Katie McDermott For Anne Arundel District 6

A Trusted Neighbor. A Proven Advocate. Putting Residents First.

Accountable Leadership For Anne Arundel District 6

I am running for the Anne Arundel County Council to ensure District 6 has principled and independent representation that tackles the complex issues in a way that keeps people as the priority, something that status quo politics is not doing right now. 

I will act to promote public trust, improve citizen communications, and assure better decisions for our communities. 

I support a County Inspector General function, enhanced ethics requirements for County officials, and testified in support of County Council Bill 23-26 which imposes restrictions on developer contributions to County officials. If elected, I will re-introduce this important public ethics reform. 

We can be optimistic about our future, but we need to be vigilant that our local government hears the voices of all of our residents. Often, we are not in the room where it happens.

 

I will be a trusted voice for residents in District 6 on their hopes and concerns for their communities, including mass tourism, high density development, infrastructure improvements, resiliency and sustainability practices, protecting our rivers and waterways, government transparency, fiscal responsibility and accountability.
 

As a former federal healthcare fraud prosecutor and healthcare attorney, you can trust me to ask: who, what, where, how and why? and, to support practices, policies and projects that put residents first and put special interests on the hot seat to explain how the public interest is really promoted and protected.

My advocacy for reform of short-term rental regulations in Annapolis that have negatively impacted housing options, affordability, and undermined neighborhoods, is an example of questioning the status quo that has too often left too many residents out good housing options and stable neighborhoods. 
 

Our County can thrive without sacrificing the character of our neighborhoods or overburdening our infrastructure to the point of emergency moratoriums for lack of sewage capacity, among other burdens.  

Responsible growth requires disciplined planning, enforceable standards, and an honest assessment of long-term fiscal impact — not short-term political gain. It also requires a comprehensive and coordinated housing plan between the City of Annapolis and the County, not a patchwork process where every special interests fends for themselves.

Responsible growth also requires challenging State take-over of our zoning and land use management function from local government as we have seen in recent General Assembly legislation. Overbroad generic density mandates and State preemption of zoning and land use matters are unwise public policies.  

Addressing our development challenges equitably requires oversight, micro-targeted data-driven decision making, and the willingness to stand firm when proposals do not serve the public interest.

Addressing affordability is more than new building of more new houses with trickle down policies that may or may not result in good or affordable housing.  I will advocate for a Boomer Generation Housing Transition Initiative to generate more immediate and less costly housing inventories. We need a plan for the coming largest housing transition that has ever occured and it is public policy malpractice to ignore this seismic change and leave the inventory to the investor community with no plan that will help our communities remain stable with affordable housing. 

Affordability objectives also require sensible strategies for increasing wages and a commitment to diversifying our economy and investing in family sustaining jobs that pay higher wages such as careers in healthcare, life science and vocational trades. It involves a helping hand up, with tax incentives and credits for public safety, education and healthcare workers. 

As a longtime Annapolis and Anne Arundel County resident, I understand both the opportunities and the pressures facing District 6.  I am a lifelong Democrat and recognize that our District reflects a wide range of views that all deserve to be heard and respected.  You can count on me not to march in lock-step to a playbook that does not recognize the unique needs of our communities. 

My commitment is to represent all residents —  and to evaluate every issue through the public interest lens of fiscal responsibility, fairness, and long-term sustainability. 

My pledge is to always ask the hard questions and work diligently for the best ideas that promote the public interest. 

If elected, I will support legislation and initiatives to:

• Enforce ethical, transparent, and accountable governance. I support Bill 23-26 providing restrictions on developer contributions to County officials. Public trust is Job #1. 
• Promote economic development for family sustaining jobs in the healthcare and life sciences sectors, and our vocational trades. We need to shift to a more diversified economy that generates jobs that pay good wages and benefits
• Strengthen public safety, public health and public schools
• Protect communities from irresponsible over-development
• Advance comprehensive and coordinated housing solutions for long-term affordability
• Improve transportation planning and reduce congestion impacts
• Promote environmental resilience and responsible stewardship
• Support innovations such as County-City shared services, an independent Inspector General function. updated ethics policies, and restriction on developer contributions to County officials. 
• Support policies that help small businesses grow and remain competitive
• Preserve the historic and maritime heritages that define District 6.