Harford County Executive Candidate Profile: Billy Boniface

BEL AIR, MD — Maryland's primary is July 19. Locally, two Republican candidates are vying for the chance to run for county executive in Harford County.

Patch sent out questionnaires to local candidates who were running in contested primary elections. Below are candidate Billy Boniface's answers. We are also posting those of his challenger, Bob Cassilly.

Name: Billy Boniface

Town of residence: Darlington

Office sought: Harford County Executive

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: John Carroll School, 1982

Occupation: Farmer (1982-present), Chief Advisor to the County Executive (2020-present)

Family: Wife of 37 years Barbara; three children: Bill, Benjamin, Bethany

Public offices held: Council Council President (2006-2014), Director of Administration (2014-2020), Chief Advisor (2020-present)

Age: 58

Reasons for running: I am running for County Executive because I care deeply about Harford County and want it to be a shining example as a county that has low taxes, pristine landscapes, thriving small businesses, great schools, and safe communities. I am not running for County Executive as a stepping-stone to another office or to build my resume. I have a record of results during my time as Council President and as the county's administrator, and I know that under my experienced conservative leadership that Harford County will continue to be the best county in Maryland.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: The single most pressing issue is that we maintain a high quality of life for our county’s residents. During my time as Council President and later the county’s administrator, we cut property taxes four times, saving taxpayers $130 million. We implemented efficiency measures and reprioritized public safety and education. We doubled funding for law enforcement personnel and fully-funded the school system’s budget. We surpassed 60,000 acres of permanently preserved land. But given those successes, it’s not surprising that many people are looking to move their families or businesses to Harford County. We must accelerate our efforts to manage growth by preserving farmland, forest, and open space. We must continue to prioritize law enforcement and public safety. We must ensure that there is accountability in our school system. And we must continue to implement the conservative policies and budgets that have put the county on this successful path.

The biggest difference is that I have a proven track record of management in both business and government. The most important responsibility of a County Executive is to manage the budget and to be a good steward of the county's finances. I served as the county's administrator and chief budget officer for 6 years, and am proud of my record of cutting taxes and reigning in spending. I have been a reliable conservative leader, and provided unwavering support for law enforcement, land preservation, and the right of parents to have a say in their children's education.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community? Open seat / No incumbent

What other issues do you plan to address? My administration will have four priorities: Enacting conservative policies and budgets, Providing unwavering support for law enforcement, Accelerating the preservation of our farmland, forests, and open spaces in order to manage growth, and Protecting the rights of parents to have a say in their children's education.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? During my time as County Council President and later as the county's administrator, we cut taxes four times and never raised rates, saving taxpayers over $130 million. While managing expenses elsewhere in the budget, we were able to double funding for law enforcement personnel and public safety. We surpassed 60,000 acres of permanently preserved land, an area larger than the size of Baltimore City that will never be developed. And, we achieved and maintained the county's AAA bond rating, a key indicator of fiscal responsibility.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? A former state senator and farmer from Charles County, who I had worked with as President of the Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, told me that if I truly wanted to help my community and to make a positive change, then I needed to consider local politics, because that's where one can make a real difference.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I would like folks to know that I am the most prepared, experienced, and tested candidate for Harford County Executive, with a strong record of conservative leadership. With your support we can keep Harford County on track!