Stephen Donnelly for Bowie City Council

Stephen Donnelly with his family in Bowie

About Stephen

Service Is How I Show Up

Stephen Donnelly is a native Marylander who has called Bowie home for the past five years. He and his family put down roots here because they believe in what this city is and what it can be — and he's running for City Council to help make that vision real for District 1.

Like a lot of Bowie families, Stephen knows this year's budget faced difficult choices — including increases to both real and personal property taxes to stabilize city finances. Leadership decisions from previous years will continue to strain residents already stretched thin. He's running because he believes Bowie can do better: smarter spending, long-range planning for rising infrastructure costs, and a commitment to holding the line on taxes wherever possible.

As a Development Director at a human services nonprofit serving over 100,000 Marylanders in need, Stephen spends his days maximizing limited dollars for real impact, securing grants, and building partnerships that make programs work. Last fiscal year, he achieved 148% of his fundraising goal and secured over $400,000 for utility relief and emergency assistance. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Penn State, with coursework in public budgeting, data analysis for policy & administration, and strategic planning — the exact skill set District 1 needs at the table.

Platform

What Matters to District 1

Responsible Budgeting & Tax Relief

Bowie families are facing increases to both real and personal property taxes to stabilize the city budget. Stephen understands the weight of that — and he won't accept it as a new normal. With a background in public budgeting and nonprofit finance, he'll push for rigorous spending discipline, transparent audits of city expenditures, and a clear plan to hold the line on taxes as infrastructure costs rise. Residents deserve to know exactly where their money goes and why.

Infrastructure That Works

Aging roads, potholes, deteriorating sidewalks, and stormwater drainage failures are going to demand more from Bowie's budget in the years ahead — not less. Stephen will insist on long-range infrastructure maintenance that prioritizes the fixes District 1 needs most, reduces costly emergency repairs, and ensures every dollar spent on roads and public works goes as far as possible.

Restoring Local Autonomy & Smarter Development

For too long, Bowie's future has been shaped by disconnected regional goals rather than the needs of our residents. Stephen will fight to reclaim planning and zoning authority from the County, putting Bowie back in the driver's seat of our own development — including the revitalization of the MD 450 corridor and the Free State Shopping Center — while protecting our mature tree canopy and neighborhood stability.

Negotiating Autonomy: Leading a formal push to return zoning power to City Council through our own Sectional Map Amendment (SMA) process.
Streamlined Permitting: Establishing Bowie as a "Peer Plan Reviewer" with the County to bypass red tape and expedite quality retail approvals.
Local Oversight: Implementing a Third-Party Inspection Program (TPIP) to accelerate project completions through City-authorized experts.

Safe Streets & Stronger Neighborhoods

Safety isn't just about crime — it's about whether you feel secure walking your street, whether crosswalks are marked and sidewalks are passable, and whether your neighborhood feels cared for. Stephen will work to ensure Bowie's public safety resources are properly funded, infrastructure hazards are addressed quickly, and District 1 neighborhoods get the attention they deserve. We all deserve to walk, bike, and drive safely through our neighborhoods.

Quality of Life & Green Spaces

Bowie's parks and green spaces are part of what makes this city worth living in. As an Eagle Scout and conservation advocate, Stephen will protect that character — pushing back on overdevelopment, keeping public spaces clean and maintained, and championing practical environmental solutions like improved drainage and flood control that directly benefit District 1 residents.

Background

A Record of Getting Things Done

Stephen's career spans nonprofit management, youth development, and community organizing. Here's what he's built — and what he'll bring to District 1.

Professional Experience

Human Services Nonprofit · Maryland

Development Director

Oct 2022 – Present · Southern & Eastern Maryland

Leads fundraising strategy, grant writing, and donor relations for a nonprofit serving over 100,000 Marylanders in need. Secures public and private funding for homelessness prevention, hunger relief, and youth programs across the state.

148% of FY25 fundraising goal

National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America · 7 yrs

District Director

Sep 2021 – Oct 2022 · Bethesda, MD

Oversaw district operations, volunteer relations, and programming across the DC metro area. Managed field staff delivering programs for thousands of Maryland youth.

National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America

Senior District Executive

Aug 2019 – Sep 2021 · DC Metro Area

Served 1,500 youth and families across ~70 Scout groups. Nationally recognized at the BSA 2020 Leadership60 Growth Conference. Started 9 new Scout units during COVID-19 while exceeding fundraising goals.

Leadership & Civic Service

Club President — Rotary International

Jun 2021 – Jun 2022

Led a civic organization with 92 years of continuous service. Directed health, social services, and community programs, and developed the club's volunteer and fundraising strategy.

Emerging Leaders Graduate — Leadership Montgomery

Class of 2019

Completed a rigorous leadership program covering economic development, civic engagement, public budgeting, and community leadership.

Eagle Scout — Boy Scouts of America

Earned Aug 2010

Scouting's highest rank, earned through sustained service and leadership — including a community project coordinated with Interfaith Works of Montgomery County.

Founder — Milkweed for Monarchs Scout Program

National Capital Area Council, BSA

Founded and launched a conservation program protecting a critical pollinator whose numbers had declined by over 90%. The model spread nationally, with conservationists in California, Washington state, and British Columbia seeking to replicate it in their own communities.

Stephen Donnelly