By Adam Pagnucco.
This is the first post in a series on answers to this year’s Montgomery Perspective questionnaire for county council district candidates. Here is the question.
Before you decided to run for elected office, how did you serve Montgomery County residents?
District 1
Drew Morrison (D)
As a Legislative Senior Aide to former District 1 Councilmember Roger Berliner, I advanced major policy reforms, including creating the first County-level Green Bank in the nation to finance job-creating clean energy projects; bringing Montgomery County into the Vision Zero movement to eliminate traffic deaths; connecting transit to isolated communities in District 1; and protecting ratepayers during the Pepco-Exelon merger.
I helped District 1 residents navigate County government and fix everyday quality of life issues. I know how to get a pothole fixed or a tree trimmed.
Since that time, I have worked on big, regional state projects as a transportation planning consultant and in my role as Senior Policy Advisor in the Maryland Department of Transportation. I have been responsible for building consensus among stakeholders to resolve differences, break barriers, and help communities move forward. I helped to create the Great Seneca Transit Network in Montgomery County and worked to advance funding for Metro. I was detailed to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse response and have advanced statewide initiatives to support workforce development, build more clean energy, enhance transportation safety, and implement transit-oriented development.
Debbie Spielberg (D)
I have spent 17 years serving Montgomery County residents, both as a staff member at the County Council and as Special Assistant to County Executive Marc Elrich. In those roles, I worked directly with residents on issues like housing stability, school funding, transportation, and environmental protection. I helped advance tenant protections, including staffing the Tenant Work Group; supported the passage of rent stabilization; worked to end the use of cosmetic pesticides on lawns; and worked closely with labor leaders to strengthen worker protections. I also served as PTA President, worked on multiple local elected campaigns and served as volunteer chair of Jamie Raskin’s State Senate campaign (2008-2016). Earlier in my career, I served as Legislative Director to Congressman John Lewis, where I worked on issues including environmental justice and health care for all. My career has been focused on making government more responsive, transparent, and effective for the people it serves.
Reardon “Sully” Sullivan (R)
Prior to running for office, I was actively engaged in several citizen-led initiatives focused on improving governance in Montgomery County. I served as Chairman of the Committee for Better Government, which successfully placed term limits for the County Executive on the 2024 ballot. Our team collected over 20,000 signatures, and the measure passed with 67% voter support.
I also chaired the Committee to Control MoCo Spending, a nonpartisan effort to amend the County Charter to limit annual spending increases in the County to the rate of inflation. The committee is working to secure the required 10,000 signatures to place this measure on the 2026 ballot. . If we can secure additional donations ( https://secure.anedot.com/committee-to-control-moco-spending/donate ) we will get this on the ballot in 2026, where I am confident that it will pass. Upon deciding to run for office, I stepped down as Chair and transitioned leadership to Mark Lautman, an Independent voter.
In addition, I volunteered with the “Nine Districts” ballot initiative, which gathered over 10,000 signatures to propose restructuring the County Council into nine smaller districts to improve representation.
Julie Yang (D)
For the past few years, I have served the community as a school board member, including as president last year. My priority has been listening to the community and ensuring that the board’s policies reflect their views, even when that means being the lone vote against moving Wootton to Crown. I built coalitions to address complex challenges like student mental health. Under my leadership, we advanced a program evaluation policy grounded in return on investment, increased transparency through zero-based budgeting, and used tools like the Facility Condition Index to guide capital decisions.
But even before that, I found ways to serve and lead. For more than 22 years, I’ve served on PTA and nonprofit boards, including the Arc of Montgomery County and the Chinese Cultural and Community Service Center, where I fought to ensure families have access to the services and opportunities they need to thrive in our community. When I see a need in the community, I act. When I saw immigrant families who needed support with special education and gaining access to critical resources, I founded the Chinese American Parent Organization.
I’ve even served as a Girl Scout leader — it’s never too early to encourage young people to engage in our community.
District 2
Marilyn Balcombe (D-Incumbent)
Did not answer the questionnaire.
Arian Borghei (R-Write-in)
Before running, I served Montgomery County residents by being actively engaged in my community by working at a nonprofit organization which helped people with disabilities the name of the nonprofit is Calmra. Inc, listening to the voices of students while I ran for SMOB, supported local initiatives at school meetings, and advocating for practical solutions to everyday challenges. I’ve worked with community members to address concerns about affordability, public safety, and responsiveness from local government. I’ve also focused on bringing people together across different perspectives to solve problems collaboratively, not politically. My approach has always been rooted in service, accountability, and making sure people feel heard by those in positions of leadership.
District 3
Jud Ashman (D)
I’m in my 12th year of service as the Mayor of Gaithersburg, America’s most diverse city. Prior to that, I spent seven years on the Gaithersburg City Council. In 2009, I founded and, to this day, still lead the Gaithersburg Book Festival, which has become one of the largest book events in the country. For about ten years, I served in various capacities in the PTA, including one year as PTA President and three years as a Cluster Coordinator. And I spent a few years coaching in the local rec leagues.
Allison Eriksen (D)
Did not answer the questionnaire.
Ricky Fai Mui (R)
For the past 6 years, I have enveloped my life with members of District 3 and the greater Montgomery County Community, each intentional step aimed to transition to active engagement in solving root causes. I am proud to devote time and energy as a faithful member of various local organizations:
- local Rotary Clubs, e.g., Rockville Rotary;
- Member of the local American Legion Post, to promote patriotism with our high school students;
- Member of 2 PTAs and a delegate to the MCCPTA, and served on committees to work with MCPS;
- Appointed as the Chair to the Rockville Human Services Advisory Commission;
- Volunteered for the Point in Time unhoused counts for multiple years;
- Graduated Leadership Montgomery Emerging Leaders; a program dedicated to understand the County and the relationship with the Government
- Completed the Montgomery County Citizens’ Academy and conducted multiple ride-alongs;
- Volunteered as a Cub Scout Den Leader;
- Volunteered as a Block Leader for neighborhood association and attending various neighborhood association meetings across my district;
- Picked up trash for stream clean-ups;
- Create social media content for local restaurants;
- Frequent parishioner of various Churches in the Montgomery County area
Izola Shaw (D)
I am currently a Rockville City Councilmember representing more than 68,000 residents and a Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commissioner, overseeing a $400 million budget to build, preserve, and stabilize affordable housing across the county. Before being elected, I chaired a subcommittee on the Rockville Charter Review Commission, where I helped expand voting rights and access in city elections. I also served on multiple Montgomery boards and commissions focused on issues from providing wraparound services for domestic violence survivors to supporting local nonprofits.
I spent over 20 years with the federal government, 15 years at FEMA advising local governments on disaster preparedness and six years at NIH during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was among thousands of county residents fired last year under Trump’s administration. Before FEMA, I managed humanitarian aid projects in Francophone (French speaking) West and Central Africa, gaining valuable international experience. These roles have shaped my commitment to this community.
My political journey began more than a decade ago organizing low-income workers to share their stories with the County Council, leading to the successful passage of a minimum wage increase. I hold a master’s degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins.
District 4
Paula Bienenfeld (D)
I have lived in Montgomery County for 35 years, in Rockville, North Bethesda, and Silver Spring. I have always been involved as a volunteer activist, first in the PTA, and then as an MCCPTA delegate. I was president of my neighborhood association, the Luxmanor Citizens Association. There I worked to bring traffic calming to neighborhood streets, getting MCDOT to lower the speed limit and place stop signs along Tilden Lane. Working with neighbors and MCDOT I was instrumental in having bicycle lanes installed, to provide safe spaces for bicyclists. I worked with WSSC, pushing for a safer watermain that ran through our neighborhood. WSSC installed acoustic wires in the 66-inch 60-year-old watermain to identify unusual ‘pings.’ I was president of the Montgomery County Civic Federation, which awarded me their Star Cup. I was the first archaeologist on the Historic Preservation Commission, so was able to introduce consideration of archaeological sites and unmarked cemeteries within project boundaries, broadening the county’s understanding of historic resources. Archaeological sites are the only remains of Native American, and in many cases the only remains of historic African-American, occupations. I worked to make sure First Amendment rights on commercial property were part of planning board approvals.
Kate Stewart (D-Incumbent)
Prior to serving on the Montgomery County Council, I served as the Mayor of Takoma Park for seven years and was a Takoma Park Councilmember. Since my time as Mayor, I have also served on the Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) which is a regional body of 24 jurisdictions that work on housing, transportation, environment, public safety and economic development for the region. In 2025, I was the recipient of COG’s highest award, the Scull Metropolitan Public Service Award, in recognition of my work on regional collaboration specifically to address chronic homelessness and advance long-term funding for WMATA.
My husband and I moved to Montgomery County over 30 years ago and have raised our family here. I have worked in the community in a variety of roles supporting youth and residents including coaching girls soccer and regularly volunteering with Wider Circle and other nonprofits in our area.
Peter “Rocky” Whitesell (D)
Before running for this district I worked in policy at NIH, and before that I’ve been working in metagenomics and lab research generally. I have not previously worked inside of politics, but I have worked directly with massive institutional budgets at a line item by line item level, and I understand intimately the need to weigh policy by the evidence.
District 5
Charles Kirchman (D)
Years ago I served as a volunteer firefighter for 3+ years. When I lived in Germantown I served on my condominium Board of Directors for 12 years.
Kristin Mink (D-Incumbent)
Did not answer the questionnaire.
Josephine Salazar (R)
For the past 40 years, I have served the residents of Montgomery County. Two-hundred words is not enough to convey the immeasurable ways of my service to the community. Regardless of ethnicity, faith, race or beliefs, I provided my time, skills and personal resources. One crucial way I served was by assisting our diverse ethnic communities with immigration-related questions. I worked with lawful permanent residents who were trying to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Also, immigrants who had available a recourse to legalization. I helped connect them with resources, reviewed their paperwork, and in some cases even helped complete forms to make sure everything was accurate and compliant. For many families, that guidance made a real difference. I have assisted in food distributions at a local church, especially during COVID. When issues weren’t being addressed, I stepped in. For example, there were large utility wires close to Route 198 for years, creating a dangerous situation. Residents had reported it repeatedly with no response. I contacted the appropriate offices directly and made it clear that this was a serious liability issue. After that, action was finally taken. Ensuring residents their constitutional right to vote. My heart is with serving the community.
District 6
Natali Fani-González (D-Incumbent)
Did not answer the questionnaire.
Sonia Garcia (D)
I was raised to serve the community I come from. As a lifelong Montgomery County resident, that commitment started early-I earned a Certificate of Meritorious Service in high school for completing more than 160 hours of community service.
After earning my Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, I returned home to work at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. As a program analyst, I developed scientific initiatives, strengthened workforce development pathways, and worked to expand access to federal research opportunities.
Following my federal layoff in 2025, I shifted my focus fully to local community engagement-particularly around land use, housing, and development decisions directly impacting District 6. I began organizing efforts to inform and educate residents on policies such as More Housing N.O.W. and the University Boulevard Corridor Plan-breaking down complex zoning proposals into clear, accessible information so residents could understand what was being proposed and how it would affect their neighborhoods.
My work has been deeply rooted in engaging senior, Black, Latino, and other historically underrepresented communities who are often excluded from these processes. I’ve built trusted, in-language communication networks, provided translation and interpretation support, and worked directly with immigrant and BIPOC residents to ensure they had access to timely, accurate information about public meetings, zoning changes, and development proposals-and the ability to participate in them.
When residents along Veirs Mill Road began receiving property acquisition letters tied to the BRT project-often without prior outreach or clear explanation-I stepped in to help families understand their rights, navigate the process, and connect with legal resources. I’ve also conducted extensive, on-the-ground outreach-distributing information door-to-door and helping bring hundreds of residents, many of whom had never participated before, into the public process so their voices could be heard before decisions were finalized.
My service has been rooted in ensuring that ALL residents-especially those historically left out of decision-making-are informed, included, and able to meaningfully shape what happens in their communities. That work is what led me to run for office-to help build a more transparent, equitable, and forward-thinking Montgomery County where growth does not come at the expense of community voice.
Louella Tham (R)
Did not answer the questionnaire.
District 7
Van Free (D)
I spent 15 years serving Montgomery County as a firefighter/EMT, responding to residents on some of the worst days of their lives. That experience grounded me in what local government does well and where it falls short. I worked in diverse communities across the county, giving me firsthand insight into disparities in access to services, housing, and economic opportunity.
Beyond public service, I am a small business owner, creating jobs and navigating the same economic challenges many residents face, like rising costs, regulations, and workforce shortages. I’ve also been deeply involved in my community as a parent raising a blended family, with children in our school system.
My service has always been hands-on, practical, and focused on results. Whether it was responding to emergencies, mentoring younger firefighters, or building a business from the ground up, I’ve worked to make a real difference in people’s lives. Running for County Council is a continuation of that commitment to serve.
Sharif Hidayat (D)
Did not answer the questionnaire.
Dawn Luedtke (D-Incumbent)
As a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland, I counseled and advised two State agencies and a State workgroup as well as provided policy advice and support on key programs, regulations, and reforms to improve school safety, mental and behavioral health, prevention of acts of mass violence, community-based public safety approaches, our public education system and workforce development.
I ran for the newly created District 7 in 2022 because of my expertise in these areas – and my passion for service. Before joining the Council that year, I served on the board of the Olney Theatre Center, supporting great arts programs and opportunities, and never shied away from taking on neighborhood needs – whether leading a petition to get traffic calming installed or helping to organize an annual Halloween celebration, or working with Scouts BSA Troops 759/7592. I feel grateful to be a part of this community and have been honored to lead on all manner of local issues on a bigger platform and for constituents throughout District 7 on the Council. I believe we have been able to give many Upcounty communities and neighborhoods a much larger voice in Rockville.
Harold Maldonado (R)
Aside from being a law-abiding citizen, I supported my kids’ school activities at Magruder HS, Mill Creek Towne ES, and Shady Grove MS, being active as a parent volunteer. Additionally, I have been a soccer coach for many years, coaching boys and girls from elementary school to high school ages, shaping the healthy development of the next generation of responsible county residents. After seeing how the county handled the pandemic with extended school and business closures, ridiculous mask mandates for kids, and forced vaccinations, I realized that the county council along the executive were definitely not working for residents and I decided to get more involved in my kids’ schools and eventually joined the GOP to politically fight the one-party rule in the county.