The next Baltimore County executive should be a leader who the voters have chosen before, but not someone who is beholden to big money and political influence. He or she should be independent, but also understand how to compromise. A budget czar who is tough on crime, friendly to business, knows how to create jobs and improve schools — but also someone who will tackle hunger and homelessness with compassion and care.

Those are some of the qualifications that speakers shared at a public feedback event held by the County Council on Tuesday night that drew about 200 residents.

Council Chair Izzy Patoka had announced that the event was not for supporters to lobby for particular candidates, but rather to speak generally about what they wanted to see in whoever succeeds County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., a Democrat who was elected last month to Congress. He vacates his current job on Jan. 3, when he will be sworn in as a congressman.

The county’s top law enforcement officer could not abide by Patoka’s rule. Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said that the man for the job was “JOB, or JB,” referring to former state Sen. Jim Brochin. The next speaker also named Brochin, so Patoka admonished the audience again.

Neil Goldberg, a retired gastroenterologist, then enthused that his unnamed friend was so influence-free that he could not afford to buy his own white tennis shorts for a game; Goldberg had to buy them for him. Goldberg then went and sat beside a smiling Brochin.

Many in the crowd were there to endorse Yara Cheikh, a longtime education advocate who also heads the county’s library board and has been active on social justice issues. Her supporters, who included many women leaders, did not say her name, but spoke of her attributes. In other cases, Baltimore County residents spoke generally of wanting both an experienced hand and an independent thinker.

Barry Williams, a former county parks director who is seeking the county executive post, spoke of the county’s mounting challenges. Baltimore County is losing population and, along with the state, is expected to weather difficult budget shortfalls in the coming years.

The County Council will narrow the list of candidates by Monday, Dec. 16, at which time they will hold public interviews with the finalists. The council will vote after Jan. 3; if the candidate cannot step into the role immediately or the decision is not made by then, County Administrative Officer D’Andrea Walker will become county executive.

The county executive is the most powerful position in Maryland’s third-largest county. Olszewski’s successor will serve until Dec. 6, 2026, overseeing a budget of $5 billion and more than 6,000 employees. The salary is $192,000 per year. The council wants a candidate who will not run for the permanent job.

The county code specifies that whoever is selected must be of the same party as the departing county executive. The council has four Democrats and three Republicans. The winning candidate will need four votes.

In addition to Brochin, Williams and Cheikh, the candidates are state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier; former professor Tara Ebersole; former state business and economic development secretary Aris Melissaratos; IT specialist Paul Drutz-Hannahs; environmental engineer George Perdikakis; financial professional William H. Huhn; and clergy leader Gregory A. Dennis.

Multiple Baltimore County Democratic clubs are jointly planning a candidates forum from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 19 in the Owings Mills library’s meeting room.