A first-time candidate and a former state lawmaker are running against each other for the Harford County Council District F seat in the 2026 general election, and the race has surfaced sharp questions about how the county manages growth, modernizes its zoning code, funds infrastructure and supports small businesses.
Democrat Tamie M. Wainwright of Perryman and Republican Glen R. Glass, a former Maryland House of Delegates member, are on the ballot. Wainwright answered The Harford County Sun’s candidate questionnaire directly. Glass did not submit a response; his positions were drawn from his own published statements, his campaign website and his public legislative record.
Who They Are
Wainwright is a lifelong Harford County resident who has spent more than 20 years as a professional tax preparer working with individuals, families and small businesses. She chairs the Aberdeen Heritage Trust, co-chairs the Aberdeen 250 Committee and sits on the steering committee of 3P Protect Perryman Peninsula, where she has been active on issues involving truck traffic, land use, transportation safety and environmental concerns. She is married to a Navy veteran and has three children who attended Harford County Public Schools. She has not previously held elected office.
Glass is an Army veteran who served from 1987 to 1989, a former teacher at Northeast Middle School in Baltimore, a licensed home improvement contractor and an environmental services specialist. He holds an associate degree in business management from Howard Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore. He represented District 34A in the Maryland House of Delegates for eight years, from January 2011 through January 2019, serving on the House Judiciary and Ways and Means committees and participating in the Maryland Veterans Caucus. He also served on the Bainbridge Development Advisory Board and the Upper Shore Regional Council. He is not a current member of the General Assembly.
The Biggest Challenges
Zoning and Development
Wainwright argues the county’s zoning code has not kept pace with how communities actually develop and how businesses actually operate. “These outdated definitions create confusion, slow down permitting, and leave communities vulnerable to incompatible uses,” she said.
Glass’s published positions do not address Harford County’s zoning code directly. During his time in the House of Delegates, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee, which handles education-related legislation among other matters, and on the Judiciary Committee. His campaign issues page — published during his earlier political career and not reaffirmed as a 2026 County Council platform — lists broad support for lower taxes and quality education but does not speak to zoning modernization or land-use designations.
Growth and Infrastructure
Wainwright identifies unchecked growth as a direct threat to roads, schools, public safety and the environment. “Unsustainable growth pressures strain roads, schools, public safety, and environmental resources,” she said. “Without modernized zoning and clearer standards, development continues under rules that were never designed for today’s realities.”
Glass’s legislative record from his House tenure includes sponsorship and co-sponsorship of measures related to landowners, utility infrastructure and environmental programs. In 2018, he introduced House Bill 1274 and House Bill 1333, addressing smart meter customer rights and analog meter installation options for utility customers. His campaign website lists opposition to cuts to the Bay Protection Fund, reflecting a documented concern for environmental funding, though that position dates to his earlier campaigns and has not been reaffirmed as a 2026 County Council commitment.
Small Businesses
Wainwright draws a direct line between the zoning code and the struggles of local entrepreneurs. “Barriers for small businesses navigating the permitting process are driven by unclear or antiquated language in the zoning code,” she said. “This creates unnecessary delays, higher costs, and frustration for local entrepreneurs who are trying to invest in Harford County.”
Glass’s campaign website claims he helped pass legislation providing tax breaks for small businesses that hire disabled veterans, His campaign issues page lists support for “Less taxes” as a broad principle. His 2018 legislative record includes co-sponsorship of measures concerning property tax credits and benefits for veterans and their surviving spouses. His published record does not address small-business permitting or zoning-related barriers specifically.
Their Priorities
Modernizing Zoning
Wainwright says her first order of business on the council would be a comprehensive audit of the county’s zoning code. “Harford County’s zoning code still lacks definitions for the modern uses of today, including data centers, arcades, and maker spaces, leaving our neighborhoods vulnerable to speculative development that strains infrastructure without strengthening our local economy,” she said. “I will call for a comprehensive audit to update outdated language, establish clear standards, and ensure our zoning reflects today’s realities.”
Glass’s public record does not include a stated position on a zoning code audit or on updating land-use definitions for modern commercial uses. His campaign issues page does not address zoning modernization.
Housing and Redevelopment
Wainwright said she wants the county to expand housing options by updating definitions that would allow mixed-use development and adaptive reuse of existing structures. “Because the county lacks modern definitions for mixed-use or adaptive reuse, we miss opportunities to revitalize aging commercial corridors or convert vacant warehousing into housing and community-serving spaces,” she said. “I will work with my fellow council members to increase housing availability for young working families, recent graduates, and residents experiencing homelessness by modernizing these pathways.”
During his time in the House of Delegates, Glass served on the Bainbridge Development Advisory Board, which was involved in planning for the redevelopment of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center property in Cecil County. His published campaign positions do not address housing availability, adaptive reuse or mixed-use zoning in a Harford County context.
Paying for Growth
Wainwright argues new development should bear the cost of the infrastructure it requires, rather than passing that burden to existing residents. “Harford County must adopt policies that require new development to cover the infrastructure costs it creates, so roads, schools, public safety, and environmental protections are not an added burden on residents,” she said. “Modernized zoning and clearer land-use standards are essential to making this principle real and enforceable.”
Glass’s campaign issues page lists opposition to the rain tax and the mileage tax, reflecting a documented resistance to certain fee-based funding mechanisms. His published record does not include a stated position on development impact fees or policies that would require new construction to fund the infrastructure costs it generates.
Where They Stand
The District F race presents voters with a contrast in experience and approach. Wainwright brings two decades of work with small businesses and a record of community advocacy focused on land use and environmental concerns, but no experience in elected office. Glass brings eight years in the state legislature, military service and a background that spans teaching, contracting and environmental work, but his published positions do not engage the specific county-level zoning and growth questions that define this race.
On the central issues — zoning modernization, housing, infrastructure funding and small-business permitting — Wainwright has laid out detailed, specific proposals. Glass’s documented record reflects broader principles, including lower taxes, environmental protection and support for veterans, but does not address the county zoning code or growth management policies directly.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The winner will represent District F on the Harford County Council.