Newly elected and re-elected leaders from across Baltimore County took their oaths of office Monday morning at the County's 2022 inaugural ceremonies.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski says his second term in office will include work to improve areas like affordable housing, job creation, and investments in the County's aging infrastructure.
“I am humbled to have the opportunity to continue serving as your County Executive," Olszewski said during his inaugural remarks Monday morning at Goucher College.
Olszewski won a second term in office against Republican challenger Pat McDonough in November, after leading by nearly 20 points on election night.
While Olszewski said he "invested more in public education than ever before" over the last four years, he also noted the County's infrastructure -- including schools and public safety buildings -- are showing signs of aging.
"The institutions that keep our neighborhoods safe, like police stations and firehouses, require significant investments to ensure they are equipped to address the needs of the communities they serve as well as the people who work inside of them," Olszewski said during his remarks. "The school buildings where we educate our children must be modern, safe and equipped to meet the needs of families from every walk of life. The parks where our families play and recreate should have the amenities that will draw people to them, encouraging active lifestyles and healthy communities."
Monday also marks the end of Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt's tenure, after her contract was not renewed.
Olszewski told FOX45 news he does not have a timeline for finding a permanent replacement for the role, though the position is being filled in the interim by Baltimore County Police Colonel Dennis Delp.
"What's more important for me is making sure that [the search is] exhaustive and we find the right person to lead the agency in the years ahead, so we don’t have a specific timeline in mind," said Olszewski. "We’re gonna make sure the process is thoughtful and thorough.”
The Chief of Police job is now posted online among other openings across Baltimore County Government.
Members of the Baltimore County Council, Baltimore County Board of Education, Baltimore County Sheriff, and local court officials were among those who also took the oath of office during Monday's ceremony.
Olszewski's full inaugural remarks are available here.