By: Adam Reuter
You have to hand it to Julian Jones. Most politicians try to hide their corruption. Jones files it at 11:56 PM and dares you to read it.
We read it. And if you are wondering why your councilman seems more interested in high-rise condos than your pothole complaints, the answer is sitting in Section 3 of his 2025 Annual Report.
He isn’t just taking money from developers; he is partying with them in Las Vegas on your dime.
The “Wynn” Strategy
While you were driving to work in Baltimore County, Julian Jones was racking up bills at the Wynn Las Vegas—one of the most expensive luxury resorts on the Strip.
- April 18, 2025: $917.24 to Wynn Las Vegas.
- May 22, 2025: $2,706.37 to Wynn Las Vegas.
Why was he there? For the ICSC (RECon) conference. That is the “Super Bowl” of shopping center development. It’s where developers go to cut deals and apparently, it is where Julian Jones goes to get his marching orders. He spent $3,600 of campaign funds to sleep in luxury while rubbing shoulders with the very people who are paving over Baltimore County.
The “Rice” Racket
In a year with no election, Jones paid his fundraiser, Rice Consulting, a staggering $74,000+.
- Feb 12: $20,284
- Apr 11: $13,620
- June 6: $12,944
- Dec 11: $8,768
Think about that. For every check a developer writes to Jones, Rice Consulting takes a massive cut off the top. Jones isn’t running a campaign; he is running a money-laundering operation for the political consultant class. The developers pay the toll, the consultant takes the fee, and Jones keeps the power.
The Return on Investment
So, what did the developers get for that Vegas trip? They got access.
- Caves Valley Partners (the guys behind the Towson sprawl) dropped $2,750 directly, plus another $3,750 from partner Arsh Mirmiran.
- Greenberg Gibbons (the shopping center kings) dropped $2,000.
- David S. Brown Enterprises used their classic “Red Run Blvd” LLCs to funnel thousands more.
The Bottom Line
Julian Jones raised $461,000 this year. He spent $372,000 of it. He didn’t spend it on you. He spent it on $20,000 consulting checks and $2,700 Vegas hotel bills.
He treats the campaign account like a personal slush fund and the County Council like a VIP lounge for developers. Jones ended the year with $1.1 million in the bank. That isn’t a war chest; that is the price tag for selling out Baltimore County.
