By Adam Pagnucco.
Part One explained how this survey was conducted. Parts Two, Three and Four listed elected officials. Let’s continue today.
All comments are from my sources except for those specifically made by me.
5. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (25 votes)
He’s become more firmly ensconced in the DC scene and is less visible in Maryland, but he wields a powerful invisible hand.
Lost tons of clout among the Jewish community in ’24, which are key voting blocs for him, and diminished national potential because of strong anti-Israel position but any US Senator will get a large amount of ears and eyeballs.
Like Raskin, he could be higher on this list, but his canvas is so much larger than MoCo.
Well respected statesman in Maryland, nationally and internationally.
The ultimate MoCo endorsement and playmaker. He represents the entire state, but nobody ever has to worry that he forgets where he got his start.
Different than Raskin in that he’s deeply respected more than deeply revered. Still an important figure. Has stayed on the mark in terms of reflecting the feeling of liberal Montgomery County despite going statewide.
Very engaged locally and through his years of experience locally and nationally, remains very influential.
Pagnucco: A MoCo institution for 30 years going back to his service in the House of Delegates. One of the most consequential politicians to ever come from this county.
4. Delegate Marc Korman (40 votes)
His ascent to chair one of the most powerful committees in the House of Delegates is a real-life revenge of the nerds. Widely respected as substantive and thoughtful – qualities that are in short supply in Annapolis.
Cerebral chairman can be somewhat awkward but very effective and well respected.
The real leader of the MoCo team in the House of Delegates.
The quintessential legislator’s legislator, no one deserved a gavel more and he has it which is great for D16 and Montgomery County.
Was always smarter and more humble than anyone in the room, can now shepherd bills to greener pastures or the slaughterhouse.
Committee chair, policy wonk, brilliant guy, seemingly boundless energy. Korman is a big deal now and becoming bigger each session.
The biggest transit advocate in Annapolis, the biggest Metro advocate, and a quiet leader on climate stuff too.
An expert on transportation related issues. One of the most respected legislators. The most influential and powerful delegate from Montgomery County. Nobody is even close.
The newest House committee chair, long known for his smarts and wonkiness, Korman is one of the reasons WMATA is still functioning and the County is taken seriously in the House.
I have known Marc for years and he is one of the most well respected and accomplished members of the General Assembly. He too brings home the “bacon” for his D16. When I was a Mayor, my town was not in Marc’s district, but I could count on Marc for advocacy and advice. Plus Marc is brilliant.
The House can’t live without his intellect although he’s very careful about his newfound leadership position. He is involved in a lot more than anyone would think as far as legislative decision making and also works closely with some influential senators as well. A player across the board.
Now has a more powerful role and is doing a fantastic job at modernizing the committee.
Political power plus brains.
As newly appointed chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, he had the power to make or break Governor Moore’s big housing package earlier this year–and through deft negotiation successfully brought it home.
Highly respected and willing to get into the weeds.
Pagnucco: The modern role model for how to be a delegate. If you work hard, respond to your constituents, learn your issues, don’t grandstand and quietly get stuff done, you too can earn the trust of leadership and move up. Be like Marc Korman and you can prosper in Annapolis.
3. County Executive Marc Elrich (42 votes)
Like the MCPS superintendent, the County Executive automatically gets a spot on this list, but Marc’s ability to wield the power that comes with the office is limited by his inability to work effectively with others and the fact that he is temperamentally ill-suited to management or leadership.
Even when creating problems by not managing county and departments, that still influences county politics and actions. Doesn’t like to get along with even allies but has cult like status with his base.
Love him or hate him, the County Executive gets attention.
You can’t omit the County Executive from this list; it’s a powerful position and Elrich does his best to exercise it. However, he is also his own worst enemy; antagonizing the Senate President to the detriment of the County’s legislative agenda, demoralizing the police department to the point of a severe staffing and recruitment shortage, and I expect his rent stabilization will seriously curtail the production of new housing supply.
He’s still County Executive, for the time being.
Love him or hate him (plenty do both), his influence on the trajectory of the County has been undeniable.
By default of his position, but can’t a county of 1 million + do better. (Yes, we can.)
Influential as the leader of local progressive politics and because the County Executive is innately an influential figure. Rent stabilization doesn’t happen without him and the growth of County government that he’s made happen set up tax increases and will set up future tax increases, probably for years to come. Caveat: I wouldn’t overplay his influence on housing and development. Yes, he is loud about hating it but the last Council and this Council have largely ignored it because it doesn’t make sense. Even other progressives have ignored it.
Hate him or love him, he is STILL ours.
Widely disliked, barely respected by his peers, and repeatedly outmaneuvered by the county council. His base of progressive NIMBYs is shrinking, literally and figuratively. He seems to not enjoy his job. (Who would want to spend their 70s doing this?) But he’s the reason Montgomery County Republicans got term limits on the ballot, suggesting he has some influence, even if it is rarely productive.
Could have more influence if he spent time trying to strengthen relationships/communication, but as CE still wields influence.
Pagnucco: The executive’s office is too important to keep any of its holders off this list, including Elrich. What we will never know about him is this: how much could he have accomplished if he had devoted more energy to working with people rather than criticizing them?
The Big Two are next!