By Adam Pagnucco.
It started just before the week of May 4, which was one of the most critical weeks of this county council’s term. Source after source – at least a dozen of them – called, emailed and/or texted to say the same thing.
Council Member Laurie-Anne Sayles was going to Hawaii for a week. During the budget.
This was hard for me to believe since this was arguably the toughest budget since the Great Recession. The county executive had recommended increases to both income and property tax rates that most council members were determined to resist. They struggled with the challenges of avoiding the tax hikes, preserving the county’s collective bargaining agreements and adequately funding MCPS. How could a council member not be physically present for all of these decisions?
But I knew something was up on the morning of Monday, May 4 when Council President Natali Fani-González announced at the start of session that Sayles “is in a conference for the whole week and she will be joining us virtually.” And there was Sayles on a video screen.
Sayles is on a video screen on May 4, as she was for the rest of the week.
On May 5, I submitted a Maryland Public Information Act request to council staff about this. I wrote, “I am seeking all records related to the attendance of Council Member Laurie-Anne Sayles at a conference out of town this week. I am particularly interested in verifying whether taxpayer funds were used in connection with this event.”
A response to that request is still pending.
During that week, Sayles was at the 2026 National Association of Counties Western Interstate Regional Conference in Maui. Take a look at the agenda. Substantive topics included federal water policy, dealing with wildfires, tourist management and military partnerships. (Remember folks, this conference addressed topics relevant for western states.) There were also recreational opportunities. A description of an all-conference reception stated, “Enjoy an evening of connection and celebration with fellow attendees while taking in breathtaking sunset views. The reception will feature local Hawaiian band, Pili Pa`a, along with delicious food and refreshing drinks creating a relaxed, memorable environment to network and celebrate in true Maui style.” One lunch was sponsored by Chick-fil-A, which has a long history of opposing marriage equality.
The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Maui on Maui’s Ka’anapali Beach. Check out the accommodations on the hotel’s website.
Sayles also attended the 40th Annual National Organization of Black County Officials Economic Development Conference, which was also held in Maui at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. The two conferences together were scheduled to last from Tuesday, May 5 through Monday, May 11.
Earlier today, I received a statement from Sayles about this trip. The statement is reprinted below.
*****
May 22, 2026
I welcome transparency and am confident that the public record will show my recent travel was appropriate, work-related, and fully consistent with my responsibilities as a Montgomery County Councilmember.
From May 7 through May 11, I participated in two professional conferences: the National Association of Counties (NACo) Western Interstate Region Conference and the National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) 40th Anniversary Economic Development Conference. Montgomery County has been a member of these organizations for decades because they provide county leaders with valuable opportunities to collaborate, share best practices, and strengthen our ability to address complex local challenges.
I also serve in a national leadership role through one of these organizations, which carries additional responsibilities and requires participation, including attendance at scheduled board-related meetings. Importantly, I personally paid for all travel expenses. No taxpayer funds were used for airfare, lodging, or conference-related costs. Any reimbursement will follow standard County procedures and applicable budget guidelines.
During this period, I attended every required County Council budget meeting remotely, participated fully in budget deliberations, and continued to manage my constituent and legislative responsibilities without interruption. My commitment to Montgomery County residents never wavered.
These conferences gave us the chance to meet with leaders nationwide on issues affecting Montgomery County, including economic development, workforce challenges, fiscal sustainability, and strategies for navigating increasingly constrained budgets.
As our County faces serious fiscal pressures, learning from peer jurisdictions and strengthening national partnerships is an important part of responsible public service. This year’s budget required difficult decisions, and I remained focused on delivering results for residents, including rejecting proposed tax increases, helping restore critical school funding to prevent layoffs, and preserving essential health and human services.
Public service requires both accountability and continuous learning. I remain fully committed to serving Montgomery County residents with transparency, integrity, and a focus on results.
