Matthew Santoni, The Examiner
2006-07-21 09:00:00.0
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Harford County -

One of Harford county’s youngest politicians will be running against one of its most well-known residents in September for the chance to represent Bel Air on the County Council.

Brian Young, a 23-year-old legislative aide to Maryland Del. Barry Glassman, R-District 35, is running in the Republican primary against Bel Air Town Commissioner James “Captain Jim” McMahan Jr. for the seat formerly held by Robert Cassilly, who was called up for duty in the Army Reserves this spring and deployed to Iraq.

The winner will face Joan Morrissey Ward, another commissioner and the only Democrat yet to file for the seat.

McMahan was born in 1938, Young in 1983. But McMahan first joined the Bel Air board of town commissioners in 2002, and Young has been working with Glassman since 2002.

“In my case, I think the people would look at my experience ... I just believe my background helps me better serve the county,” McMahan said.

A retired U.S. Army colonel, McMahan has been a radio station host, manager and owner. He started the Bel Air community band and its chorus and served on the board of the Ripken Museum in Aberdeen.

While he may lack McMahan’s advantage of local name recognition, Young has been making himself a presence around town, waving to cars along Route 24, attending county council meetings and setting up a campaign office on Main Street in Bel Air, said County Republican Central Committee Chair Bill Christoforo.

The campaign issues in District C are likely to revolve around schools and growth, he said.

Young’s platform calls for a mix of elected and appointed members on the Board of Education and the creation of a “rainy day fund” to help pay for new schools and prevent overcrowding.

McMahan said he’s in favor of redeveloping existing, blighted properties around the county instead of taking up new land. He also promises a zero-tolerance stand on gang crime.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com