Board of Education in Councilmanic District C, Maryland

2026 Primary Election

• Joe Fleckenstein — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Joe Fleckenstein is a non-partisan candidate for the Board of Education in Councilmanic District C, Maryland. A native of Bel Air, he graduated from Bel Air High School and earned an associate degree from Harford Community College in 1991. He later earned a bachelor's degree in business management from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Professionally, Fleckenstein has worked as a defense contractor at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. His campaign platform emphasizes expanding career and technology pathways, ensuring fiscal responsibility to retain teachers, and strengthening school safety through resources and technology.

• Cathy Kowalewski — Board of Education in Councilmanic District C, Maryland

  Cathy Kowalewski is a nonpartisan candidate running for the Harford County Board of Education to represent District C in the 2026 election. She has lived in Harford County for nearly thirty years, raising two children who attended local public schools. Kowalewski brings 42 years of educational experience spanning from pre-kindergarten to college. Throughout her career, she has worked as a teacher, licensed school psychologist, adjunct instructor, and clinical counselor with over 17 years of experience at a youth outpatient center. Her campaign prioritizes comprehensive school safety, addressing bullying, and fostering an environment of acceptance to support academic achievement.

• Shawn P. Ryan — Board of Education in Councilmanic District C, Maryland

  Shawn P. Ryan is a nonpartisan candidate running for election to the Harford County Board of Education, seeking to represent Councilmanic District C in Maryland. His campaign committee, Friends of Shawn Ryan, filed for the 2026 race early in the year, basing operations out of Bel Air, Maryland. Ryan is set to appear on the ballot for the upcoming nonpartisan primary election scheduled for June 23, 2026. If successful in the primary contest, he will advance to the general election on November 3, 2026. Ryan aims to serve the local school system, though specific details regarding his campaign platform remain sparsely documented in public records.

• Liliana Norkaitis — Vice Chair, Harford County Commission for Women in Harford County, Maryland

  Liliana Norkaitis is a K-12 graduate of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). She serves as the Vice Chair of the Harford County Commission for Women, with a term expiring in December 2026. She is also a member of the Republican Central Committee of Harford County.