Harper?s Choice Middle School?s principal hopes to rise above cantankerous partisan politics as he considers running for county executive this year.
“Given the current political climate, and the distaste many have for the age old Democratic and Republican rhetoric, my years of experience and the lack of partisan baggage would be found refreshing,” said Stephen Wallis, of Ellicott City in Howard County.
At this time, he is creating a committee to analyze whether he could raise enough money to fund a campaign.
“If so, I will assuredly start a campaign in the next two weeks,” said Wallis, a registered Republican, who has not filed with the Board of Elections or decided with which party to run.
Wallis said he wants to improve emergency response, increase affordable housing, raise teacher?s pensions and create jobs in the county.
He said his 35 years working in the school system would more than prepare him for the county executive seat.
“I have years of public service longer than the lives of my opponents,” he said referring to County Council Member Kenneth Ulman, D-District 4, and County Council Member Christopher Merdon, R-District 1.
Democratic newcomer Harry Dunbar is also running for county executive.
Wallis has many supporters in the public school system.
“He was a wonderful manager of people, a great motivator of people.
“He truly believes in the goodness of people, he believes that people are able to accomplish anything if they have support. That?s a wonderful attribute to take to any kind of office,” said Patricia Almquist, instructional team leader for World Languages and ESOL at River High School, who worked with Wallis when he was vice principal at Howard High School.
