Baltimore County is at an important crossroads. Families are already paying too much in taxes, fees, utility bills, and the rising cost of everyday life. At the same time, many of our communities are facing growing pressure from overdevelopment, strained infrastructure, and decisions that too often ignore the people who have planted their roots in our gorgeous rural communities.

That is why I am proud to support Theaux Le Gardeur for Baltimore County Council in the 5th District.

Theaux serves as the Gunpowder Riverkeeper, and has spent years working to protect the land, water, and communities that make Northern Baltimore County such a special place to live. He earned a degree in Marine Science from the University of South Alabama and has built a career around practical, hands-on conservation, not political slogans.

That matters because being conservative means more than opposing tax increases, although Theaux does that too. Being conservative also means conserving the land, waterways, farmland, neighborhoods, and way of life that previous generations entrusted to us. Theaux understands that balance.

He is not a tax-and-spend environmentalist. He has made clear that he will not support a stormwater tax, the old “rain tax,” or unnecessary tax increases on Baltimore County residents. He understands that working families, retirees, and residents on fixed incomes cannot be treated like an endless source of revenue for government.

Theaux has also shown that he is willing to stand up for landowners. He opposed and intervened before the Public Service Commission against the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, which could allow Baltimore County residents’ land to be taken through eminent domain. When government and large utility interests come after private property, residents deserve a County Councilman who will stand with them.

He has supported efforts to protect public safety around the Hereford Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park, backed responsible limits on solar siting on prime agricultural lands, supported bipartisan efforts to protect the Gunpowder and Bird River Basin from treated leachate discharge, and stood firm in support of the URDL. He understands that Northern Baltimore County cannot simply be treated as the next place to be paved over.

The URDL is one of the most important protections Baltimore County has. It helps protect rural communities, farmland, drinking water resources, and the character of Northern Baltimore County. Theaux has been clear: he opposes moving the URDL line. I agree with him. Once open space is gone, it is gone forever. Once rural roads are overwhelmed, streams are damaged, and neighborhoods are overbuilt, those decisions are very hard to reverse.

Theaux also understands that county government must work better for the people it serves. He has called for streamlining the permitting process without simply rubber-stamping applications. He supports stronger accountability through the Office of the Inspector General to identify waste, fraud, and abuse. He has committed to a transparent constituent services dashboard so residents can track issues and see whether government is solving problems.

That kind of accountability is badly needed.

Theaux also recognizes the importance of public safety across a large district. He has spoken about the need to support volunteer fire companies, paramedics, police, and first responders, including modernizing outdated equipment and improving response times in Northern Baltimore County. These are basic responsibilities of local government, and they should be treated as priorities.

On housing, Theaux has taken a responsible approach. Baltimore County must meet its obligations, but it should not weaken the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, ignore infrastructure needs, or force taxpayers to pay more because government failed to plan properly. Redevelopment below the URDL, on existing water and sewer, should be prioritized before opening the door to more sprawl.

In this race, Republicans have an opportunity to nominate someone who is thoughtful, hard-working, fiscally responsible, and deeply committed to protecting taxpayers and preserving the character of Northern Baltimore County.

Theaux Le Gardeur gets the work done. He listens to residents, works across the aisle in the name of the community, and stands up when landowners, taxpayers, and local waterways need a voice.

I am proud to support Theaux Le Gardeur for Baltimore County Council, and I respectfully ask you to join me. Please vote for Theaux Le Gardeur in the Republican Primary.

Very truly yours,

Senator J.B. Jennings