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Running for Baltimore County Executive, Vicki Almond, Shares Her Story and Advice for Other Women

With over thirty years of leadership, Vicki Almond is running for Baltimore County Executive. If elected, Vicki will be the first woman to serve as Baltimore County Executive. However, even more exciting is the experience and accomplishments Vicki brings along with her refreshing leadership style. Vicki is passionate about education, public safety, children, seniors and economic development. Vicki is eager to lend a helping hand whenever she can (even if it is small in scale like granting me this interview), and sharing advice for other women. Thank you Vicki, and best of luck. Now, let’s talk.

My Journey here has been different

I was raised by a single mother and left high school to help put food on the table

My journey to where I am today has certainly been different than many candidates. I was raised by a single mother. She was an incredible woman and the two of us were our family. I learned so much about hard work and about what it means to be part of the family. I learned very early on what it means to help take care of the family. Things were not easy. I left high school to get a job to help financially support us. I, however, was determined to get my high school diploma which I did by going to night school. This experience, so early in my life, gave me strength, perspective and set up my values system.

Move to Reisterstown

After my first marriage ended, I moved to Reisterstown with my daughters and our dogs. I also brought my mother with us. I then met my husband, Joe, who has been by my side and my biggest supporter for the last 35 years. It is in Reisterstown where we raised my daughters. We are now blessed with six grandchildren. My mother lived with us for twenty years, and I took care of her until she passed away in 2005.

My service career started as Bulletin Board Mother

When my daughters went to preschool, I wanted to be a part of it. I didn’t just want to send them off to school and that was it. It was at my children’s preschool where I first volunteered for anything.

When I told the woman in charge of the preschool that I would like to volunteer, she said “Great, you can be the Bulletin Board Mother.”

I immediately panicked and said, “Oh No, I do not want to be in charge of that…”

And, the woman in charge said “Nope, Bulletin Board Mother would be good for you.”

I can remember being so anxious and the immense pressure which I put on myself to be the best Bulletin Board Mother in the history of the world. I was determined.

And with this little volunteer job (which to me was a huge volunteer job… after all, I had a formal title “Bulletin Board Mother”…), I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. I loved that feeling.

I eventually became President of that day school, which led to PTA board member when my girls were in elementary school and eventually PTA President when my daughters were in middle school and PTA President of Franklin High School when my girls were there.

Each and every volunteer experience helped me to grow as a person.

Volunteering took me out of my comfort zone

Volunteerism took me out of my comfort zone. Back then (believe it or not) I was really pretty shy. My volunteer positions challenged me. I grew so passionate about education, raising money for schools, PTA and making my community better. I became intrigued and fervent to learn about local government – how it works, what the local government does for communities and what the local government should do. So, it was really 30 years of community service, volunteerism and always wanting to be a part of something bigger, which led me to where I am today.

I discovered my passion and threw myself into it. I love being of service to others and making things around me better.

I worked, volunteered, and took care of my family.

Vicki Almond’s biggest accomplishment so far

I started volunteering for the police department 20 years ago and my most important accomplishment was helping to implement the School Resource Officer Program. I became part of this program in 1996 to educate the parents and the community of the program’s benefits – which helps to keep our schools safe by placing an armed officer in the schools.

I talked to then county executive Dutch Ruppersberger and then Baltimore County Police Chief, Terry Sheridan about the program. I talked to school children’s parents about the program. I guaranteed them that most important part of the program was the NASRO training. I assured the parents and the community, that the police officers would also be trained as mentors, counselors, and teachers in the schools.

School Resource Officer Program

We started the pilot program and had an officer in Milford Mill Academy and Pikesville High. The program grew from there. In 2017, we had 63 School Resource Officers in our middle and high schools. In the Fall of 2018, we are planning on introducing a modified part of that program in our elementary schools to combat gang enrollment. In today’s world, there are many kids in our schools who are joining gangs as early as third and fourth grades because they want to belong to something.

In our elementary schools, this would be an officer friendly program. The police officer would have lunch with the kids, teach a class, read to the younger children. The goal would be for our children to build a better relationship with police officers. We are trying to create a new attitude between citizenry and the police department.

The School Resource Officer Program in Baltimore County is a model for the nation.

I also put legislation in place where we are feeding hungry children in school. This is also a pilot program. Keeping kids safe and helping them get through life is a really important mission of mine.

Vicki Almond’s Advice for women who are nervous to speak up… Scared to raise their hand

I was just like you for many years. Thirty-five years ago, I too was nervous to speak up and didn’t want to raise my hand because… “what if I got it wrong?” That thought is scary! But think about it this way: there really isn’t a right or wrong answer to a question. When you speak up or raise your hand, you are sharing what you think and what you believe. Your opinion does not get graded, there is not a right or wrong answer, it is what you feel is the best decision, suggestion or idea.

I will warn you, it is hard to speak up, but once you do… it’s hard to stop!”

Jump In

Be self-confident and take yourself out of your comfort zone. Please take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves and jump in with both feet. If you have an opportunity and you are afraid to take it, how are you going to feel when that opportunity is gone, and you didn’t try?

For me, raising my hand for Bulletin Board Mother completely took me out of my comfort zone and put me out there. I was part of something bigger than myself. It was a small part, but a satisfying part. It changed my life.

From that day forward, every time that I volunteered and every time that I had the guts to raise my hand, I got stronger.

We learn as much from our bad experiences as we do our good ones

When an opportunity presents itself, throw your hat in the ring. The worst thing you can do is lose to an opponent, not get picked for a job, etc. But, if you don’t take advantage of the opportunity, you will never know, will you? And each time you raise your hand, it makes you stronger. You are not going to win everything. There will be times when you are going to lose. However, you can always succeed at trying. You can always win by saying “Yes” to yourself. And, you owe it to yourself to take a chance. You can do this.

If I had not taken advantage of the opportunity to run for County Council in 2010, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I would not have had the incredible experience of serving on the County Council for 8 years, being Chair twice and the first woman ever to serve on the County Council.

And, YES, I was scared to run for County Council because I never held elected office. I knew a lot about county government because of my community activism. I also drew great experience from working on campaigns for other people, but to be “THE ONE” is a very different experience.

Work on your passion

Next, find your passion and work on that passion. This is just so important. As women, we are so passionate about so many things. We all have such different talents, backgrounds and experiences to bring to the table. The community needs you, the world needs you. Your voice matters. Also remember, when you love to do something, you will find the time.”

People will not always like you

I think many women are people pleasers, I know that I am. I want people to like me. However, I have made some decisions where that hasn’t been the case. People have not liked me. That was difficult for me. It still is. However, I always do the right thing. And if my good decisions make some people unhappy, that is just the way that it is. Be strong, lead with integrity and always make the best decisions that you possibly can. Do great work.

What would it mean if elected as Baltimore County Executive? 

What would it mean to be the first woman elected as Baltimore County Executive?

It would truly be an honor to be the first woman elected as Baltimore County Executive just as it was an honor to be the first woman to Chair the Baltimore County Council. However, it is the results that I will deliver as Baltimore County Executive which will really make the difference.

A different administration

If I were elected, it would be a very different administration. I feel this way because, I believe women think differently than men. I can’t speak for all women, only myself, but I feel that women look at problems differently and we look at solutions differently. Women tend to pull together, and I think that makes us different from the male population. We are not afraid to say, “I don’t know the answer to that question, do you?” Women are more than ready to ask someone to join the team, because we want to fix problems, find solutions and answers to problems.

My leadership style

I believe that it takes a team of people and relationships to accomplish anything. I have learned over the years to be a team player. Now, I seek out the smartest people (the person who knows more about a particular subject than anyone else) and bring them on board so we can find solutions and fix problems. My style of leadership is bringing people together to solve problems. Remember that life is about relationships. Never take them for granted. Build relationships and nurture them.

Coming together to solve problems

Cathy Bivens and I were the first two women ever elected at the same time to the County Council. Cathy is from the East Side of the County and serves as Sixth District Councilwoman. I served District Two or the West side of the county. Cathy and I think differently, but we were still able to come together. We were able to work together for the issues that were important to us. For me it was education, public safety, children, seniors and economic development to keep revenue coming into the county.

What is the hardest part about running for office?

I do not like the negativism that comes with running a campaign. To me, this is the hardest part. It takes nerves of steel to run a campaign and to be a part of a campaign. I would love to see campaigns where each candidate runs on their own merit. A campaign where candidates share their strengths, views, priorities, and track records. This is enough. It doesn’t have to become ugly and negative.

This is the way I have tried to run my campaigns. I have my strengths, my views and I have a track record of accomplishments while I have served on the Council for eight years. I feel like my experience in county government means something moving forward to County Executive.

To learn more about Vicki Almond and her head over to the following sites: http://vickialmond.org/vickis-story

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/districts/district2/district2bio.html

 

Thank you Vicki Almond for taking time out of your very busy day to speak with me.  This interview was so much fun and a complete joy. I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming election.

Don’t forget to sign up for new posts and interviews from The Female Force. 

Thanks for reading.

Hugs & Handshakes,

Lauren Rebbel

 

 

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