2022 Candidate Questionnaire: James Amos For Baltimore County Council District 2

OWINGS MILLS- The Owings Mills Patch spoke to James Amos about his history, why he is running for office and his positions on local issues.

Amos is running against Izzy Patoka for Baltimore County Council District 2.

Below are Amos's answers to our candidate questionnaire.

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

"Because when things are bad, good men have to step up. Good men and women need to step up because the county is in terrible shape. I think I have the knowledge and experience to do the job and represent the people."

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

"We need a councilman and an executive that will support our police. Not only give them the moral support but the budgetary support that they need. Police morale is at an all-time low. I know about it because I am a retired police officer. I retired as a lieutenant with the Maryland Capitol Police in 2006."

What sets you apart from your opponent?

"I think my opponent is a nice guy, but that's not enough to be a councilman. He's a rubber stamp for everything the Olszewski administration wants. For example, in the recent vote on Darryl Williams, he was only one of two councilmen who voted that they had confidence [in Williams]. The other five voted no confidence in the superintendent. One of the first steps on that issue is for the school board to replace him."

Where do you work, and what is your job title?

"I am currently retired. I started working full-time at 17 and spent six years in the Marine Corps. I then started working for the State of Maryland in 1983. In 2006 I retired from the Maryland Capitol Police, which was my primary vocation. I also have served on the Republican Central Committee since 2020."

"I've also volunteered for the Maryland SPCA and was a Chief Election Judge for the Baltimore County Board of Elections."

Age and birthplace? Other family information you'd like to share?

"Let me see; I am 65 years old; I was born at Women's Hospital in Baltimore City, now GBMC. I was married, but my wife passed away in 2002. I also have a child from another relationship. She's 21, getting ready to graduate from Georgetown, and planning to attend law school.

Please list the schools and colleges you attended, the degrees you attained, and when.

"I got a GED with honors from the state of North Carolina in 1976, and I was the valedictorian at the Baltimore City Police Academy in 1988. I had the all-time highest GPA in history up to that point, although from what I understand, somebody said has topped me, but it was 97.6."

"I also received a degree in jurisprudence from the University of Baltimore in 2011."

"From 2019 to 2020, I was a member of the Student Bar in Pennsylvania, going to Widener University, Commonwealth School of Law. I didn't graduate from there."

Approximately how much money do you expect to spend on your campaign?

"Up to this point, I've spent about $500. I don't think I will end up spending more than $1,500.

How long have you lived in Baltimore County?

"Pretty much my whole life. When I was one or two [years old], my father was a railroad man. We moved back to Towson when I was about seven and a half.

"I am currently living in Woodlawn, but before I moved to Woodlawn, I lived in Owings Mills for about three years. I've been in the Woodlawn area since 1990 and at my current residence and neighborhood Since 1999."

What's your favorite thing about Baltimore County District 2?

"I just like this side of town. When my wife and I moved to Owings Mills in 1987, I decided to stay. While there, I got to be friends with former governor Bob Ehrlich because he was one of our delegates in the old district 10."

What is the biggest problem in Baltimore County District 2?

"I say crime, [if] we fix crime, we can start to work on these other problems. That's dealing with the schools. I have proposed that the department of the Legislative Audit Office do a full top to bottom audit of Baltimore County Public Schools. They need to stop teaching this gender identity stuff in our public schools, and also CRT, this critical race theory I find very offensive. We also need to tackle overdevelopment in this county and fix our infrastructure. After that, we can start working on the quality of life issues like drag racing, illegal roadside signs, and loud music. Those types of things that bother people around here." 

Patch has reached out to Amos's opponent Izzy Patoka, and hopes to post his interview later this week.