Baltimore County Executive and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kevin Kamenetz died after a cardiac arrest early this morning at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson.
At about 2 a.m. this morning Kamenetz awoke feeling ill and was transported to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 3:22 a.m., according to a county police statement.
Kamenetz, a former prosecutor for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, was elected to County Council’s District 2 in 1994, serving four terms representing a diverse district that at the time included Randallstown and Pikesville.
He then ran a successful campaign for county executive in 2010, following the departure of two-term County Executive James T. Smith. Kamenetz was in his second term and ramping up a campaign for governor against Republican incumbent Larry Hogan.
A real hometown boy, Kamenetz never strayed too far from his Baltimore County roots. Born in Lochearn, he attended Baltimore County public schools, the Gilman School and the Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a B.A. in 1979. He earned his law degree from University of Baltimore School of Law in 1982 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar the same year.
As a young mustachioed county councilman, Kamenetz could often seem serious and at times gruff, but when elected county executive he seemed to blossom and become more gregarious and content in his countywide role.
Kamenetz was member of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.
He is survived by his wife Jill and two sons.
