Democrat
Kate Stewart
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Takoma Park
Date of birth: Jan. 8, 1970
Current occupation and employer:
I have served as the mayor of Takoma Park since 2015. During this time, I have also been a principal at ConwayStrategic, a communications firm, where I work with individuals and organizations in the reproductive rights, health and justice movements, state legislators, and members of the U.S. Congress to advance safe, legal abortion care in our country. Prior to joining Conway, I was the executive vice president of Advocates for Youth, an organization that works to empower young people to make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health while advocating for their rights.
Political experience:
Mayor, Takoma Park, MD 2015-Present
City Council, Takoma Park 2014-2015
Vice chair of the board, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Secretary-treasurer of the board, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Board member, Mayors Innovation Project
Co-chair of the National League of Cities’ Racial Equity and Leadership Council
Vice chair, MD-Democratic Municipal Organization
Website: https://votekatestewart.com
Email: votekatestewart@gmail.com
Facebook: VoteKateStewart
Twitter: VoteKateStewart
Instagram: VoteKateStewart
Why are you running for this office?
As a mayor, I worked with residents, staff, and public officials at the local, regional and state level to address COVID-19, implement programs to address housing affordability, support small businesses, help our schools, rethink how we address public safety, make our community more sustainable, and further racial equity. Montgomery County faces the same challenges and opportunities as our cities. And I am ready to bring my experience and common-sense solutions to county government.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Safe, stable housing is a human right. We are in a housing crisis and to guarantee this right we need to build more housing and protect residents from displacement. But too often we talk past each other and miss opportunities to make meaningful progress. We have a variety of tools to address housing affordability, including increased density and infill development around public transit, inclusionary zoning, housing subsidies, down-payment assistance programs to create homeownership, and tenant protections. We need to work cooperatively to leverage these tools equitably and expediently to protect the housing we have and create new and affordable homes.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
At the outset of COVID-19, the county did not adequately address the needs of people living in apartments. As mayor, I held zoom calls with residents where they raised questions and fears about whether they could safely use the laundry room, whether they should block their vents, and whether they should take the elevator. I pressed the county for public answers, but their guidance focused on single-family homes. It was not until state Del. Charkoudian and I pulled together and provided the relevant health guidance ourselves that the county’s Public Health Department shared it with the public. We need to do better.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As mayor of Takoma Park and vice chair of MWCOG, I have hands-on experience working locally and regionally to craft practical, progressive solutions to the issues confronting the county. I have worked effectively with mayors across the county to address COVID-19, school principals to address barriers to education, and state legislatures to support clean energy and renters protections. That’s why I have been endorsed by the D-20 state delegation, teachers union, Sierra Club, and fellow mayors. We need somebody with a track record of working cooperatively and getting things done to represent our new district.
Republican
Cheryl Riley
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Republican
Where you live: North Bethesda
Date of birth: May 18, 1964
Current occupation and employer:
Cheryl Riley Public Relations. I am a seasoned public relations professional.
Political experience:
I am not a politician.
Website: https://cherylriley4moco.com
Email: cherylrileypr@comcast.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherylriley4moco
Twitter: @cheryl4moco
Instagram: @cheryl4moco
Why are you running for this office?
I’m a concerned resident who grew up in MoCo, and returned six years ago to a different county. I have witnessed how the Democrat- run county has done nothing during their 15-year reign to improve our county, but have watched their systematic destruction on all levels via the destruction of our economy, safety, quality of life, protection and concern only for certain segments, abuse of power, division creation in every way and their blatant non-transparent, feckless and dictatorship leadership tactics. I knew I had the knowledge and dedication toward improving our county which is why I am running.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
The County Council and executive have created chaos in every aspect via their anti-police, anti-business, anti-economic development, anti-American values and their feckless policy, regulations and restrictions policies. They have failed on every level. Currently it is due to their daily “division” tactics and anti-police rhetoric based on false narratives that have raised our crime to all-time highs, while “protecting” criminals, and this needs to end. I will immediately remove policies that restrict our law enforcement from doing the job they were trained to do and end the budget restrictions which have empowered the criminals and inhibited police protection of our residents. Enhancing the police budget and removing feckless spending in other areas will help to build our MoCo police force and reinstate viable divisions such as the “auto-theft” divisions to dramatically end the crime spree we are subjected to. I will also remove divisive rhetoric to unite all citizens.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
I cannot name a single issue the council has handled correctly, fairly, honestly or pursuant to their oaths to protect and serve the county and its citizens to ensure the betterment for all. I would have first and foremost heard the constituents’ concerns, suggestions at all times, which were ignored by the council, as they utilized a dictator leadership model and determined they did not work for us, but they controlled us, a concept I would reverse and work for you. They handled the pandemic with zero transparency, poor data, untruthful statistics and pushed two vaccines, with zero authority or accountability. They have “acted as the health authority” since the early 2000s, so were not health experts, and that will change as the council should never have taken on the role and the citizens suffered their abuse of power based on their personal opinions. I will ensure the residents know of every feckless, unconstitutional law/regulation the County Council has in place and remove.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As a public relations professional for 25 years, I have worked with some of the leading corporations and industries in the nation by providing public relations strategies to enhance market-share, generate awareness of brands to consumers/customers/clients. I have developed earned media campaigns to offer proactive solutions to improve businesses and created crisis management strategies that resulted in successful outcomes that led to many successful, credible and viable solutions. My career was born out of passion to help solve problems and create pro-active viable and credible solutions. I have worked with numerous industries and am able to quickly and efficiently make immediate changes to benefit outcomes that can be continuously built upon, and Montgomery County is one area I am fiercely passionate about as a resident who loves our county. I am a fearless leader and negotiator and will strive to bring Moco back to life in all aspects for all citizens!
