At-Large Board Member Election

This year, At-Large Midtown board member seats are up for re-election in Bolton Hill, Madison Park, and Mount Vernon. The following candidates have been nominated or have nominated themselves for those positions. See below for voting eligibility requirements.

Bolton Hill

James L. Prost | Resume
I would like to continue to serve as the At-Large Midtown Board member from Bolton Hill. I am therefore self-nominating myself to be elected to that position. Last year, I was selected by the Bolton Hill President to serve as Interim At-Large representative from Bolton Hill. Since becoming a board member, I have attended board meetings, completed board training, and actively participated on both the operations and strategic planning committees.

I am a 20+ year resident of Bolton Hill, a retired urban planner with a graduate degree in regional planning, and a charter/life member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. I am active in my neighborhood, the Midtown community, and the City as a whole. This provides me the relevant experience and expertise to serve on the Midtown Board.

From my initial tenure on the Midtown Board and my long-term involvement in neighborhood/community development, I understand the role and responsibilities for Board members to provide governance, oversight leadership, and strategic planning to the organization and its neighborhoods, institutions, residents, property owners, visitors, and City government. Board members play an active role in monitoring compliance with the corporation’s goals, objectives, and financial requirements. Board members must also engage with residents, staff, community partners, property owners, the City, and others to ensure communications, equity, and relationships to meet Midtown‘s objectives.

Julian Frost | Resume
I grew up in Baltimore and graduated from Baltimore City College in 2019. I recently moved to Bolton Hill with my partner Yena after residing in Mount Vernon for two years. I am a project manager for Lorax Partnerships, a sustainability consultancy in Midtown.

My knowledge of housing policy, urban planning, and street design will be valuable to the Midtown Board. The physical form of our neighborhood should be a reflection of our priorities and values, and I know how to propose new ideas in a way that speaks to people:

• Writing a Substack blog focusing on local urban design, featured on MVBA Safe Streets & BHNA newsletters.

• Being a leading advocate for the "single-stair reform" bill signed by Mayor Scott in Nov. 2025.

• As a Congress for the New Urbanism Mid-Atlantic board member: organized a single-stair architectural competition (May '25) & a forum on the future of the JFX (April ’26).

As a Midtown board member, I'll be a voice in favor of:

• New housing on persistently vacant and underutilized lots

• Expanding bike/pedestrian infrastructure, esp. around Penn Station

• Global best practices in urban design/housing at State Center

• Exploring collective solutions to Mt Vernon's trash problem

• Traffic calming; closing the Saint Paul JFX off-ramps

• Expanding curbside dining; pedestrianizing streets

• Broadening public recreational opportunities in Midtown

I'd love the chance to serve on the Midtown board and advocate for a more slow, humane, and accessible built environment.

Madison Park

Janelle Butler | Resume
Janelle Butler is a seasoned business development and commercial sales executive with over 15 years of experience driving revenue growth, managing strategic accounts, and building high-level partnerships across institutional, government, and private sectors. Currently serving in Business Development & Strategic Accounts at Trane Technologies, she manages complex institutional and government portfolios, leads contract negotiations, conducts market analysis, and collaborates across engineering, legal, and executive teams to deliver customer-focused solutions.

Her prior leadership roles at Johnson Controls, NORESCO, and Radio One demonstrate a consistent track record of expanding market share, securing multi-million-dollar contracts, forecasting trends, and representing organizations at industry and public-facing engagements. A Baltimore native and graduate of Morgan State University with a degree in Finance, Janelle brings strategic insight, executive-level relationship building, and deep experience in regulated and institutional environments.

Her expertise in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and long-term partnership development strengthens Midtown’s capacity for sustainable growth and collaborative impact.

Mount Vernon

Nicholas Roberts | Resume

I have lived in Mount Vernon for nearly 20 years, both as a renter and a homeowner. This long-term connection to the neighborhood has given me a strong appreciation for the needs of residents and a deep commitment to ensuring that the Midtown Community Benefits District serves our communities effectively.

Over the past three years, I’ve served as the At-Large Member representing Mount Vernon on the Midtown Community Benefits District Board. During this time, I contributed to the successful Midtown reauthorization process and served on both the Governance Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of the Midtown Community Benefits District’s mission and the important role the organization plays within our communities.

I am an active member of the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association. I co-chair the Clean & Beautiful Committee where I work with residents and city officials to reduce litter and enhance green spaces across the neighborhood. I have also served on the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association Holiday Party Committee for the past three years, helping to foster community connection and engagement.

Outside of my professional and community work, I enjoy playing the viola, making pottery, and exploring Baltimore’s vibrant food and wine scene. I am seeking re-election to continue supporting the Midtown Community Benefits District and to help ensure that our communities remain clean, green, and safe.