Bel Air Board Of Commissioners 2025: Meet Paula S. Etting

BEL AIR, MD — Voters head to the polls Nov. 4 to fill two seats on the Bel Air Board of Commissioners. There are three candidates running in the election, including current chair Paula S. Etting.

Etting chatted with Patch about her campaign and issues that are important to her. Below are her responses.

Elected office sought? Bel Air Town Commissioner
Political party? Nonpartisan Election
Profession: I have been an attorney in Maryland since 1985. My legal career includes three years as a
prosecutor in the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office handling serious criminal cases, including homicides. In 1989, I joined the Harford County Department of Law where I spent 27 years providing legal counsel to various county agencies. I also handled litigation of all types in the District and the Circuit Court, including jury trials, to appellate cases before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, as well as administrative cases. I retired from the county on October 1, 2016.

Volunteering work? Member, Board of Directors of Harford Senior Housing
Age on Election Day? 66
Campaign website? www.Facebook.com/ElectEtting
Campaign email? paulaetting@comcast.net
Past political involvement? I was elected to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners in 2021, and I have served as mayor since 2023.
What do you believe makes you the most qualified candidate for this position? Experience and commitment to preserving Bel Air’s character. I had over 27 years of legal experience in government before being elected to the board. I have served on the board since 2021, and I have served as mayor since 2023. During my time on the board, I have consistently stood with the community on key
issues. I voted to limit residential density in town to twenty dwelling units per acre – rather than
the 57 dwelling units per acre permitted in a project approved under the old standard. I was the only commissioner to stand with the voters on the 2022 comprehensive rezoning referendum. I voted against allowing short term rentals in residential neighborhoods.

What issue(s) do you believe are most important to Bel Air residents and how would you address them? The most pressing issue facing our town is managing growth while preserving our small-town family-friendly character. If re-elected, I will continue to work:
 to protect our small-town values,
 to keep our town a family friendly place to live,
 to encourage economic growth that maintains our town’s character and
 to support our police in keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe.

What platforms are you focusing on?

• Development and land use. I support thoughtful development that enhances – not replaces – the charm and history of our community.

• Public safety. I will continue to support the Bel Air Police Department in their mission of keeping our community safe by providing them with the resources that they need to police our town effectively.
• Fiscal responsibility. In my time on the board, we have passed four consecutive balanced budgets with no tax increases and no cuts to services to residents. I voted to use our ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) money for projects that would benefit our residents for decades to come, such as critical upgrades to our sewer pumping stations.

What else would you like voters to know about you? I first came to know Bel Air in 1973 when I began attending high school at John Carroll. I later earned my undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University with both departmental and general honors and went on to receive my law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. My husband, Errol, and I have been married for over 40 years and raised our two children here. They are now grown, and we have six grandchildren to enjoy. Errol retired from the Baltimore Police Department, and our son is currently an officer with the department. We chose Bel Air to raise our children because it is a safe and welcoming community. I am running for re-election because I want to preserve that same experience for future generations. I encourage you to reach out with your questions or concerns. I hope I have earned your vote on Nov. 4.