BALTIMORE (January 24, 2006) -- The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) announced that the Honorable Julia W. Gouge was elected Chair at its Board of Directors meeting on January 24. Harford County Executive James Craig was elected Vice Chair. Commissioner Gouge succeeds Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr., who served as chair in 2005. Other board members include Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens, Baltimore City Mayor Martin O’Malley, and Howard County Executive James N. Robey.

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council is the organization of the region's elected executives, which serves as a forum for identifying regional interests and developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs to improve the quality of life and economic vitality throughout the region. In addition, BMC provides technical and staff support to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, the federally-designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Baltimore region.

"I am honored that my regional colleagues have chosen me to chair the BMC," Gouge said.  "I expect to focus on continuing regional collaboration on purchasing, environmental protection – including water supplies – and homeland security."

Julia Gouge is serving her fourth term as a Carroll County Commissioner. She served three previous terms, 1986-1994, 1998-2002. She served as President of the Board of County Commissioners from 1998 to 2002, and was re-elected President for the 2002 to 2006 term.

In addition to her chairmanship of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Commissioner Gouge serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties (NACo). She also served as president of the Maryland Association of Counties and has been on its Legislative Committee for the past 11 years, including a term as Chairman in 1994. Gouge is an ex-officio member of the Carroll Community College Board of Trustees. She has also served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Local Government Insurance Trust, on the Town Council of Hampstead, and later as Mayor.

Nationally, Gouge serves on numerous committees including the NACo Audit Committee, Credentials Committee, Watershed Management Advisory Committee, Rural Action Caucus Steering Committee and Vice Chair of the Water Subcommittee of the Environmental, Energy and Land Use Committee. In the past, she served on the NACo Ethics Committee, the Task Force on the Implementation of the National Crime Bill, the National School to Work Transition Committee, the National Employment and Welfare Reform Task Force and the National Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching.

In 2004, she was selected as one of the Top 100 Women of Maryland by the Daily Record.

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