On the subject of the most influential women in Harford County, there is the aphorism that behind every great man is a great woman, and of course the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world; but we're looking here for influence in its own right. Yes, we know we probably missed somebody, but here, more or less in the order of importance, are our picks for Harford's Top 20 Most Influential Women. You may be surprised at how large and important a part women play in the public life of our county these days. The largest percentage are politicians and other public servants, but there are also business women, an editor, and a couple of ordinary citizens. They all make a difference. You have to wish them well.
| 1. |
Superintendent Jacqueline Haas. The Superintendent of Harford County's public schools has to be the second most influential person in the county, because the HCPS budget is over $250 million and growing and because she wields enormous influence over our children. |
| 2. |
President Claudia Chiesi. The President of Harford Community College also has a fairly large budget, in the neighborbood of $25 million annually. She picks up where Superintendent Haas leaves off in educating our children and influencing their future and ours. |
| 3. |
Judge Mimi Cooper. We place our two female District Court judges next in line, because on a day-to-day basis they probably have as much influence on people's lives in the county as anyone. |
| 4. |
Judge Angela Eaves. Along with justice, our life, liberty and property are at stake in a courtroom. Experience and a level head are mandatory. We think they have both. |
| 5. |
State Senator Nancy Jacobs. Our most popular and influential female politician is a close personal and political friend of Governor Ehrlich. If she can't get it done, nobody can. That's a nice place to be in 2005 and beyond. |
| 6. |
Shirley S. Klein. The matriarch of the Klein family, owner of the Klein's Supermarket chain, and board member of Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation. No doubt she has both the influence and the money to move in any direction she wants to. |
| 7. |
Delegate Mary-Dulaney James. Lawyer and State Delegate for District 34A, this ambitious woman with the notable last name would probably be our senator right now if it weren't for Nancy Jacobs. Timing is everything. |
| 8. |
Delegate Joanne Parrott. Former County Council President, now State Delegate for District 35A, she is in our opinion the most formidable and crafty politician in the county. She has a remarkable record of survival. Never count her out. |
| 9. |
Councilwoman Roni Chenowith. County Councilwoman of District B, we think she has a good sense of what's right and what's wrong for the county. For example, she publicly opposed that infamous airport legislation. She will probably be a councilwoman for as long as she wants to be. |
| 10. |
Delegate Susan McComas. Lawyer and former Bel Air Mayor and Town Councilwoman for 16 years, now the Delegate for District 35B. Her strength is experience, moral character and public rectitude. Her weakness, a small district. |
| 11. |
Councilwoman Cecelia M. Stepp. County Councilwoman of District F, she has a paralegal background, and seems to have a hand in all the local public issues, although for the most part she works quietly in the background. |
| 12. |
Council President Barbara Jenifer-Ferguson. A native Harford Countian and a computer security specialist at APG, she was elected to the Havre de Grace City Council in 2001. |
| 13. |
Council President Georgina Bantum. Born in New York, but a Marylander for over 30 years, she is a former licensed childcare provider. This is her second term on the Aberdeen City Council. |
| 14. |
Carol Diebel. Head of the Planning Department for the town of Bel Air, the fastest and largest area of development in the county. It's a big job, but somebody has to do it. |
| 15. |
Pamela Mones. Editor of The Harford Business Ledger for five years, and current editor of Prime Times. For nearly a decade this doctor's wife and editor/reporter has helped us define who we are as a county. |
| 16. |
CEO Rose Ann Bryant. Just being the head of a local business makes her important, but being the CEO of Freedom Federal Credit Union, a major business in the county, puts her in our Top 20 for sure. |
| 17. |
President Joan Ryder. High-profile real estate agent, and active in Farm Fair and other local causes. As the head of Century 21 Joan Ryder, her job is to buy and sell houses, and she has done that superbly for over 25 years. |
| 18. |
Vi Ripken. Active in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County. With famous son Cal Ripken just a phone call away, she has helped make the Ripken name synonymous with Harford County. |
| 19. |
Wink Jonas. A one-issue woman so far, but a citizen who tracks the County Council on a regular basis. She and her husband were instrumental in stopping the Gravel Hill Rubble Site. |
| 20. |
Director Audrey Caplan. As the new Director of the Harford County Library, it is her job to help make this a county that reads. And next to the school system, she probably has the largest asset base to manage as well. |
