ELLICOTT CITY, MD – This week, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was elected as Maryland Association of Counties’ (MACo) First Vice President at the Annual Meeting and Board Installation of the MACo Winter Conference. As First Vice President, Ball will Chair the MACo Legislative Committee which guides the Association’s positions through each legislative session.
During this pandemic our partnerships as local leaders are more critical than ever, and MACo has been an organizer on behalf of all counties across Maryland to address our response and recovery. I am honored to be elected as Maryland Association of Counties First Vice President to serve on the Executive Committee. I look forward to serving with and congratulate all the new officers of MACo, including President Laura Price. I plan on applying the same passion and dedication I have for the residents of Howard County toward the mission of MACo and all Marylanders. Finally, a resounding congratulations to leaders, Senator Katie Fry Hester and Delegate Jessica Feldmark for receiving MACo Recognition Awards for their important work on broadband expansion and other legislative priorities.
Ball has been on the Executive Board for 3 years and will serve as First Vice President for a one-year term along with Laura Price, Talbot County Council Member (president); Johnny Olszewski, Baltimore County Executive (second vice president); Jack Wilson, Queen Anne’s County Executive (secretary); M.C. Keegan Ayer, Frederick County Council Member (treasurer); and Wilbur Levengood, Caroline County Commissioner (past-president).
County Executive Ball has been a thoughtful county leader for years, which will serve him very well as he helps steer our Association through a challenging legislative session ahead.
In 2012, Ball founded the Diversity Caucus, the first statewide caucus for county elected officials of color. This Caucus empowers and responds to issues affecting the most vulnerable communities and constituencies by advocating for legislation and policies beneficial to the people they represent. When the caucus began, fewer than 25 percent of county officials were people of color.
About the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo):
MACo is a non-profit and non-partisan organization serving Maryland county governments by articulating their needs and ideas to the Maryland General Assembly. The Association’s membership consists of county elected officials and representatives from Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. MACo’s members determine Association policy and positions on executive and legislative proposals through an elected Board of Directors and a Legislative Committee. Through MACo’s advocacy, training, educational programs, and annual conferences, members are provided with endless opportunities to improve their capacity to serve their residents. More information and conference program updates are provided at www.maco.org.