Republican Central Committee in Harford, 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.

• Samuel Kahl — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Samuel Kahl is a Republican candidate running for President of the Harford County Council in Maryland. A resident of Bel Air, Kahl is a small business owner, a husband, and a father of four. He brings a decade of experience in state and local transportation agencies. Kahl previously spent six years with the Maryland State Highway Administration before joining the Harford County Department of Public Works to coordinate major road improvements and secure grant funding. He also served as a Public Information Officer for Harford County. Kahl's campaign platform focuses on maintaining low taxes, managing development, and protecting rural open spaces.

• Aaron David Penman — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Aaron David Penman, a Republican, represents District B on the Harford County Council, a position he has held since December 5, 2022. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served from 1995 to 1998, Penman has had a long career in law enforcement. He began as a correctional officer in Harford County in 1999 before joining the Harford County Sheriff's Office in 2001, where he served in various capacities, including as a detective on the Narcotics Task Force. He has also been the president of the Deputy Sheriffs Union. Penman, who earned a B.S. in public safety administration from Newman University, resides in Harford County with his wife and four children.

• Jake Taylor — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Jake Taylor is a Republican candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in Legislative District 34B. A lifelong resident of the Bel Air area, Taylor made history as the youngest elected official in Harford County upon his election to the Bel Air Town Commission at age 20. He is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland with a degree in Political Science and currently serves as a Legislative Aide for State Senator Jason Gallion. Taylor's platform focuses on key priorities such as public safety, fiscal responsibility, and the preservation of small-town character. As a Town Commissioner, he has a record of supporting budgets that fund the police department and infrastructure improvements without raising taxes.

• Lee D. Dunbar — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Lee D. Dunbar is a law enforcement professional with a long history of service in Harford County, Maryland. He is currently the Police Operations Bureau Chief for the Harford County Sheriff's Office, where he has been employed since 1995. His career began as a Maryland State Police Cadet and has included roles with the Bel Air Police Department and various divisions within the Sheriff's Office, such as the Harford County Narcotics Task Force and the Criminal Investigations Division. Dunbar is a graduate of Harford Christian High School, Harford Community College, the University of Baltimore, and holds a Master's Degree in Public Safety from the University of Virginia.

• Gavin Hanley — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Gavin Hanley is a Republican political candidate in Harford County, Maryland. A lifelong resident of Bel Air, he was elected as Town Commissioner in November 2025. Hanley works as a software developer for a defense contractor in Aberdeen. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in Computer Science, and also attended Harford Community College and local public schools. During his campaign for commissioner, his platform focused on preserving the town's character, managing residential growth, and improving traffic and pedestrian safety. He has been an active participant in town government, attending meetings and engaging with the community.

• Drew E. Hoagland — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Drew E. Hoagland is a Republican candidate for the Harford County Republican Central Committee in Maryland. An experienced educator, he has served as an Assistant Principal at both Aberdeen Middle School and Edgewood High School within the Harford County Public Schools system. In March 2024, Hoagland was approved as a candidate for the secondary principal pool. His candidacy for the Republican Central Committee was filed on January 22, 2026. Hoagland resides in Bel Air, Maryland.

• Brian Kelly — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Brian L. Kelly is a Republican member of the Harford County Republican Central Committee in Maryland. His current term is set to expire in 2026. The committee functions as the governing body for the Republican Party in Harford County. In this role, Kelly and other committee members are responsible for managing local party affairs, supporting Republican candidates for public office, and assisting with voter registration and engagement efforts. The committee also plays a part in recommending appointments for the county's board of elections and filling vacancies in certain elected positions.

• Jeffery P. McBride — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Jeffery P. McBride serves as the Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Harford County, Maryland. An elected member of the committee with a term extending to 2026, he is part of the governing body for the county's Republican Party. In his leadership role, McBride's responsibilities include advancing the party's platform, registering and assisting voters, and supporting Republican candidates for public office. The committee also plays a role in recommending appointments to the county's board of elections and filling vacancies in certain elected positions. His candidate committee, Friends of Jeffery McBride, was active in 2018.

• Liliana Norkaitis — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Liliana Norkaitis is a lifelong resident of Harford County and a K-12 graduate of its public schools. She holds a degree in Government & Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. Norkaitis has worked in the U.S. Congress and currently serves as a Communications & Community Outreach Director in the Maryland General Assembly. A resident of Bel Air, she was appointed to the Harford County Board of Education in February 2026. She previously served as the vice chair of the Harford County Commission for Women, demonstrating her commitment to community service. As a Republican, she brings experience in government and a fresh perspective to her roles.

• Lauren Paige — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Lauren Paige serves on the Harford County Republican Central Committee, with a term ending in 2026. A resident of Havre de Grace for 12 years, she holds a political science degree from James Madison University and is a certified project management professional. Paige is the Director of Program Management for a small business in the defense sector, previously working in Army acquisition. She is also the President of the Harford County Board of Education, an appointed at-large member since 2023. This biography presents a factual overview of her public service and professional background, relevant to her candidacy within the Republican party in Maryland.

• Ali Paskun — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Ali Paskun is a Republican candidate for the Republican Central Committee in Harford County, Maryland. A board member for Fresh Start Furnishings, a non-profit organization based in Aberdeen, Paskun is also mentioned in connection with the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). Public records indicate some level of political engagement, with a mention in the Prince George's Post in a Maryland-related context. Paskun's candidacy for the central committee aligns with a commitment to Republican party activities within Harford County.

• Debbie Schreiber — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Debbie Schreiber is a dedicated community leader and candidate for the Republican Central Committee in Harford County. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Republican Alliance of Harford County, actively promoting Republican principles. Schreiber's commitment to the community is further demonstrated through her role as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for Harford Community College. Her extensive professional background includes leadership positions at the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, the Greater Baltimore Committee, and the Maryland Department of Commerce, reflecting a strong foundation in business and education advocacy. Schreiber is also a member of the Harford County Commission for Women.

• Chad Shrodes — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Chad Shrodes is a dedicated public servant with deep roots in Harford County. A lifelong resident of Norrisville, he is a graduate of North Harford High School, Harford Community College, and Towson University, where he earned a B.S. in environmental and land-use planning. Shrodes represented District D on the Harford County Council from December 2006 to December 2022. His extensive experience also includes over two decades in land use planning and 11 years as a real estate agent. A graduate of the Harford County Leadership Academy and the Harford County Sheriff's Office Citizens Police Academy, he is committed to serving his community.

• Joseph D. Sliwka, Sr. — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Joseph D. Sliwka, Sr. is the Director of the Department of Community Services for Harford County, Maryland, a position to which he was appointed by the County Executive with the consent of the County Council. In this role, he oversees resources available to the community. Sliwka provided an overview of his department and offered support to the Veterans Commission in June 2023. He is also a board member of The Republican Alliance of Harford County, a political organization for Republicans in the area. Sliwka is a candidate for the Republican Central Committee in Harford County.

• Christina M. Trotta — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Christina M. Trotta is a member of the Republican Central Committee of Harford County, Maryland, with a term expiring in 2026. She has also served as the committee's Secretary. In addition to her local role, Trotta was selected as an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. The committee serves as the governing body for the Republican Party in Harford County, working to elect Republican candidates, register voters, and coordinate party activities.

• Tom Ohlendorf — Republican Central Committee in Harford, Maryland

  Tom Ohlendorf is a Republican candidate for the Harford County Republican Central Committee. A resident of Harford County since 1997, he is a retired federal employee with a 40-year career in information technology, most recently at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Ohlendorf holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Morgan State University. He previously worked as a programmer and systems analyst for various companies and Towson University. A self-described fiscal conservative, he now focuses on creating content related to Maryland state and local politics.