# Baltimore County Executive

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

| # | Executive | Term start | Term end | Terms | Party | Notes |
| 1 | Michael J. Birmingham | 1956 | December 1958 | 1 | Democratic | Did not seek reelection |
| 2 | Christian H. Kahl | December 1958 | December 1962 | 1 | Democratic | Lost Reelection |
| 3 | Spiro T. Agnew | December 1962 | December 1966 | 1 | Republican | Did not seek reelection. Ran successfully for Governor of Maryland |
| 4 | N. Dale Anderson | December 1966 | March 1974 | 1 1⁄2 | Democratic | Convicted on federal charges and resigned from office |
| 5 | Frederick L. Dewberry (Acting) | March 1974 | December 1974 | Partial | Democratic | Succeeded the County Executive seat as County Administrative Officer following Anderson's resignation |
| 6 | Theodore G. "Ted" Venetoulis | December 1974 | December 1978 | 1 | Democratic | Did not seek reelection. Ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Maryland |
| 7 | Donald P. Hutchinson | December 1978 | December 4, 1986 | 2 | Democratic | Term limited |
| 8 | Dennis F. Rasmussen | December 4, 1986 | December 3, 1990 | 1 | Democratic | Lost reelection |
| 9 | Roger B. Hayden | December 3, 1990 | December 2, 1994 | 1 | Republican | Lost reelection |
| 10 | 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 |
| 11 | James T. Smith, Jr. | December 2, 2002 | December 6, 2010 | 2 | Democratic | Term limited |
| 12 | Kevin B. Kamenetz | December 6, 2010 | May 10, 2018 | 1 1⁄2 | Democratic | Died in office |
| Acting | Frederick J. Homan (Acting) | May 10, 2018 | May 29, 2018 | Partial | Democratic | Succeeded the County Executive seat as County Administrative Officer following the death of Kamenetz |
| 13 | Donald I. Mohler, III (ad interim) | May 29, 2018 | December 3, 2018 | Partial | Democratic | Appointed by the Baltimore County Council to fill the remainder of Kamenetz's term |
| 14 | Dr. John A. "Johnny O" Olszewski, Jr. | December 3, 2018 | January 3, 2025 | 1 1⁄2 | Democratic | Ran successfully for a seat in the US House of Representatives |
| Acting | D'Andrea Walker (Acting) | January 3, 2025 | January 7, 2025 | Partial | Democratic | Succeeded the County Executive seat as County Administrative Officer following the resignation of Olszewski. |
| 15 | Katherine A. Klausmeier | January 7, 2025 | Incumbent | 1⁄2 | Democratic | Appointed by the Baltimore County Council to fill the remainder of Olszewski's term |