James T. Smith Jr.

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Countywide Renaissance

Since his election in 2002, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith has led an ambitious countywide renaissance. The wave of reinvestment throughout Baltimore County has inspired confidence among business leaders, community activists, senior citizens, and first-time home buyers from Woodlawn to Essex. Building on the strategies of Urban Design Assistance Teams, renaissance redevelopment projects like Renaissance Square and Yorkway have received acclaim at both the State and national levels. This revolutionary concept in community redevelopment brings citizens, government, and developers together from the earliest stages of planning with the shared goal of creating the kind of community-friendly construction that will support the growth of stronger neighborhoods.

Effective Budget Management

Jim Smith understands that good government requires fiscal responsibility. Under his leadership, Baltimore County adhered to a fiscal policy that is grounded in fundamental precepts of effective budget management. Smith ensured that County programs and services are predicted on realistic revenue projections. Thanks to his commitment to strong financial management, Baltimore County has avoided the layoffs, furloughs, hiring freezes, and budget deficits that currently plague many governments across the country. In addition, responsible budget management made it possible for Baltimore County to avoid increases on property and income tax rates.

Wide Range of Issues

Jim Smith knows that teamwork is essential to effective government. Working with the County Council, he helped to enact important legislation covering a wide range of issues. He revised Baltimore County’s pension and health care plans, protecting both the well being of County employees and the County’s Triple/Triple A bond rating. He also collaborated with the Council to pass legislation designed to improve the quality of life in Baltimore County by creating one of the strongest historic preservation tax credit programs in the State; by granting tax credits for energy-efficient buildings; by protecting consumers in reforming the management of the County’s towing industry; and by establishing one of the most successful rental registration programs in the State. Recognizing the need to protect Baltimore County’s agricultural heritage, he signed legislation allowing farmers to market the products they grow on their land, and he helped to secure a major victory for public safety by championing a law that requires scrap metal processors to record their daily sales thus giving the police another key tool to fight crime in Baltimore County.

Public Education, A Commitment

Jim Smith has always believed that the foundation of any community is its public education system. Over the past six years, he worked with Baltimore County’s State Delegation and the Governor’s office to secure more than $178 million in State funding for school renovation and construction. Combining these State funds with Baltimore County’s commitment, Smith has spent more than $1 billion on school renovation and construction projects. During his tenure in office, Baltimore County opened Woodholme Elementary School, Windsor Mill Middle School, Vincent Farm Elementary School, the Crossroads Center for alternative education students, and the Bridge Center to help students from group homes transition into Baltimore County public schools. Currently, a new George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology High School and a West Towson Elementary School are under construction, while a new Dundalk High School and Sollers Point Technical High Schools are under design.

Public Service

Jim Smith began his career in public service as a member of the Baltimore County Council from 1978 to 1985, when he was appointed Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. He stepped down from the bench in 2001 to run for County Executive, where he continues to lead Baltimore County into the 21st century through creative approaches to government that meet the needs of its citizens.  In 2006, the National Association of Counties recognized him as one of the outstanding County Executives in the nation. In January 2008, he was elected as the President of the Maryland Association of Counties. A lifelong resident of Baltimore County, Jim Smith is dedicated to ensuring that our County’s government puts families first, safeguards communities, and operates as effectively and efficiently as possible. Smith plans to remain in public service when his term concludes in December 2010. 

Revised November 17, 2009