As the June 23 primary election approaches, a candidate for Howard County executive is facing accusations of ethical misconduct related to her scrutiny of a community center development project. Deb Jung, a County Councilwoman, has been criticized by the project's developer, Brian Kim, who claims her actions are politically motivated.
Kim filed the ethics complaint earlier this week, alleging that Jung's recent public inquiries about the funding for The Source, a planned community center, were fueled by resentment towards board members who supported her rival, Vanessa Atterbeary. He contends that Jung's timing in raising these issues was strategically aligned with the election season to gain maximum visibility.
Jung is among four Democrats vying to succeed County Executive Calvin Ball, who is term-limited. With no Republican candidates in the race, the primary election is expected to determine the next executive.
In response to the complaint, Jung characterized it as a "desperate political stunt" aimed at undermining her campaign. She expressed her commitment to seeking transparency regarding the project, stating, "I’m not afraid of their smear tactics and I won’t be bullied into standing down." Jung previously supported The Source, which is set to replace the former Columbia Flier building and has been in development since 2023.
The county has allocated $25 million in grants for the project, with approximately $12.2 million already spent on preliminary work, although construction has yet to commence. Jung's inquiries began in mid-May and have included public meetings, interviews, and social media posts.
Other council members, including Liz Walsh and David Yungmann, have echoed concerns about the project's funding but were not named in Kim's complaint. Jung has indicated that her questions arose after reviewing an annual report on The Source's progress.
County spokeswoman Safa Hira confirmed that Columbia Community Concepts, the nonprofit managing the project, has complied with grant requirements, which include funding for demolition and site preparation. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in late April, and a grading permit has been issued for the site.
The ethics complaint also addresses issues surrounding meeting scheduling between council members and the developer, as well as the use of a county seal in a press release published on Jung's campaign accounts. Jung has expressed frustration over the public disclosure of the complaint, which she believes should have remained confidential.
During a recent zoning board meeting, a motion was introduced to disqualify Jung based on the pending ethics complaint, but the board ultimately decided to postpone the matter until 2027 due to county regulations.
Jung has asserted that her inquiries into The Source would not have escalated into a campaign issue if the developer had been more forthcoming with answers. She has also challenged Atterbeary regarding her campaign fundraising, particularly concerning donations from The Source's board members.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
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