{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Kevin Kamenetz |image = County Executive Kevin Kamenetz (13466862545) (1).jpg |office = 12th [[Baltimore County Executive|Executive of Baltimore County]] |term_start = December 6, 2010 |term_end = May 10, 2018 |predecessor = [[James T. Smith, Jr.]] |successor = Fred Homan (Acting) |party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] |office1 = Member of the [[Baltimore County, Maryland#Law and government|Baltimore County Council]]<br>from the 2nd district |term_start2 = 1994 |term_end2 = 2010 |predecessor2 = Mel Mintz |successor2 = Vicki Almond |birth_date = {{birth date|1957|11|26}} |birth_place = [[Lochearn, Maryland]], U.S. |death_date = {{death date and given age|2018|5|10|60}} |death_place = [[Towson, Maryland]], U.S. |spouse = Jill Kamenetz |children = 2 |education = [[Johns Hopkins University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Baltimore]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]]) }}
'''Kevin B. Kamenetz''' (November 26, 1957 – May 10, 2018) was an American politician who was the 12th [[Baltimore County Executive|County Executive]] of [[Baltimore County, Maryland]], serving between 2010 and May 10, 2018, when he died suddenly while in office.<ref name=death>[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-ill-20180510-story.html Baltimore County Executive, Democratic candidate for governor Kevin Kamenetz dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510194956/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-ill-20180510-story.html |date=2018-05-10 }}, ''Baltimore Sun'', May 10, 2018.</ref> He was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. He previously served as a four-term County Councilman representing the Second District of Baltimore County.<ref>"[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/index.html Baltimore County Md. County Council]". ''Baltimore County, Maryland''. January 5, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> On September 18, 2017, Kamenetz declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the [[2018 Maryland gubernatorial election|2018 Maryland Gubernatorial Election]].<ref>Wood, Pamela (September 18, 2017). "[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-kamenetz-governor-20170915-story.html Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz joins Democratic race for governor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327215659/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-kamenetz-governor-20170915-story.html |date=2018-03-27 }}". ''The Baltimore Sun''. Retrieved October 23, 2017.</ref>
==Early life, education, and career==
Kamenetz was born on November 26, 1957,<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=GwY8AQAAIAAJ&q=Kevin+Kamenetz+1957 The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory]''. {{ISBN|9781561600212}}.</ref> in [[Lochearn, Maryland]],<ref>"[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/executive/bio.html County Executive Biography - Baltimore County]". ''Government of Baltimore County, Maryland''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last1=Milligan|first1=Carley|last2=Wilen|first2=Holden|date=10 May 2018|title=Baltimore County Executive, gubernatorial candidate Kevin Kamenetz dies|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2018/05/10/baltimore-county-executive-gubernatorial-candidate.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-04|website=Baltimore Business Journal}}</ref> to Miriam and Irvin Kamenetz, a pharmacist who owned an [[Overlea]] pharmacy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last1=Wood|first1=Pamela|last2=Donovan|first2=Doug|date=10 May 2018|title=Kevin Kamenetz's sudden death ends steady rise in Baltimore County, Maryland politics|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-mainbar-20180510-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> He attended and graduated from the [[Gilman School]], a private preparatory school for boys.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He earned a bachelor's degree from the [[Johns Hopkins University]] in 1979, he graduated from [[University of Baltimore School of Law]] with a [[Juris Doctor]] in 1982, and he passed the Maryland Bar that same year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
Kamenetz worked as a prosecutor in the Office of the [[State's Attorney]] for [[Baltimore City]] from 1982 to 1987, and practiced law for over 30 years.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Wood|first1=Pamela|last2=Cox|first2=Erin|date=10 May 2018|title=Who was Kevin Kamenetz? Looking back at some of the Maryland politician's career highlights|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-kamenetz-bio-20180510-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref>
He was admitted to practice before the Bars of the [[United States District Court for the District of Maryland]], the [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]], and the [[Supreme Court of the United States]].{{cn|date=August 2022}}
==Political career==
Kamenetz was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee for terms in 1982, 1990, 1994, and served as Baltimore County Chair from 1993 to 1994.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=6 June 2004|title=County executive is lawyer, former judge|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2004-06-06-0405280258-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-04|website=The Baltimore Sun|language=en-US}}</ref>
===Baltimore County Council=== Kamenetz was elected to the [[Baltimore County, Maryland#Law and government|Baltimore County Council]] in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006, serving a total of 16 years. His fellow members of the Council elected him Chairman in 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2008. He served as Chair of the Council's Spending and Affordability Committee.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-funeral-20180510-story.html|title=At funeral, Kevin Kamenetz remembered as 'driven' politician: 'He was in this to win it'|first=Scott|last=Dance|newspaper=Baltimoresun.com|publisher=|archive-date=2018-05-13|access-date=2018-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081820/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-funeral-20180510-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-kamenetz-bio-20180510-story.html|title=Who was Kevin Kamenetz? Looking back at some of the Maryland politician's career highlights|first=Erin Cox, Pamela|last=Wood|newspaper=Baltimoresun.com|publisher=|archive-date=2018-05-13|access-date=2018-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513151927/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-kamenetz-bio-20180510-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Baltimore County Executive===
On November 2, 2010, Kamenetz was elected as the 12th [[Baltimore County Executive]], succeeding James T. Smith, Jr.<ref>Joyner, Jim (December 7, 2012). "[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/ph-tt-towson-manor-meeting-1207-20121207,0,737353.story Towson Manor Park not 'off the table,' but other sites may be considered] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726084155/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/ph-tt-towson-manor-meeting-1207-20121207,0,737353.story |date=2013-07-26 }}". ''The Baltimore Sun''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref>
Baltimore County launched its landmark "Schools for Our Future" program, a $1.3 billion ten-year school construction and renovation initiative designed to meet the needs of [[Baltimore County]]’s educational facilities by eliminating existing and projected overcrowding, modernizing learning environments, and improving safety.<ref>"[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/executive/schools/ Schools for the Future]". ''Baltimore County, Maryland''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> Through the program, Baltimore County is building 16 new schools and performing 19 major additions and renovations,<ref>"[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/BaltimoreCountyNow/kamenetz-budget-accelerates-four-elementary-school-projects Kamenetz Budget Accelerates Four Elementary School Projects]". ''Baltimore County, Maryland''. April 25, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> reducing the number of [[Baltimore County Public Schools]] without central air conditioning from 90 in 2010 to 13 in 2017.<ref>"[https://www.bcps.org/construction/schoolsForTheFuture.html Schools for Our Future]". ''Baltimore County Public Schools''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref>
In December 2012, he had proposed building a new fire station in Towson Manor Park, a [[pocket park]] that represented the only green space in the Towson Manor Village neighborhood. The then-existing fire station in Towson was old and located in a site that could possibly be redeveloped for commercial purposes. The property was ultimately sold, and the proceeds used to pay for the new fire station. But the county was able to find space on underused land it already held in downtown Towson, leaving Towson Manor Park untouched.<ref>Kamenetz, Kevin (April 14, 2016). "[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/budgetmessage/fy17budgetdetails.pdf Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2017]". ''Baltimore County, Maryland''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> Three Baltimore County Schools and a police station, all on the county's east side, were also affected by similar land sales to developers.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
In 2016, Kamenetz was elected President of the Maryland Association of Counties,<ref>Reotutar, Brooke (December 6, 2016). "[https://patch.com/maryland/towson/kamenetz-elected-president-maryland-association-counties Kamenetz Elected President Of Maryland Association Of Counties]". ''patch.com''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> a [[Nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]] [[nonprofit organization]] that serves Maryland’s counties by articulating the needs of local government to the [[Maryland General Assembly]]. Maryland Association of Counties is the only organization serving the needs of county elected officials and governments across Maryland.<ref>"[http://www.mdcounties.org/index.aspx?NID=27 About]". ''Maryland Association of Counties''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref>
He served on the board of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (Chair, 2012), the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (Chair, 2013), the Board of Visitors, and the [[R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center]].<ref name="msa">"[http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bco/leg/html/msa14515.html Kevin B. Kamenetz, County Executive, Baltimore County, Maryland]". ''Maryland State Archives''. Retrieved May 16, 2017.</ref>
===2018 Maryland gubernatorial election campaign===
{{main|2018 Maryland gubernatorial election}}
On September 18, 2017, Kamenetz announced his candidacy for Governor of Maryland in the [[2018 Maryland gubernatorial election|2018 election]], running against incumbent [[Larry Hogan]].<ref name=":2">Hicks, Josh (September 17, 2017). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/kevin-kamenetz-baltimore-county-executive-enters-maryland-governors-race/2017/09/17/61909ff8-366f-11e7-b373-418f6849a004_story.html Kevin Kamenetz, Baltimore County executive, enters Maryland governor’s race]". ''The Washington Post''.</ref>
==Personal life and death==
Kamenetz resided in [[Owings Mills]] with his wife, Jill Kamenetz, and their two sons.
Kamenetz died in the early hours of May 10, 2018. He had awoken at 2 a.m., complaining that he felt unwell, and was taken to the [[University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center]] in [[Towson, Maryland|Towson]], where he was pronounced dead at 3:22 a.m., after going into [[cardiac arrest]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.newsweek.com/kevin-kamenetz-cause-death-919047|title = Kevin Kamenetz Cause of Death: Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Dies Suddenly Months Before Election|date = May 10, 2018|work = [[Newsweek]]|accessdate = August 13, 2019|last = Le Miere|first = Jason}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/10/politics/kevin-kamenetz-maryland-dead/index.html|title = Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate dies suddenly|last1 = Vazquez|first1 = Meagan|last2 = Summers|first2 = Juana|date = May 10, 2018|accessdate = August 13, 2019|work = [[CNN]]}}</ref> It is believed that Kamenetz suffered a heart attack, though his family chose not to have an autopsy performed.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-cardiac-arrest-20180510-story.html|title = Kevin Kamenetz lived a healthy lifestyle, so how can someone in good shape suddenly die of cardiac arrest?|last = McDaniels|first = Andrea K.|date = May 10, 2018|work = [[The Baltimore Sun]]|accessdate = August 13, 2019}}</ref>
Flags throughout Maryland were ordered to be flown at half-staff by [[Governor of Maryland|Governor]] [[Larry Hogan]].<ref name= death/><ref>Donovan, Doug; Wood, Pamela (May 11, 2018). "[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-ill-20180510-story.html Baltimore County Executive, Democratic candidate for governor Kevin Kamenetz dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510194956/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-kevin-kamenetz-ill-20180510-story.html |date=2018-05-10 }}". ''The Baltimore Sun''. Retrieved May 11, 2018.</ref>
Two weeks later, the County Council chose Kamenetz's chief of staff, Donald I. Mohler III, to serve out the remaining months of his term.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baltimore County Government |title=County Executive Biography - Baltimore County |url=https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/executive/bio.html |website=www.baltimorecountymd.gov |accessdate=21 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
==Honors==
In 2010, Kamenetz received the Valleys Planning Council’s McHarg award for his efforts to reduce density, protect environmentally sensitive land and watersheds, and secure Baltimore County’s rural heritage.<ref>[http://www.thevpc.org/about-the-vpc/history/ian-mcharg-award/# The Valleys Planning Council], thevpc.org; retrieved May 24, 2017.</ref>
In 2013, Kamenetz received the Outstanding Performance and Community Service Award from the Baltimore County Branch of the [[NAACP]] in recognition of his outstanding leadership of Baltimore County government and the significant increases in diversity among County employees.<ref>" [http://www.wbaltv.com/article/kamenetz-wins-diversity-award-from-naacp/6773406 Kamenetz wins diversity award from NAACP]". ''[[WBAL-TV]]''. October 15, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2017.</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{BaltimoreExecutives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamenetz, Kevin B.}} [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:2018 deaths]] [[Category:Baltimore County executives]] [[Category:Jewish American people in Maryland politics]] [[Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni]] [[Category:Maryland Democrats]] [[Category:Maryland lawyers]] [[Category:People from Owings Mills, Maryland]] [[Category:Politicians from Baltimore County, Maryland]] [[Category:University of Baltimore School of Law alumni]] [[Category:Gilman School alumni]] [[Category:20th-century American lawyers]] [[Category:21st-century American Jews]] [[Category:20th-century Maryland politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Maryland politicians]]