Baltimore County Council candidates owe $631,242 in student loans, court filing shows

A bankruptcy filing lists $631,242 in student loans owed by Sharonda Dillard-Huffman and her husband, Artus Huffman, who are each seeking public office. The couple, both Democrats, filed a Chapter 13 petition on April 1. A Chapter 13 filing allows people to reorganize debt to catch up on missed payments instead of wiping the debt out. Their filing also lists $98,000 owed in federal taxes.

Dillard-Huffman is running for Baltimore County Council in District 8, which covers Essex, Bowleys Quarters, Rosedale and parts of Middle River. Huffman is running for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in District 6, which covers Essex, Edgemere and parts of Rosedale and Dundalk. The council approves the county's $5 billion annual budget. If elected, Huffman would vote on a state budget of about $70 billion.

The filing lists other creditors, including banks and toll authorities in Maryland and Delaware. It also lists more than $7,000 owed on the water bill for the couple's 1,500-square-foot house in Essex. In homes like theirs, water bills usually run about $80 per quarter. "I do not know why I owe that much on my water bill," Dillard-Huffman said. "It's just something they said I owed." A spokesperson for the city's Department of Public Works said the department could not comment on the bill.

The couple filed for bankruptcy to satisfy their financial obligations, they said. Dillard-Huffman said they did not come from generational wealth and have struggled as part of the "sandwich" generation, caring for their disabled son and her mother. They said they pay their taxes but believe their employers did not withhold the proper amount, causing them to fall behind. "All these things come together, and sometimes you can't manage everything," Dillard-Huffman said. "This is an opportunity to reallocate our funds."

Court records show Dillard-Huffman has been driving with an expired license and registration for the past six months after she did not show up for a hearing to fight a traffic citation issued in Annapolis. A spokesperson for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration said her license remains suspended as of this month. Dillard-Huffman said she was unaware of the suspension until recently and has a new trial date.

Roger Hartley, president-elect of the American Society for Public Administration and a professor at the University of Baltimore, said the question of the couple's fitness for office in light of their finances is "absolutely a fair question." "For some voters, they want an explanation, and when they hear it, they may be fine with it," he said. "Others will see it as, 'You will be making decisions on budgets, and if you can't make better decisions in your personal lives, how can you make them for the state and the county?'"

Councilman David Marks, a Republican who has represented the greater Perry Hall area for 16 years, said budget work is part of the council's duties. "We are dealing with complex, difficult financial issues. Understanding the importance of balancing the budget is fundamental to the job," he said. Bob Long, a delegate in District 6, said voters should consider a candidate's fiscal acumen. "You have to know how to spend money and have to balance the budget," Long said. Dillard-Huffman's Republican opponent, Josh Sines, said he was aware of the filing but declined to comment.

Huffman said the couple's financial challenges would not affect his ability to oversee state tax dollars. "Like with other families, we've had some financial issues," he said. "The economy is not the best right now and we're trying to make sure that we pay what we owe." Dillard-Huffman said the bankruptcy makes the couple relatable to future constituents. "I'm not asking to be the auditor. I'm not asking to take people's funds," she said. "I'm not responsible for the budget."

Dillard-Huffman earns $150,554 as an inclusive housing manager in Montgomery County. Huffman earns $129,168 as a school administrator for Baltimore County, according to the filing. Both hold undergraduate degrees from Morgan State University. Dillard-Huffman earned a master's in public administration from Strayer University. Huffman earned a master's in special education and teaching from Grand Canyon University and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Capella University. The filing is a 62-page document that was shared earlier this month by the Dundalk News Facebook page, which has 40,000 subscribers.