Republican professor who protested pandemic restrictions, Democratic community leader find common ground in council race for Baltimore County seat

Towson, the hub of Baltimore County government, is getting a new councilman. Democrat Mike Ertel, a longtime Towson community activist, is campaigning against Republican Antonio “Tony” Campbell, a Towson University political science professor who rallied protestors against early pandemic-era orders that restricted schools and businesses, to represent Towson, Parkville and Rosedale as the 6th District councilman. Baltimore County is assured to get two new council representatives in the 6th District and southwestern 1st District after November’s election. The County Council’s two longest-serving Democrats, Cathy Bevins and Tom Quirk are forgoing bids for what would have been fourth terms. Republican Councilman David Marks, who has represented the Towson area for a dozen years, was bumped out of the 6th District when boundaries were redrawn in March.