Meet the Two Candidates running for Harford County Council President

Eleven days before Harford County voters choose their next Council President, the two candidates competing for the seat have laid out where they think the county is headed — and what they would do about it.

Democrat Mike Ciufo and Republican Billy Boniface will face off November 3 in the general election. Both men submitted their top three challenges and top three priorities to the Harford County Sun. Their answers reveal some common ground and some sharp differences.

Where They Agree

Let’s start with the overlap, because there is more of it than you might expect in a contested race.

Both candidates say a breakdown of trust in local government is one of the county’s most pressing problems. Both say development pressure threatens Harford County’s rural character. And both say accountability and transparency in government spending are priorities they would pursue in office.

The schools are also on both candidates’ radar — though they approach the issue from different directions.

Who They Are

Mike Ciufo: Ciufo, 40, is a lifelong Harford County resident and Bel Air High School graduate. He earned degrees in accounting and finance from West Virginia University and began his career as a certified public accountant. He now owns a Bel Air-based accounting and finance staffing business. Ciufo previously served on the Harford County Democratic Central Committee and has been involved in community organizations through nonprofit board service, local advocacy groups and coaching youth baseball. He also serves as treasurer of his family’s church. He and his wife, Kate, are raising three sons in Bel Air.

Billy Boniface: Boniface, 62, is a lifelong Harford County resident and co-owner of Bonita Farm, a horse breeding and training business in Darlington. He previously served as Harford County Council president from 2006 to 2014 and as the county’s director of administration from 2014 to 2020. His community involvement includes serving on the Harford Farm Bureau’s board of directors and working with the Harford Land Trust, Deer Creek Watershed Association, Dublin/Darlington Recreation Council and 4-H. A former volunteer firefighter, Boniface also helped establish the Ben Boniface Memorial Fund with his wife, Barbara, in memory of their son.

Mike Ciufo: Collaboration, Growth, and Schools

Ciufo, the Democratic candidate, frames the three biggest challenges around government dysfunction, unmanaged growth, and the condition of public schools.

On government trust, he does not mince words.

“When communication and collaboration between the branches of our local government breaks down, the citizens suffer and lose confidence in our leaders,” Ciufo said. “We need leadership that listens, works collaboratively across differences and puts public interest ahead of political disagreements.”

His answer to that problem is a Council President who plays a bridging role rather than an adversarial one.

“The Council President should help bring people to the table, build consensus, and keep county government focused on results,” he said.

On growth, Ciufo calls for a long-term approach that does not sacrifice what makes the county worth living in.

“Harford County needs a thoughtful, long-term approach to growth that balances economic opportunity with the needs of our existing communities,” he said. “We must prioritize development in areas where infrastructure already exists and protect our rural character and open spaces.”

He adds: “We can encourage economic opportunity without sacrificing the qualities that make Harford County a great place to live.”

Ciufo’s third challenge — and one that Boniface did not list as a top challenge — is the state of the county’s public schools. He argues that adequate resources, staffing, and facilities are not optional.

“Harford County must ensure our public schools have the resources, staffing, and facilities necessary to help every student succeed,” Ciufo said. “That means supporting our teachers, addressing the needs of students who require additional support, and preparing young people for the jobs of tomorrow.”

He ties that to budget decisions, saying: “We must make responsible budget decisions that prioritize our children’s future and ensure our investment in education reflects the importance of our public schools to Harford County.”

Notably, Ciufo does not address the property tax rate directly in his priorities — a contrast that becomes clear when you hear from his opponent.

Billy Boniface: Development, Taxes, and Accountability

Boniface, the Republican candidate, brings a different set of concerns to the race. He says the county’s top challenges are development pressure, rising costs, and a lack of trust in government — and his priorities are built around land preservation, lower taxes, and fiscal oversight.

On development, Boniface is specific about the threats he sees.

“Whether it is high-density residential development, large scale commercial projects like data centers and warehouses, or energy complexes like commercial solar farms and battery storage systems, these projects can have detrimental impacts on the surrounding area and on our county as a whole,” he said.

Boniface named some of the specific project types he considers threats and pledged to fix the county’s zoning code to restrict them. He also said he will fight state legislative efforts to override local zoning authority.

Another top challenge Boniface listed is the toll rising costs are taking on Harford County residents.

“Our citizens and businesses are getting squeezed by inflation, by taxes, and by rising utility costs, and by poor policies at the state level that are driving businesses, retirees, and working families out of Maryland,” Boniface said.

His response to that pressure is direct: lower the property tax rate.

“I support lowering the rate if possible to counteract increases in state assessments,” he said. “I will never support an increase in the tax rate.”

On trust in government, Boniface echoes Ciufo’s concerns.

“Our elected officials need to work together in the best interests of our county’s citizens, and our citizens need to trust that the County Council will ensure accountability and transparency in how resources are allocated and how services are provided,” he said.

Land preservation is where Boniface says his heart has always been.

“Land preservation has always been my top priority, and I am proud that my family was one of the first in the county to preserve our farm,” he said. “I will always be a strong advocate for preservation instead of development.”

On schools, Boniface approaches the issue as a matter of fiscal accountability rather than investment adequacy. He points out that the Board of Education consumes half of the county’s General Fund and says that level of spending demands scrutiny.

“I will work to ensure that the Board of Education, which accounts for half of the county’s General Fund, is spending resources responsibly and with a focus on students and teachers,” he said.

He also says he will work to ensure the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services, and volunteer fire companies have the resources they need to keep residents safe.

Where They Differ

Both Ciufo and Boniface say Harford County has a trust problem, a development problem, and a schools problem. But the similarities largely end there.

Ciufo’s vision centers on repairing relationships between branches of government, managing growth through planning and infrastructure alignment, and treating education as a core investment. He frames the Council President’s job as one of consensus-building and collaboration.

Boniface’s vision centers on protecting farmland and rural character through tighter zoning, cutting the tax burden on residents and businesses, and holding major county spending — particularly in education — to a higher standard of accountability. He frames the Council President’s job as one of fiscal discipline and local control.

Voters in Harford County will choose between those two visions November 3.