Winners are declared in 2 council races in Balto. Co.

Democratic state’s attorney contest remains unsettled as ballot counting continues

After days of ballot-counting, winners were declared Monday in close contests for two Baltimore County Council seats, but the Democratic race for state’s attorney remained unsettled.

County election workers continued tallying mail-in ballots for a fifth day after working through the weekend.

Canvassers were expected to count about 7,000 ballots on Monday, and then count provisional ballots Wednesday. On Friday, they are scheduled to count more votes, including late-arriving mail ballots, and certify election results.

State Del. Pat Young of Catonsville has won the Democratic primary for the council’s 1st District. The seat — which represents communities in the county’s southwest — is currently held by Councilman Tom Quirk, an Oella Democrat who did not seek reelection.

Catonsville resident Paul Dongarra was second behind Young, and conceded Monday in the race. In the November general election, Young will face Catonsville resident Al Nalley, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.

In the race to represent the council’s 6th District, Towson activist and insurance broker Mike Ertel won the Democratic primary. Shafiyq Hinton, of Middle River, was second behind Ertel and conceded Monday. The district covers areas including Parkville, Towson and Rosedale.

The seat is currently held by Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, a Middle River Democrat who is stepping down this year.

Ertel will face political science professor Tony Campbell, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election.

County council members make $62,500 per year.

In the state’s attorney race, incumbent Scott Shellenberger has maintained a lead in recent days over challenger Robbie Leonard as mail-in votes are tallied. The results ahead of Monday’s count put Shellenberger up by about 2,150 votes, with about 51% of the total.

Leonard had an edge over Shellenberger in Election Day and early-voting results. He said Monday his team is “letting every vote count.”

“People want to know that their vote counted,” Leonard said.

Shellenberger has said he does not want to comment until the results are final.

The county’s state’s attorney makes roughly $217,000.