Election Results: Cassilly cruises to victory, council members ousted

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly won his Republican primary Tuesday, defeating County Council President Patrick Vincenti by nearly 25 percentage points in a race that had defined county politics for more than a year.

With all 63 precincts reporting, Cassilly took about 60% of the vote — 13,359 votes to Vincenti’s 7,849. A third candidate, Spencer Dagner, drew fewer than 5%.

Cassilly, first elected in 2022 with 64% of the vote, spent much of the campaign making the feud with Vincenti explicit. His own campaign materials called out Vincenti by name as “a strong and vocal critic at every opportunity.” Vincenti had served as council president since 2018 and held his District E council seat since 2014. He gave up that seat to make the run — and lost decisively.

Democratic Exec Race Too Close to Call

On the Democratic side, the race for county executive remained unresolved late Tuesday night.

Matthew J. Brown led former Maryland Delegate Barbara Osborn Kreamer by just 4 votes — 4,644 to 4,640 — with mail-in and provisional ballots still outstanding. That margin is too narrow to call, and the outcome could change once those ballots are counted.

Gahler Wins Fourth Term Bid

Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler, seeking a fourth term after 12 years in office, won his Republican primary Tuesday over Keith Runk, 14,585 to 7,715. Runk drew about 35% of the vote. Terrence Rogers ran uncontested on the Democratic side and will face Gahler in November.

Boniface Makes Comeback Bid for Council President

The open seat for president of the County Council — vacated when Vincenti left to challenge Cassilly — went to Billy Boniface, a former Harford County Executive who served from 2002 to 2010.

Boniface took about 47% of the Republican primary vote, defeating sitting District C Councilman Tony Giangiordano, who had been serving as council vice president. Boniface drew 10,418 votes to Giangiordano’s 8,988. A third candidate, Samuel Kahl, finished with about 12%.

Giangiordano had given up his District C council seat to run countywide — and lost, leaving that seat vacant heading into the general election.

On the Democratic side, Mike Ciufo ran uncontested and will face Boniface in November.

Two Incumbent Council Members Defeated

Two sitting members of the County Council lost their primary races Tuesday night.

In District E, Republican incumbent Jessica Boyle-Tsottles fell to Douglas J. Phillips in a two-person race. Phillips took about 56% of the vote — 1,733 votes to Boyle-Tsottles’ 1,343.

In District F, Democratic incumbent Jacob Bennett lost to Tamie M. Wainwright, 1,193 to 915. Bennett’s tenure had been marked by conflict with the Cassilly administration from the start — Cassilly tried to block Bennett from being seated after the 2022 election, arguing his job as a middle school science teacher was a conflict of interest. The Maryland Supreme Court ruled against Cassilly, and Bennett was sworn in. Tuesday night, his time on the council came to an end.

Guthrie Fails to Reclaim District A Seat

In District A, the Democrat who was removed from the County Council over theft charges tried to win his seat back Tuesday — and lost by more than 40 points.

Dion Guthrie entered a nolo contendere plea to felony theft charges in Baltimore County and was removed from the council in January 2025. Nolanda Robert was appointed to fill the vacancy. Tuesday night, Robert defeated Guthrie 1,398 to 579 in the Democratic primary — a margin of more than 70% to less than 30%.

On the Republican side, Jeff Beck ran uncontested.

District B Primary Ends a Turbulent Chapter

The Republican primary in District B produced a winner with no connection to the seat’s recent turmoil.

Stephanie Flasch, a newcomer to the race, took about 59% of the vote, defeating appointed incumbent Alison Imhoff and a third candidate, Russ English Jr.

The seat had changed hands twice in the past 18 months. Aaron Penman won it in 2022, then was removed in February 2025 after the Cassilly administration argued his job as a sheriff’s deputy was a conflict of interest. Imhoff was appointed to fill the vacancy. Penman appealed, won at the Appellate Court in April 2026, and was reinstated to the seat by a circuit judge as recently as June 12 — just 11 days before Tuesday’s primary. Penman endorsed Imhoff, but she lost to Flasch.

Isabela Dela Cruz ran uncontested on the Democratic side.

Remaining Council Races

In District C, Paula Etting won the Republican primary with about 54% of the vote, defeating Charles Hagan and Tim Murphy for the open seat left by Giangiordano’s departure. Jessica Ryley Hammond ran uncontested for Democrats.

In District D, incumbent John B. Carl Jr. held off Jay Evans, 4,477 to 1,086, in the Republican primary. Jean Salvatore ran uncontested for Democrats.

Board of Education

Four Board of Education seats were decided Tuesday in nonpartisan races that go directly to the general election.

In District A, Donna Blasdell won with about 44% of the vote over Shernice Shermaine Mundell and Dani Paez.

In District B, Keri L. Geibler took about 46% to defeat Dominic J. Heath and Christian Licier.

In District C, Cathy Kowalewski won with about 48%, defeating Joe Fleckenstein and Shawn P. Ryan.

In District E, Robert S. Wagner took about 45% in a three-way race over Aaron D. Boyle and Matt Jones.

All results are unofficial. Mail-in and provisional ballots have not yet been counted. The Harford County Sun will update results if they change.