Democrat Jessica Ryley Hammond, 48, of Bel Air, is the first person to file for candidacy to represent District C on the Harford County Council.

“I see things that need to get done,” she said. “I’m not just here for photo ops. I’m here to roll up my sleeves and get dirty.”

Incumbent District C council member Tony “G” Giangiordano, a Republican, has yet to announce if he’s running for reelection. Giangiordano has served on the council for two terms, making his first run for office in 2018 and running again in 2022 during the mid-term elections. He retained his seat and was appointed as the council’s vice president that same year.

Hammond’s campaign is centered on ftransparency in government, safety within communities, green growth, and protecting the hard-earned income of Harford County residents, she said.

A full-time track counselor for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Hammond said she sees a need for more transparency in local government.

“There’s a need for people that literally want to do the work,” she said. “Not just show up for meetings and pictures.”

Hammond said Harford may be growing too fast, and  she’s worried about the lack of open space that’s available. Residents have told her they are worried about increased traffic and how schools, hospitals and emergency rooms will handle the growth.

“We see buildings being thrown up every other day, and I know there’s a plan for that, but I feel like it maybe needs to back up, slow down and take more things into consideration, namely the environment and the opinions of the people that live in the county,” she said.

Direct interaction, Hammond said, will be a key part of her campaign as she looks to connect with residents and listen to their concerns.

“I would like people to get to know me,” she said. “People get to know you better through conversation than they do through a sign or a brochure …”

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