Calvin Ball III facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calvin Ball
10th Executive of Howard County
Incumbent
Assumed office December 3, 2018
Preceded by	Allan Kittleman
Member of the Howard County Council from the 2nd district
In office April 20, 2006 – December 3, 2018
Preceded by	David Rakes
Succeeded by	Opel Jones
Personal details
Born	(1975-09-02) September 2, 1975 (age 49) Catonsville, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Shani Ball ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	2 daughters
Education	Towson University (BA) University of Baltimore (MA) Morgan State University (EdD)
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Calvin B. Ball III (born September 2, 1975) is an American politician who serves as the top leader, called the county executive, for Howard County, Maryland. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He made history as the first African-American to hold this important job in Howard County. Before becoming county executive, he was a member of the Howard County Council, representing the 2nd district, from 2006 to 2018.

Early Life and Education

Calvin Ball was born in Catonsville, Maryland. He worked hard in school, earning several degrees. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religion from Towson University. Later, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Legal and Ethical Studies from the University of Baltimore. He then went on to get a Doctor of Education degree from Morgan State University. He is also part of special groups that recognize academic achievement and community service, like Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Phi Alpha.

Living in Columbia, Maryland, Calvin Ball was a firefighter and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Howard County. This means he helped people in emergencies. He also served on the Oakland Mills Village Board for three terms, helping to improve neighborhoods. He was involved in committees that focused on education and preparing people for jobs in Howard County. He also worked as a mediator, helping people solve disagreements peacefully.

Career in Public Service

After finishing his education, Calvin Ball worked for the Maryland Attorney General's office, helping to protect consumers. He also taught as a part-time professor at the University of Phoenix.

In 2001, he decided to run for a seat on the Howard County Council. He didn't win that first election, but he continued to be involved in public service. He worked as an assistant for a state delegate and taught at Morgan State University. He also continued his work as a community organizer and as a firefighter and EMT.

In 2006, Calvin Ball decided to run for the Howard County Council again.

Serving on the Howard County Council

Ball's official portrait on the Howard County Council

In March 2006, a spot opened up on the Howard County Council. Calvin Ball was chosen to fill this spot and officially started on April 20, 2006. During his time on the Council, he became known for supporting ideas that help people and communities. He was chosen by his fellow council members to be the chair of the Howard County Council three times (in 2006, 2010, and 2013). He was the youngest person ever to hold this leadership role.

He also took on other important roles, like leading a subcommittee for sustainable growth in Maryland and starting a group for minority leaders within the Maryland Association of Counties. In 2013, he was chosen to lead a commission focused on environmental fairness and sustainable communities.

Becoming Howard County Executive

Elections for County Executive

2018 Election

On November 9, 2017, Calvin Ball announced he would run for Howard County Executive. This is a big job, similar to being a mayor for the whole county. He wanted to increase funding for schools, protect the environment, and help the county's economy grow in new ways.

During the election, he received support from groups like the Howard County Education Association. In a close race, Calvin Ball won the election on November 7, 2018, becoming the new Howard County Executive.

2022 Election

On June 1, 2021, Calvin Ball announced he would run for a second term as county executive. During this campaign, there was a disagreement about some public emails. A state delegate asked for emails between Ball and county employees. The county released most of them, but some were held back at first. Eventually, almost all emails were released, and the county admitted it had not followed the state's public information rules in how it handled some requests.

Calvin Ball won his re-election in November 2022, continuing his role as county executive.

Leading Howard County

Ball being sworn in as county executive, 2018

Calvin Ball officially became the Howard County Executive on December 3, 2018. He was the first African-American to hold this position. In his first term, he focused on important issues like public safety, climate change, and education.

He also took on a leadership role in the Maryland Association of Counties, first as treasurer and then as president in 2023.

Key Issues and Decisions

Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, Calvin Ball took quick action to protect Howard County residents. He stopped county employees from traveling out of state and held meetings to plan for the virus. On March 15, 2020, after the first case was found in the county, he declared a state of emergency. He ordered many businesses and county buildings to close to help slow the spread of the virus.

In April 2020, he shared a plan to help local hospitals handle more patients and make sure they had enough important supplies. He also gave special bonuses to essential workers. In May 2020, he signed a law to stop landlords from raising rents during the pandemic and set aside money to help people with food and rent.

Even as the state began to reopen, Calvin Ball was careful, saying the county wouldn't return to normal right away. He worked with the governor's office to create a safe reopening plan for Howard County.

Throughout 2020, he used federal funding from the CARES Act to support county services, child care, and businesses affected by the pandemic. In November 2020, as cases increased, he put new limits on gatherings. He also created a group called HoCo RISE Collaborative to help the county recover from the pandemic.

Ball tours the state mass vaccination site at the Mall in Columbia, 2021

In March 2021, he opened the county's first large-scale vaccination clinic at the Mall in Columbia. He also lifted some mask rules and restaurant limits. While he didn't require county employees to get vaccinated, he did require masks and social distancing for unvaccinated people in government buildings. Later, the mask rule was expanded to everyone. He also used funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to support various county programs.

In December 2021, he brought back the indoor mask rule due to a rise in cases, but lifted it again in February 2022.

Community Development

During his time on the County Council, Calvin Ball supported creating more affordable housing in Howard County. He also worked on plans to improve areas like the U.S. Route 1 corridor.

The Quaker Mill Flood Mitigation Pond (pictured in 2023) was one of several retention ponds completed under Ball's flood mitigation plan

After serious floods in Ellicott City in 2018, Calvin Ball proposed a $140 million plan to prevent future flooding. This plan included building a tunnel and special ponds to help manage floodwater. Construction on these projects began in late 2020.

He also supported increasing fees for new school construction to help pay for new schools. In 2023, he proposed new housing laws to expand affordable housing and limit how much rent can increase each year.

Education Initiatives

Calvin Ball has always focused on education. Early in his council career, he suggested adding money to the county budget for more school counselors and custodians. He has consistently supported increasing funding for the Howard County Public School System.

In 2016, he helped create a committee to review how the school system managed its money. As county executive, he has worked to ensure schools have enough resources, proposing large budgets for education and new school construction projects.

In 2019, he asked for an audit of the school system's finances. This audit helped identify ways to improve the school system's financial health, and a plan was put in place to fix a health care budget issue. By December 2022, this issue was successfully resolved.

Ball testifying for the SERVE Act, 2023

In 2023, he proposed the largest single-year increase in school funding in Howard County's history. He also shared concerns about a proposed plan to change school boundaries, especially how it might affect students in Elkridge, Maryland.

Environmental Protection

Calvin Ball supports efforts to protect the environment. He has supported the county's "Rain Tax," which is a fee to help manage stormwater runoff.

During his campaign, he promised to update the county's plan for climate action. In 2019, he announced that Howard County would join the Paris Agreement, a worldwide effort to fight climate change. He also pledged for the county to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2023, he released the "HoCo Climate Forward" plan to address climate change in the county.

In 2019, he signed a law that added a 5-cent fee on disposable plastic bags in stores, encouraging people to use reusable bags.

Other Important Positions

• Gun Control: He supported laws to prevent carrying weapons on Howard County property.
• Healthcare: He supported creating a board to help make prescription drugs more affordable for everyone.
• Immigration: He has supported policies that make Howard County welcoming for all residents, including immigrants. He signed the Liberty Act, which helps protect residents from discrimination based on their immigration status.
• Minimum Wage: He has supported raising the minimum wage for workers in Howard County, signing a bill in 2021 to increase it to $16 an hour by 2026.
• Social Issues: He supported banning smoking and vaping in public places. He also supported laws to prevent discrimination against transgender people and launched a work group to support LGBTQ rights. He has worked to create programs that help people with disabilities find jobs in county government. He also supported efforts to improve mental health crisis services. Following a Supreme Court decision in 2022, he announced funding to expand reproductive health services at Howard Community College.
• Taxes: He has worked on tax policies, including those that help seniors and first responders. He has stated he aims to grow the county's commercial tax base rather than raising taxes on residents.

Personal Life

Shani Ball in 2018

Calvin Ball married his wife, Shani, in 1998. They have two daughters and have lived in Columbia, Maryland since 1999.

Electoral History