By Adam Pagnucco.
Below are the top ten stories on Montgomery Perspective in March 2026, ranked by page views.
1. Save Wootton Files State and County IG Complaints, Establishes Legal Defense Fund
2. The Biggest Broken Promise in MoCo Politics
3. Get Ready for a Double Digit Increase in Your Property Tax Bill
4. Glass Claims Lead in Executive Race
5. Montgomery County Cannot Prosper If We Ignore the Future
6. Superintendent Elrich Wants More Waste at MCPS
7. Democrats Who Sabotage Democracy
8. Government by Grandstanding
9. Council Members Speak Out on New Proposed Tax Hikes
10. Realtors Endorse for Executive and Council
Quite a grab bag, yeah? Here are a few random notes.
It’s true that the school board approved the relocation of Wootton High School to the Crown site in Gaithersburg, but that issue is not over quite yet. The fate of Wootton remains a political issue and there may yet be litigation over it. Also, if the transition to Crown requires capital budget funding, the next executive and council will determine it. One thing is sure: Wootton’s defenders are determined and show no sign of giving up.
Taxes are a key issue going into both budget season and election season. I previously wrote about the results of a Greater Greater Washington poll showing that just eight percent of MoCo likely Democratic voters supported a broad property tax increase, which is what County Executive Marc Elrich’s FY27 recommended operating budget includes. Concern about taxes is not limited to MoCo as can be found in the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s statewide polls earlier this month. Taxes, spending, or state budget was the number two issue for voters (behind cost of living) and Governor Wes Moore’s decision to raise taxes and fees was the number one reason cited by voters disapproving of his performance (a growing number). Whether it’s taxes, electric bills, groceries, health insurance or some other intolerable bill, Marylanders are clearly stressed and fed up with paying more – sometimes to get less.
The House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate are playing chicken over whether to grant voters the right to fill state legislative vacancies. This right has been enjoyed by Virginia voters for decades but somehow House leaders view it as an acceptable pawn for political brinkmanship. Will they finally let us vote?
Finally, this month will see the start of mass communications – digital, mail and perhaps TV – in our primary election. At stake is control of both the executive’s chair and the county council, perhaps for eight years. Pay attention and vote!