The 20th Montgomery County Council began the third year of its four-year term Tuesday by unanimously electing Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4) as its president and Will Jawando (D-At-Large) as its vice president.
“This year will be a challenge … but what gives me hope right now is that I will be part of a group of people who share the goal of ensuring Montgomery County lives up to our values of being a welcoming and inclusive community with a thriving economy and the best education to prepare our young people and families for the future,” Stewart said following her election.
A former mayor of Takoma Park, Stewart has served as council vice president since December 2023 and has been on the council since December 2022. She is the chair of the council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy committee and serves on its Transportation and Environment Committee.
Stewart represents the district that includes Takoma Park, parts of Silver Spring, Montgomery Hills, Kensington, Garrett Park, North Bethesda and parts of Chevy Chase. She is replacing councilmember Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1), who is serving his second term.
As chair of the government operations and fiscal policy committee, Stewart has been a leader in budget and tax discussions in her two years on the council. She has also been at the forefront of the council’s efforts to increase reproductive and LGBTQ+ health care access, as well as housing and tenant protections, in the county.
Stewart said her priorities for her presidential term include increasing and improving mental health care access for county residents, boosting affordable housing availability, enhavlimate resilience and advancing the economy.
“What is unique about Montgomery County is that our strength is our diversity, our compassion and our dedication to creating the best systems and policies to address these crises,” Stewart said.
Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe (D-Dist. 2) nominated Stewart for the top post, citing her work to solve community problems as they arose, and her willingness to collaborate with other councilmembers.
“The [government and operations] committee deals with some very complex issues. And not only does she have a great command of these issues, but she promotes transparency and really strives for efficient, effective processes,” Balcombe said. “We all rely on Kate for her thoughtful deliberations, her calm demeanor, her in-depth knowledge and her unwavering commitment to our county residents. Kate Stewart is a leader among leaders.”
Councilmember Gabe Albornoz (D-At-large) nominated Jawando for vice president, praising his leadership.
“He has moved forward social justice issues and affordable housing, and he is not afraid to push the envelope — to put forth policies and legislation that support the issues that affect all families across Montgomery County,” Albornoz said.
Jawando has served as a councilmember since December 2018. He is the chair of the Education and Culture committee and also serves on the Planning, Housing and Parks committee. This is his first council leadership role. Jawando has specifically focused on on police reform legislation and has been at the forefront of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) budget discussions and the council’s role in the investigation of a 2023 MCPS sexual harassment scandal.
The vice president presides over meetings when the council president can’t attend. Council tradition also dictates that the vice president follows as council president following a year of service in the role.
“We’re heading into a challenging time for our county, and with the pressures and uncertainties that will certainly test our resolve, I know this body and this leadership team will rise to the occasion, as we’ve done before,” Jawando said following his election. “We will protect the values that make Montgomery County a beacon of inclusivity and progress.”
In remarks following Tuesday’s council leadership election, several councilmembers focused on how the county will respond to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. The Democratic-led council has voiced concerns about potential challenges and issues, including immigration laws, LGBTQ+ rights and the status of federal agencies in the county, and had even put forward some legislation in anticipation of Trump administration actions.
“I especially want to say congratulations, Madam President. If we can’t say that at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., I am really glad we get to say that at 100 Maryland Ave.,” councilmember Evan Glass (D-At-Large) said, referencing the address of the county council building following Stewart’s election.
Stewart said it is important for the county to remain committed to supporting immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, pregnant individuals and federal workers, and that “all of our actions are guided by a responsibility to the Montgomery County taxpayers.”
“Looking ahead with the new administration coming into the White House, we know our local communities will be uniquely impacted by federal changes,” Stewart said. “We will continue to stay true to our values by advancing the programs and services and institutions that make Montgomery County so great.”
In his outgoing remarks, Friedson said he was proud of the work of the entire council and took time to thank each councilmember for an individual accomplishment from the year he served as president, as well as thanking council staff members by name.
“It has truly been the privilege of my professional life to serve this extraordinary community as council president with such an exceptional group of public servants. Despite the obstacles before us, I have no doubt in our capacity as a county to overcome them,” Friedson said. “If we continue to live by our values and bring out the best in one another, Montgomery County can and must be a beacon of light and hope at a time when it is needed more than ever.”
Proposed amendment for council leadership
While the election itself was quick and friendly, councilmember Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7) announced in her remarks following the election that she and councilmember Natali Fani-González (D-Dist. 6) had filed a proposed amendment to the council’s Rules of Procedure that would require councilmembers holding the posts of president and vice president to step down from those leadership roles if they planned to run for a public office outside of the council.
“[We] are putting forth an amendment to the council as a procedure … as a housekeeping measure to help keep the focus on the good of the body, the good of the whole and making sure we have a backup plan for our backup plan,” Luedtke said. “[We want] to make sure we are taking appropriate steps to keep the body functioning in the best way possible moving forward.”
Glass took time during his remarks following the election to voice his support for the proposed amendment.
“Leading this body is not just about representing individual perspectives or politics It’s about safeguarding the integrity and effectiveness of this body,” Glass said. “Let me be very clear: This is not about limiting anyone’s personal aspirations. It is about planning thoughtfully and responsibly for this body’s future.”
The county government is set to face a shake-up in 2026 after County Executive Marc Elrich (D) was limited to two terms through the Nov. 5 passage of a ballot referendum to amend the county’s charter. Elrich is now ineligible to run for a third term in 2026, leaving his seat open for potential successors. A former councilmember, Elrich has expressed interest in running for a council seat.
Neither Stewart nor Jawando, who the amendment would apply to, have publicly expressed interest in running for county executive, though Jawando has voiced aspirations for higher public office and runs a federal political action committee to fund the campaigns of progressive candidates across the country.
While no councilmembers were referenced by name in relation to the proposed amendment, two sitting councilmembers recently ran for office while serving on the council. Jawando led a short-lived campaign for U.S. Senate, and Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At-Large) ran in the Democratic primary for the Maryland 6th Congressional District seat. Neither of those councilmembers were holding council leadership roles at the time.
In 2021, then-council President Tom Hucker (D-Dist. 5) announced he planned to run for county executive, but did not officially begin his candidacy until after his presidential term ended.
