Baltimore County Executive-elect John “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. today announced several major senior staff appointments for his incoming administration.

Patrick H. Murray will serve as Chief of Staff, Samantha F. O'Neil will serve as Senior Advisor, Andrew G. Vetter will serve as Deputy Administrative Officer, Charles R. Conner III will serve as Chief Legislative Officer, and Elisabeth A. Sachs will serve as Director of Government Reform and Strategic Initiatives.

All positions will take effect immediately following Olszewski’s oath of office on Monday, December 3rd.

“Our movement to build a better Baltimore County means bringing together the best and brightest. I’m thrilled that these experienced, thoughtful, and energetic leaders will help us fight to expand opportunity in every community,” said County Executive-Elect Olszewski. “We are putting together a deeply talented team that is ready to hit the ground running on day one to create a stronger future for Baltimore County.”

The Chief of Staff will oversee operations for the County Executive's office, manage personnel decisions, and lead initiatives across Baltimore County agencies.

Murray most recently served as Chief of Staff to the President of the Maryland Senate. He previously served as Director of State Affairs for Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the Maryland Senate, and Senior Advisor to the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. He earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and his B.A. from Swarthmore College.

The Senior Advisor will coordinate external communication, outreach & partnerships, and policy development.

O’Neil is currently Vice President of Margrave Strategies, an economic development consulting firm that implements strategies on behalf of anchor institutions, including the University of Maryland, College Park, Towson University, Bowie State University and Salisbury University. She previously served as Special Assistant to Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships at the Howard County Health Department under Dr. Peter Beilenson. She earned her Master’s in public communication from American University and B.S. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University.

The Deputy Administrative Officer will partner with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to assist with the strategy, direction, coordination and communication of all administrative operations across Baltimore County.

Vetter is currently Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice in Baltimore City. He previously served as Chief of Staff and Director of Government Affairs for the Baltimore Police Department. Prior to that role, Vetter was a Deputy Legislative Officer for Governor Martin O’Malley, handing a legislative portfolio spanning a range of issues. He has practiced law in private practice and has served in several other local and state government roles. He earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a B.S. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

The Chief Legislative Officer will supervise the office that drafts administration bills, sets legislative strategy and will serve as the administration’s chief lobbyist in dealings with the Maryland General Assembly.

Conner currently serves as Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. Prior to that role, Conner served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party. Conner has also served as an aide to Delegate Luke Clippinger and as the Director of Stewardship for the non-profit, Thread. He earned a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a A.B. from Davidson College in Religion.

The Director of Government Reform and Strategic Initiatives will implement strategic initiatives, lead efforts to modernize government operations, and spearhead efforts to create a more transparent, open, and connected government.

Sachs is currently Managing Partner of Long Point Strategies, LLC, a public policy consulting firm. She previously served as Executive Director of the Job Opportunities Task Force, Program Director of EARN Maryland, Interim Secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, Director of Policy and Planning at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and as an Assistant Attorney General. She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Haverford College.

Olszewski will name additional senior staff appointments throughout the transition process.