Mandy Remmell never expected to run for local office. As a constituent services chief and now district director for now-U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, she’s been a longtime advocate for the community—just never the one to be on the ballot.
“People have asked me all the time, ‘Are you planning to run ever? Would you consider being an elected official? ’” Remmell said. “I’d always say…‘No, I’m for the community. I want to stay true to the community. I don’t want to get into the nitty gritty of politics.’”
But with the recent expansion of the Baltimore County Council from seven to nine seats—and after current District 1 Councilman Pat Young announced his run for County Executive—Remmell, 36, said it felt like the right moment to step forward.
“I thought to myself, well, gosh, we need somebody good in that seat. We need somebody that knows this district,” Remmell said. “It can’t just be anybody.”
Remmell said her husband, Scott, encouraged her to make the jump.
“He said, ‘It’s you.’ And I said, ‘You’re right. It is me! I should run!’” Remmell recalled. Her husband told her “You know this district better than anybody. You live and breathe this district,” Remmell said.
Remmell kicked off her campaign on Nov. 18, where she and her team hosted a launch party at The Chapel in Catonsville.
The launch drew a notable number of current and former local officials. Former County Council Member Sam Moxley described Remmell as someone who “brings a fresh approach and new ideas.”
“We don’t need someone that’s going to bicker. We need someone that can state their position, argue their position, and still move on and get things accomplished,” he said.
‘Connecting people’
Remmell grew up in Baltimore Highlands and graduated from Lansdowne High School in 2007. Following her graduation, she attended the Community College of Baltimore County then started in the workforce as a telemarketer.
Later, she took an administrative position in the cardiac catheterization laboratory of Baltimore Washington Medical Center, and then at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center working in an injury prevention and outreach position in 2016. There, she said, is where she found her passion for true public service.
Then, Remmell landed a job at the Maryland Highway Safety Office, where she conducted statewide traffic-safety outreach aimed at reducing roadway fatalities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined the Baltimore County Executive’s Office as an outreach coordinator for District 1.
During the interview for that position, she quickly found that the role wasn’t about politics at all, but instead was centered on helping residents and linking them to the county resources they need. She’s been with Olzewski ever since, making the transition from the county executive’s office to Congress.
“Across every chapter of my life, no matter which role I’ve been in, my true mission has stayed the same,” Remmell said, “which is to be a bridge and connecting people with the support and the solutions and the advocacy that they deserve.”
Remmell is a mom to a high-school senior and a stepmom to a middle-schooler, both students in Baltimore County public schools. When she told her family she planned to run, none were surprised.
“They were like, ‘It’s about time. We know that’s your next step,’” Remmell said.
Beyond working across Baltimore County, Remmell spends her free time teaching yoga at Rolling Brook Yoga in Catonsville. She also acts as a Lupus Ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America, after being diagnosed with the chronic disease in 2022.
Campaign Priorities
At Remmell’s campaign launch event, she and her team emphasized five campaign pillars: creating safe communities and strong schools; investing in education; growing local jobs and small businesses; investing in safe and efficient transportation; and maintaining council accessibility and transparency.
“My door will always be open,” Remmell said during her speech. “From my office you can expect responsiveness, accountability. You will see me in your district, you will see me at your events, and we will put good people and the right people in the right job to help represent me in the district. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves, lead with compassion and fight for District 1.”
Delegate Aletheia McCaskill (District 44B) shared her enthusiasm, emphasizing the significance of a woman potentially joining what is currently an all-male council.
At the campaign launch, McCaskill shared a piece of advice, urging Remmell to keep the community at the forefront.
“Remember to not let your ambitions outrun your conscience. Remember the people–the people of this world, because each of us are connected to someone in some place. What you’re about to move into is going to be magical.”
Delegate Eric Ebersole (District 44A) also praised Remmell’s readiness for the role and previous experience working with her.
When working on issues, “I was always glad to see Mandy come into the group,” Ebersole said. “I knew somebody would know all the answers. She was always on point. I could always turn to her and depend on her. And now, that’s going to become even more critical in this part of the county.”
What’s ahead ?
Remmell said she is ready to “hit the ground running” and feels confident in overcoming the challenges that might arise.
“You’re only as good as the team you surround yourself with and you’ve got to build the right team. So building my office out will be, I think, the biggest hurdle,” she said.
Remmell noted that the expansion of the council, from seven seats to nine, will bring both opportunities and adjustments for the incoming candidates. Remmell said that with the change, it’s important for all nine council members to remember to “put our residents first.”
Remell is most excited to meet the residents she hopes to serve.
“I’m excited to get out on the campaign trail. I’m excited to talk to our neighbors. I’m excited to knock doors. I’m excited to host meet and greets,” she said. “I want to meet the residents out here that may not know who Mandy Remmell is. I know that I have a wonderful support system behind me and we have connected with so many residents.”
If elected, Remmell would become Baltimore County’s first Black woman to serve on the council, something she describes as “truly an honor.” This year’s ballot also includes several other women of color running for council seats, including Makeda Scott and Danita Tolson in District 4 and Sharonda Dillard-Huffman in District 7.
“It’s truly a moment in history. It’s a moment that so many of us, people of color, we may not have envisioned ourselves in that role,” she said. “I’m really excited and it’s really inspiring to me that we are a county that is as diverse as we are.”
In the coming months, Remmell said she is ready to stay true to herself in her campaign and continue to bridge the gap between local government and the residents being served.
“I’m ready to work hard. I’m ready to collaborate with our community, with our residents, our elected leaders, with our school system and our educators. And I’m ready to help build a future that we can all really be proud of here in District 1 and across Baltimore County.”
To learn more about Remmell, visit votemandyforcouncil.com. Primary Election Day is Tuesday June 23, 2026.
