Native battles newcomer for District 4 seat

Democrat Jamie Benoit grew up in west county. Republican Sid Saab came to Maryland six years ago.

While Mr. Benoit stresses his hometown roots in the race for the District 4 County Council seat, Mr. Saab said living outside Anne Arundel County gives him an "outside-the-box" approach to county government.

"I step into the office in December knowing every stakeholder in this community," said Mr. Benoit, a lawyer. "I don't know if Sid has that."

"We already have enough lawyers," said Mr. Saab, a jewelry wholesaler who owns a jewelry store in Arundel Mills Mall. "We don't need more of the same. We need new innovative...