Candidate Profile: Paula Etting For Bel Air Town Commissioner

BEL AIR, MD — Four candidates are running for two seats in the Bel Air municipal election. Incumbent Mayor Amy Chmielewski will face off against Lawrence Russell, Mary Chance and Paula Etting for a seat on the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners.

Incumbent Patrick Richards is not running for reelection, meaning one newcomer at least will join the board.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Sample ballots are available online from the town of Bel Air.

Paula S. Etting

Age (as of Election Day): 62

Position sought: Commissioner

Party Affiliation:

Family: Errol and I have been married for over 40 years. We have two grown children and four grandchildren. Errol is a retired Law Enforcement Officer. Our son is an active Law Enforcement Officer. Our daughter is a stay-at-home mother of three.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? My husband, son, and son-in-law all work for various government entities. No family members work for the Town of Bel Air.

Education: After graduating from John Carroll, I attended Johns Hopkins University, where I graduated with both departmental and general honors. I received my law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Occupation: I have been an attorney in Maryland since 1985. My experience includes three years in the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuting crimes, including homicides. I accepted a position with the Harford County Department of Law, where for 27 years I provided advice and counsel to various County agencies. I also handled litigation of all types for the County. I tried cases in the District and the Circuit Court, including jury trials, and appellate cases before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, as well as administrative cases before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. I retired from the County as of October 1, 2016.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Board of Directors, Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company, served June 2018 to February 2019

Campaign website: www.FaceBook.com\ElectEtting

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a 28-year resident of the Town, I am running for Town of Bel Air Commissioner

• 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
• To ensure all voices are heard
• To support our police in keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe

The single most pressing issue facing our town is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue facing our Town is how to grow and change in the future without losing our small-town, family-friendly character. I chose Bel Air to raise my family because it is such a great place to live. I will work with residents and businesses to encourage economic growth that is consistent with our Town’s character.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Currently, there are no attorneys on the Board of Town Commissioners. I will bring over 27 years of legal experience in government to the Board. With my background, I can be an effective representative for the Town and Town residents.