2026 Candidate Spotlight: Meet Linfeng Chen

NORTH LAUREL, MD — Linfeng Chen has entered the race for Howard County Council District 4. Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office.

Below you will find Chen's responses, verbatim:

Name: Linfeng Chen

Age on Election Day: 49

Hometown: North Laurel

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Email address: chen4d4@gmail.com

Campaign website/Facebook page: www.chen4d4.org, www.facebook.com/chen4d4

Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please state and explain how that experience will influence your time in office if elected.

Yes. I currently serve as an at-large member of the Howard County Board of Education, elected to a four-year term from 2022–2026, and I served as Vice Chair in 2025. In this role, I help oversee the Howard County Public School System, including a budget that represents roughly half of the county’s overall budget. This experience has given me a deep understanding of our county’s fiscal realities, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing our community.

Serving on the Board of Education has strengthened my belief that transparency and accountability are essential to effective governance. I have worked closely with educators, parents, county leaders, and community members to make data-informed decisions, balance competing priorities, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

If elected, I will bring that experience to office by continuing to support strong public education, improving quality of life for residents, helping seniors age in place, strengthening public safety, and protecting the diversity that makes Howard County such a strong community. I also believe we must grow our economy and expand the tax base responsibly so we can continue investing in essential services while maintaining long-term fiscal stability.

What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you’re looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues?

One of the most important issues facing Howard County residents is maintaining the quality of our public education system while ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability. Howard County continues to perform better than many surrounding counties, but we are not immune to the financial pressures affecting local governments and school systems across the region.

As a member of the Howard County Board of Education, I have seen these challenges firsthand. Over the past three years, the Howard County Public School System has experienced significant staffing reductions, including approximately 200 position cuts in 2024 and another 100 positions in 2025. At the same time, we face nearly $190 million in deferred maintenance needs, with multiple school buildings requiring renovation or modernization.

Fortunately, Howard County has worked collaboratively to nearly fully fund the school system for FY2027, which puts us in a stronger position than many neighboring jurisdictions. However, we cannot take that stability for granted. We must continue investing in public education because strong schools are directly tied to economic strength, public safety, and quality of life.

To address these challenges, I believe we need to focus on transparency, accountability, and long-term planning. We must clearly differentiate between “needs” and “wants” in budgeting and capital spending, prioritize essential investments, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. At the same time, we must expand and diversify our tax base to create a more financially sustainable future without overburdening residents.

My approach is grounded in data-informed decision-making, collaboration, and responsible governance — making sure Howard County remains a place where families want to live, students can succeed, and the community can thrive for generations to come.

How do you differ from other candidates running against you?

As an immigrant, I understand both the barriers many families face and the tremendous opportunities immigrants bring to Howard County. I value the diversity of our community and believe every resident deserves to feel heard, respected, and represented.

Professionally, I hold a Ph.D. in a STEM field, and I approach public service with a strong focus on data-informed decision-making, problem solving, and long-term planning. I believe policies should be guided by facts, transparency, and measurable outcomes.

I am the only elected official serving the county in this race, currently serving on the Howard County Board of Education. Through this role, including serving as Vice Chair in 2025, I have gained direct experience managing complex issues, overseeing budgets, building consensus, and making difficult decisions that impact residents every day. I am deeply familiar with the Howard County Public School System, which represents roughly half of the county budget, giving me valuable experience with both operational and fiscal challenges facing the county.

I am also proud to participate in Howard County’s Citizens’ Election Fund program, which allows me to run a grassroots campaign focused on community support rather than special interests.

Finally, having lived in Howard County for 15 years, I know the county well — from its schools and neighborhoods to its strengths and challenges. I believe this combination of immigrant experience, technical expertise, proven leadership, and deep local knowledge allows me to bring a balanced, thoughtful, and practical perspective to public service.

How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you’ve outlined in your campaign and/or the office you’re seeking?

My professional and community experience has prepared me well to serve effectively and help achieve the goals I have outlined in my campaign.

With a STEM background and a Ph.D. education, I bring an analytical and problem-solving approach to government. I believe in using data-informed decision-making, evaluating long-term impacts, and focusing on practical solutions rather than politics. That experience is especially important as Howard County faces complex challenges involving budgets, infrastructure, education, public safety, and economic sustainability.

My professional background also gives me a global mindset and strong outreach experience. As an immigrant, I understand the challenges many families face when navigating government systems, education, and opportunities in a new country. At the same time, I recognize the innovation, talent, and cultural strength immigrant communities contribute to Howard County. That perspective helps me build bridges across communities and ensure all residents feel represented.

Over the past four years, serving on the Howard County Board of Education has provided direct leadership and governance experience. I have worked on complex budgets, policy decisions, capital planning, and community engagement while helping oversee the Howard County Public School System, one of the county’s largest and most important institutions. That experience has strengthened my understanding of how local government decisions impact families, students, educators, and taxpayers.

In addition, my volunteer experience through HCPSS programs, scouting organizations, and local Chinese school communities has kept me closely connected to residents from many backgrounds. These experiences have taught me the importance of service, collaboration, leadership development, and community engagement.

Together, my professional expertise, public service experience, and community involvement provide a balanced foundation to help Howard County remain financially strong, educationally excellent, welcoming to diverse communities, and focused on long-term success.

What is your opinion of the work being done by the current office holder, and how will you improve on it? If that is you - how do you plan to continue improving upon what you've already accomplished?

Councilmember Deb Jung has been a strong supporter of public education and senior aging in place, and I appreciate her commitment to those priorities. Those are values I also strongly share, and I would continue supporting policies that strengthen our schools, protect quality of life, and help seniors remain active and connected in our community.

If elected, I would build on that foundation by bringing additional perspectives and experiences to the role. With my STEM background and experience as an immigrant, I believe I can help expand representation and bring a more data-informed and innovation-focused approach to policymaking.

I would place a strong emphasis on growing Howard County’s innovation economy and creating more business and entrepreneurship opportunities, especially in technology, science, and emerging industries. Howard County has tremendous talent, strong schools, and a highly educated workforce, and we should do more to attract and retain businesses that create high-quality jobs and expand our tax base sustainably.

I also want to strengthen youth engagement and entrepreneurship opportunities by creating stronger connections between schools, higher education, local businesses, and community organizations. Encouraging innovation, leadership, and civic engagement among young people is critical to Howard County’s long-term success.

My goal is to combine fiscal responsibility, strong community values, and forward-looking leadership to help Howard County continue to thrive for future generations.

How do you feel about the school system in your area and what improvements would you like to see be made?

The Howard County Public School System remains one of the strongest public school systems in the region, and compared to many neighboring counties, Howard County continues to perform well academically and financially. Our community deeply values education, and that commitment has helped maintain a high standard for students and families.

At the same time, our schools are facing growing challenges. Student needs continue to increase, and inflation has had a significant impact on both operating and capital budgets. Over the past several years, the system has faced staffing reductions, increasing class size, and rising costs while also managing aging facilities and increasing service demands.

I believe we must continue investing in public education and maintain the historic funding partnership between the county and school system in both the operating and capital budgets. Strong public schools are essential not only for students, but also for economic growth, public safety, workforce development, and overall quality of life in Howard County.

One major priority is addressing the nearly $190 million in deferred maintenance needs across the system. Many school buildings require renovation, modernization, and infrastructure upgrades to provide safe and effective learning environments for students and staff.

I would also like to see continued improvements in special education outcomes. Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and we must ensure schools have the resources, staffing, and support systems needed to meet diverse learning needs while strengthening partnerships with families.

Moving forward, I believe Howard County should focus on long-term financial sustainability, transparency, and strategic planning so we can continue delivering excellent public education while responsibly managing taxpayer resources.

How do you feel about crime in your area and what steps can be taken to reduce it?

Howard County remains one of the safer communities in the region, but many residents increasingly feel less safe because of rising concerns about property crimes, car thefts, vandalism, and shootings. Public safety is one of the core responsibilities of local government, and residents deserve to feel secure in their neighborhoods, schools, parks, and businesses.

Addressing crime requires both strong enforcement and proactive prevention strategies. I believe we need to invest more in prevention programs, especially those focused on youth engagement, mentorship, mental health support, after-school activities, workforce development, and community-building initiatives. Giving young people positive opportunities and stronger community connections can help prevent problems before they escalate.

We also need a more data-informed approach to public safety. That includes transparent reporting of crime trends, careful case-study analysis of what is working in comparable communities, and stronger collaboration between law enforcement, schools, community organizations, and residents. Transparency helps build trust and allows the community to better understand both challenges and progress.

Technology can also play an important role in crime prevention and response. Howard County should continue exploring modern tools that help deter crime, improve investigations, and increase emergency response efficiency while protecting civil liberties and community trust.

At the same time, we must ensure first responders and public safety agencies have the staffing, training, and resources necessary to respond quickly and effectively. Public safety is closely connected to education, economic opportunity, housing stability, and community engagement, so a long-term strategy must address all of those areas together.

My goal is to support policies that keep Howard County safe while maintaining the strong sense of community, diversity, and quality of life that residents value.

What do you think about the economic climate and business sector in your community, and what initiatives could propel it forward?

Howard County’s economic climate remains relatively strong compared to many surrounding jurisdictions, but it is also going through significant change and disruption, particularly in retail, commercial development, and workforce dynamics. Businesses today need a predictable, stable, and well-planned environment in order to invest, grow, and hire locally.

One of the key opportunities we have is strengthening our workforce pipeline. We should expand career training and apprenticeship programs for youth, better align education with workforce needs, and create clearer pathways from school to high-demand jobs in technology, healthcare, skilled trades, and business services.

We also need to do more to support entrepreneurship, especially among young people and underrepresented communities. Encouraging innovation, startup activity, and small business development can help diversify our local economy and create long-term resilience.

Another major opportunity is better leveraging immigrant talent. Howard County has a highly educated and globally connected immigrant population, and we should do more to remove barriers so that skills, education, and professional experience are fully utilized in our local economy. This is one of our competitive advantages if we invest in it strategically.

From a development perspective, we should pursue smart, mixed-use projects that create vibrant, walkable, and economically active spaces. Areas like the Gateway development and a more comprehensive reimagining of places such as the Columbia Mall area can help transform traditional retail spaces into integrated centers for shopping, entertainment, housing, and business activity.

Overall, my focus is on building a more innovative, diversified, and resilient local economy that supports both businesses and residents—one that provides stability, encourages investment, and creates opportunities for long-term growth across Howard County.

How do you feel about transportation options in the area and what, if anything, should be improved upon?

Transportation remains one of the key quality-of-life and economic competitiveness issues in Howard County. While we have strong assets—especially in planned communities like Columbia, which already has a solid foundation for walkability and connected infrastructure—there are still significant gaps in mobility and accessibility across different parts of the county.

One of the biggest priorities should be improving walkability and bike-friendly infrastructure in underserved areas, particularly in communities such as North Laurel and Scaggsville. Many residents in these areas rely heavily on driving because safe, continuous sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian connections are limited or inconsistent. Expanding this infrastructure would improve safety, reduce traffic pressure, and give residents more transportation choices.

We should also continue to strengthen multimodal transportation options so that residents can better connect to jobs, schools, and services without being entirely dependent on cars. That includes better integration of transit access, pedestrian networks, and bike routes, especially around key activity centers, schools, and commercial corridors.

At the same time, we should preserve and build upon what works well in places like Columbia, where thoughtful planning has already created stronger connectivity. The goal is to extend those same principles of accessibility, safety, and design quality more equitably across the county.

Ultimately, improving transportation is not just about mobility—it is about equity, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. A more connected Howard County will be a more inclusive, efficient, and vibrant community for everyone.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am a first-generation college graduate, and that experience has shaped my commitment to education, opportunity, and public service. I understand firsthand how education can transform lives and open doors, and that belief continues to guide my work in the community.

I currently serve as an at-large member of the Howard County Board of Education, where I have worked closely with families, educators, and community members to support the Howard County Public School System. I welcome residents to review my record, attend meetings, and see how I approach decision-making in public service.

I am committed to transparency, accountability, and open communication. Voters can learn more about my campaign and priorities at my website: chen4d4.org, and I encourage anyone with questions or feedback to reach out directly at chen4d4@gmail.com.

Public service, for me, is about listening, learning, and delivering results for the community. I remain focused on strengthening public education, improving quality of life, supporting seniors, enhancing public safety, and building a more innovative and inclusive local economy for all residents of Howard County.