Committee for the Maryland Inclusive Housing Corporation and an ADA/504 manager focused on expanding housing access for low- and moderate-income residents:
  “We need someone who is serious about changing the trajectory of our economy, and one of the biggest factors holding us back is the housing crisis—a crisis that has left Baltimore County struggling to meet the needs of residents, including non-elderly disabled adults like my son. When I asked Nick to join me on a housing committee focused on accessible, inclusive, and attainable solutions for people with disabilities, he didn’t hesitate—and that’s the kind of leadership we need to make Baltimore County a place where both our parents and our children can truly call home.”
• Marsha L. McLaughlin, Baltimore County civic leader, board member of We The People — Baltimore County and former Howard County Director of Planning and Zoning:
  “Nick Stewart understands that Baltimore County is made up of many different communities, each with unique qualities that deserve protection or enhancement.  Our farms, forests and neighborhoods must be preserved, while older commercial and industrial sites—too often vacant or neglected—need thoughtful plans and real investment.  Nick is ready to work with property owners and community members to turn these struggling areas into vibrant hubs that serve the neighborhoods around them.”

Alignment with State Priorities

Stewart’s housing plan is in lockstep with the Moore–Miller Administration’s broader housing agenda, including its recent executive order to streamline permitting and speed up new housing development.

Maryland Secretary of Housing & Community Development Jake Day recently told The Washington Post (link) that “many local officials admit that their jurisdictions are behind in supplying enough affordable units for their residents, [but] not all are addressing those shortages….  In some cases, it’s not because they don’t have the money to do so, but because it’s not a politically advantageous thing to pursue.”

Stewart’s One County Initiative directly tackles this challenge, promising to combine political will with community-driven solutions to ensure Baltimore County builds the affordable and attainable housing it needs for the future.

Closing Call to Action

Stewart concluded with a call to action rooted in Baltimore County’s shared history of resilience and progress: “In short, Baltimore County’s story is one of Renaissance—of fresh starts—of doing the hard things.  And we can do it again, if we do it together.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@nickforbaltimorecounty.com

(Nick is available for interviews.)

[Click here (link) for the full remarks as delivered by Nick Stewart at the September 16, 2025 campaign event. Jim Smith’s remarks can be found here (link).

Learn more: www.nickforbaltimorecounty.com
Follow Nick on social media: www.nickforbaltimorecounty.com/socials
By Authority: Citizens for Nick Stewart, Jaeah Fortune, Treasurer