By Adam Pagnucco.
In a fire-breathing press release and an equally incendiary letter, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO has launched an effort to defeat first-term Sheriff Maxwell “Max” Uy in next year’s election. MCGEO represents most non-MCPS county government employees excluding the police department and the fire department and including the sheriff’s office. The union and its feared leader, President Gino Renne, have a long history of political combat and are not afraid of attempting to unseat incumbents they oppose.
The sheriff’s office handles important public safety functions related to domestic violence, courthouse security, service of summons and warrants, transporting inmates, responding to 911 calls and handling evictions. MCGEO alleges that Uy, who has been in office less than three years, is presiding over a “hostile and retaliatory work environment” with plummeting morale and rising vacancies, ignoring contractual rights, struggling to fulfill the duties of the office and has hired “a known anti-union attorney” as assistant sheriff. It’s worth noting that MCGEO endorsed Uy in 2022. It’s also worth noting that Gino worked in the sheriff’s office as a young man, making these issues personally important to him.
MCGEO is urging county political leaders to withhold their support of Uy in favor of an opponent, who has not yet been publicly named. Elected officials and candidates are wary of crossing MCGEO considering the union’s size, political activity and pugilistic style. MCGEO doesn’t win every fight but it usually inflicts pain on its targets regardless. One complication is that the state’s attorney, the clerk of the circuit court, the register of wills and the sheriff often run on a slate, formal or informal, and the current office holders did that in 2022. The key figure among them is State’s Attorney John McCarthy, the most prominent elected public safety official in the county, and Gino is going to squeeze him.
This is going to be a very interesting election cycle for the office of sheriff.
The union’s press release and accompanying letter to political leaders is reprinted below.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2025
UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO Sends Letter to Political Leaders:
Calls on Local and State Decision Makers to Reconsider Support for Sheriff Max Uy
GAITHERSBURG, MD — Today, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO announced that it has formally mailed and emailed a letter to elected officials and political stakeholders across Montgomery County and the state of Maryland, calling on them to withdraw their support for Montgomery County Sheriff Max Uy.
The union’s letter outlines what it describes as a workplace in crisis, citing “failed leadership,” a “toxic culture,” and a rapidly deteriorating public safety operation under Sheriff Uy’s watch. Since Uy took office, 27 employees—including 23 sworn deputies—have left the Sheriff’s Office, with many more looking to leave soon.
“This is not just a staffing issue. This is a leadership crisis,” said Gino Renne, president of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO. “Our members aren’t leaving law enforcement—they’re leaving Max Uy. The people of Montgomery County deserve a Sheriff who leads with integrity and competence, not someone who prioritizes photo ops over public safety.”
The union’s letter charges that under Uy’s tenure:
- The Sheriff’s Office is struggling to fulfill essential public safety duties, including courthouse security, prisoner transport, and domestic violence response.
- Morale has plummeted due to a hostile and retaliatory work environment.
- Contractual rights are routinely ignored, and deputies are micromanaged and penalized for trivial matters.
- A known anti-union attorney was hired as Assistant Sheriff, a move the union says violates the spirit of Maryland’s public sector labor laws.
The union is urging political leaders to:
1. Withhold their endorsement of Sheriff Uy in any future election, and/or
2. Support his challenger, who has committed to restoring respect, professionalism, and mission-focused leadership within the Sheriff’s Office.
“This is a union issue, yes—but it’s also a public safety issue,” said Renne. “When law enforcement professionals are demoralized, unsupported, and leaving in droves, the entire county suffers. We’re standing up not just for our members, but for every resident who counts on the Sheriff’s Office to show up when it matters most.”
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This is the letter MCGEO sent to county political leaders.
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June 23, 2025
Subject: Reconsidering Support for Sheriff Max Uy
As the President of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, I am writing to express my appreciation for your support of employee rights, fair working conditions, and the value of a skilled and effective public workforce. In the past, you have benefited from the support of MCGEO’s members through door knocking, campaign contributions, and grassroots mobilization. We have stood with you because we believe that you stood in support of working families.
Today, we ask you to demonstrate that same commitment, not just to us, but to the public safety professionals and community members who are suffering under the failed leadership of Sheriff Max Uy.
While Sheriff Uy may be a kind and well-meaning individual, personal likability is no substitute for competent, effective leadership. The role of Sheriff, a full-time, taxpayer-funded position, demands a focused commitment to public service, not to running a perpetual campaign or a carefully curated public image. When an elected official spends more time taking selfies, handing out challenge coins, and attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies than managing his agency, it becomes painfully clear he is not the right fit for the job.
Montgomery County residents depend on the Sheriff’s Office to provide vital public safety services, including:
- Prisoner transport
- Fugitive tracking and apprehension
- Courthouse security
- Response to domestic violence matters
- Child support enforcement
- Backup for local law enforcement partners
- Support for HHS’s behavioral health crisis units
Right now, the Sheriff’s Office is incapable of fulfilling its mandate. The Sheriff’s Office is an integral part of the Montgomery County law enforcement infrastructure, at a time when the system already faces extreme challenges, and Montgomery County residents view their safety and security as a top priority. But under Sheriff Uy’s leadership, conditions within the office have deteriorated to such an extent that his employees, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO members, are exiting in droves, further exacerbating the situation.
We acknowledge that public safety staffing problems are not unique to Montgomery County, but this situation is made worse by the current workplace culture. Our members are not leaving law enforcement altogether; they are leaving to serve other law enforcement agencies, that respect and value their skills and experience.
Since Sheriff Uy took office:
- 23 sworn deputies and 4 civilian support staff have left as more explore other employment options.
- The environment has become hostile, unsupportive, and retaliatory.
- Contractual rights are routinely ignored or undermined.
- Morale is at an all-time low.
Despite the union’s best efforts and commitment to collaboration, the Sheriff’s Office refuses to cooperate in a meaningful manner to resolve the situation. Rather than address these issues, Sheriff Uy has deepened the problems by hiring Christopher Feldenzer, an attorney from Serotte, Rockman & Wescott, P.A., a law firm notorious for its anti-union advocacy. Mr. Feldenzer, who has no law enforcement background, was given the rank of Assistant Sheriff and has been tasked with managing labor relations. His approach has been to litigate every minor issue, stonewall grievances, and further provoke tensions between staff and leadership. This arrangement does not represent progressive organizational standards but does reflect the background of Sheriff Uy, who was a registered Republican until he decided to run for Sheriff.
This situation raises ethical and legal concerns. Maryland law prohibits publicly funded agencies from engaging in anti-union activity (Maryland Code, State Government § 22-206). While Sheriff Uy may not be in technical violation, he is clearly violating the spirit of the law. Taxpayer dollars should never fund union-busting or retaliatory workplace practices.
The result is a micromanaged and toxic work environment where:
- Deputies are written up for trivial offenses.
- Contractual benefits are denied including approved parental leave.
- Schedule changes are made last minute, without appropriate notice and compensation.
- Deputies do not feel empowered to make decisions.
- Leadership provides no support, only scrutiny and blame.
Due to this toxic work environment, the department’s recruitment and retention challenges have been exacerbated to the point MCGEO members are struggling to maintain the critical services needed to reliably maintain courthouse security, appropriately protect the victims of domestic violence, effectively manage those experiencing behavioral health crises, and assist with 911 emergency calls.
Considering these serious issues, we respectfully urge you to:
1. Withhold your endorsement of Sheriff Uy for re-election, and/or
2. Consider supporting Sheriff Uy’s opponent, who has committed to restoring a functional, respectful, mission-driven Sheriff’s Office and has been endorsed by the UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO Sheriff’s Office membership.
The people of Montgomery County, and the professionals who serve them, deserve a Sheriff who prioritizes their safety and security and effectively manages the resources provided to the Office of the Sheriff paid for by the taxpayers.
Sincerely,
Gino Renne
President, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO
Vice President, UFCW International Union