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Democrat
Andrew Einsmann (Information not submitted)
Paul Geller
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Olney
Date of birth: Age 54
Current occupation and employer:
Full-time community advocate
Past: MCCPTA President (2016-17); MCCPTA vice president of programs and host of MCCPTA Presents TV program on MCPS-TV (2013-16).
Political experience:
Candidate for Montgomery County Board of Education At-Large, 2020
Candidate for Montgomery County Council At-Large, 2017-18
President, MCCPTA, 2016-17
Vice president of programs, MCCPTA, 2013-16
Elected four times by PTA leaders countywide to the Executive Committee of this 43,000-plus member organization. Met monthly with superintendent of MCPS. Served on MCPS Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program budget committees that were responsible for crafting the entire budget presented to the Board of Education and County Council.
Sherwood Cluster coordinator, MCCPTA, 2013-16
Elected three times
President, Belmont Elementary School PTA/PTSA, 2012-16
Elected twice. Set membership records at the county and state levels. Created one of the only elementary school PTSAs east of the Mississippi River. Successfully advocated to the County Council for Promethean Boards in every MCPS classroom and WiFi in every school building.
Vice president, Grades 6 & 7, Rosa M. Parks Middle School PTA, 2014-16
Membership chair, Maryland PTA, 2015-16
Chair, 2006-07, vice chair 2004-2006, D.C. Law Students in Court Program (now known as Rising For Justice).
First non-attorney to serve as either chair or vice chair. Worked with colleagues and Dean Kurt Schmoke of Howard University School of Law to maintain membership in the consortium.
Worked for U.S. Sens. Russell Feingold and Carl Levin; Wisconsin state Rep. Virgil Roberts.
Website: http://www.VoteGeller.com
Email: Paul@VoteGeller.com
Facebook: VoteGeller
Twitter: VoteGeller
Instagram: VoteGeller
Why are you running for this office?
Wanted to be in public service since I was 8 years old after meeting New York Sen. Jacob Javitz and how kindly he treated me. I’m particularly energized to run for the new D7 seat because as parts of former D2 and D5, we felt unheard and neglected by the County Council. I am the voice for the voiceless and the underdog. I listen to needs and concerns all around the county and get results.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
The economic viability of the county. We must maintain sufficient revenue to fund responsible budgets. Montgomery County has weathered the pandemic thanks to our 10% revenue reserve and huge infusions from the federal and state governments. However, the county is in a precarious position of funding so many social programs as to tip the scales from providing for our own most vulnerable to attracting others to move here. We need strategic, coordinated, and truly innovative efforts to grow and attract businesses offering high paying, professional jobs. Doing so will maintain and improve the county jewels of schools, parks, and amenities.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
The 2020 Growth Policy. This massive gutting of the 2016 Subdivision Staging Policy effectively eliminated the much needed Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance as it pertains to schools and roads. Eliminating this will cause more overcrowded schools and further frustrate drivers with more congestion. The streamlined impact tax and fee schedules are now indecipherable, overly complicated and business unfriendly, and reduces revenue received by the county. It should not have been passed during the pandemic when all historical data informing the changes became irrelevant and the public lacked the full ability to engage on this important issue.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As a full-time community advocate and PTA leader since 2012, I led several successful initiatives: working directly with the County Council, increased the MCPS Operating Budget by more than $500 million to date, 600-plus teachers hired; bringing additional CIP funding for schools from Annapolis and increasing county revenue for school construction and affordable housing initiatives; and updating the Subdivision Staging Policy in 2016 so developers increased their share of funding for needed infrastructure (schools/roads), ensuring adequacy of public facilities (especially schools), and requiring staging of new development to keep pace with infrastructure necessitated by the new residential growth of projects/plans.
Sharif Hidayat
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democratic
Where you live: Laytonsville
Date of birth: June 7, 1973
Current occupation and employer:
Airline captain
Retired Montgomery County police officer
Political experience:
No prior political office held.
Website: https://votesharif.com/
Email: Hidayat4district7@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080773843809
Why are you running for this office?
My public service career began over 20 years ago when I graduated from the police academy. As a community services officer, I was very successful in solving quality of life issues. I was successful because I listened to people, researched the law, built coalitions, sought out advise from subject matter experts, often thought outside of the box and was relentless in finding a solution. My experience with working with so many people from so many different walks of life to resolve problems makes me the most qualified person to represent the residents and business of District 7. I love my community and want to see it succeed. That is why I am running for office.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Public Safety is the most important issue facing us today. We continue to see an increase in violent crime with no end in sight. Our current county executive and current County Council have defacto become criminal enablers. They do not support law enforcement and they insist on turning criminals into victims. The solution is to support our brave men and women in uniform that serve and protect us every day. The solution is to get school resource officers back in our schools. The solution is to bring back PAL (Police Athletic League), especially in minority communities. I have first-hand knowledge and experience that PAL works. It is coming back when we win on July 19. I am the only candidate that has the experience, knowledge and proven track record of success on this issue.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
One major issue that has been handled poorly is the lack of oversight on fraud, waste and abuse of government programs. Especially, in affordable housing programs. As a police officer, I witnessed and arrested several clients of the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County for various types of crimes. I would not have ignored this issue as a councilman because it has affected so many lives when it went unaddressed. The best way to address this issue is to ensure that those who are abusing the programs are removed from the program and not just transferred to another location in the County which HOC notoriously has done. There are too many people on the waiting list trying to get affordable housing but are being denied because HOC doesn’t want to terminate clients for criminal conduct. As a councilman, I will submit legislation that will address the abuse and bring accountability to those housing programs.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
I have over 20 years of public service working as a community services officer. That position was all about solving problems in the community. I enjoyed every minute of it. The part I enjoyed the most was that I had the ability to work with everyone. I worked with faith leaders, civic associations, non-profit organizations, government officials, HOA’s, property managers, business leaders, rich people, poor people, people from all walks of life to address quality of life issues. I believe that those experiences, those relationships of trust within the community is what qualifies me as the best candidate to represent District 7 on the County Council. I have a track record of success because I listen, take notes, research the law, and most importantly know how to execute. I did it for over twenty years as a police officer and am more than ready to take that knowledge and experience to the County Council representing the residents and businesses of District 7.
Dawn Luedtke
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Ashton
Date of birth: Dec. 21, 1973
Current occupation and employer:
Assistant attorney general – Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Political experience:
I am an appointed public official in my role with the Office of the Attorney General. I have worked at OAG since 2013. I have not previously run for public office.
Website: https://www.dawnluedtke.com
Email: dawn@dawnluedtke.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennDawn96/
Twitter: @PennDawn96
Instagram: @Dawn_Luedtke
Why are you running for this office?
I have been engaged with advocacy and leadership since I was a teenager in student government and interning for Congressman Robert E. Andrews. I’ve devoted the last nine years to public service at OAG working with implementing and shaping policy in education, public safety, and public health across the State and want to focus on bringing my skills to my local community as a member of the council. District 7 needs someone with my level of experience in advocacy across broad policy areas to ensure it has the voice that it has been missing for far too long.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Inefficiency. Regardless of policy area (education, business development, constituent services, public safety, etc.) county operations have unnecessary backlogs and complications that are not in the best interest of residents, complicate matters for the staff performing those functions, and result in increased time to delivery for services. All policy areas will be positively impacted if we can focus on government operations, gaps, expenditures vs. yield and accountability. We also need to examine redundancy of functions and applications. I know that there are measures being taken presently to modernize systems, but we are far behind technologically. Without improvement in that area, the most brilliant policy ideas that can be put into legislation and passed cannot be operationalized effectively.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
I believe that the knee jerk reaction to removing SROs from the schools was done in great haste, without actual knowledge of the training they receive, the state’s laws and programs for SROs and school security employees, and without engaging in compliance checking on whether MCPS’s school security employees (non-law enforcement) and other MCPS personnel required to be trained had, in fact, received the training. If the goal was reduction of the presence of law enforcement officers within schools each building and population has its own characteristics and needs. Moreover, the students were returning to schools after missing over a year of in-person instruction and would have higher social emotional needs. Adolescent depression and anxiety often manifests in aggression. The pulling of SROs without assessing these needs and without including additional resources from day one of the 2022-2023 school year was a grave error. I would have left SROs while increasing psych support.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
My knowledge of law and policy as well as with working with public governmental bodies throughout my career provides me with outstanding preparation for holding this office. In private practice and in other employment I have worked as a finance director and auditor, with IT, and with multiple expert witnesses and content areas. In my public service, my content areas of expertise include education, public safety (law enforcement/fire/EMS/dispatch/emergency management), public health (certification in health law, policy work in mental & behavioral health, tobacco control & prevention work, elder law), hate bias and hate crimes, cybersecurity and cyber threats, and government operations. My work has been recognized with speaking engagements on these topics both within Maryland and across the country through programs offered by the National Association of Attorneys General, OJJDP at DOJ, and on litigation matters.
Jacqueline Manger
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Olney
Date of birth: Oct. 4
Current occupation and employer:
Managing director, Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets, and instructor of applied entrepreneurship, RH Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. Prior to that, CEO of fintech startup New Wallet and COO/CFO in multiple registered investment management firms.
Political experience:
I have never held or run for elected office. Appointed positions: chair, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County; member. Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board.
Website: www.mangerformontgomery.com
Email: info@mangerformontgomery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Manger4Montgomery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manger4montgomery/
Why are you running for this office?
The District 7 seat is an opportunity to serve my community beyond boards and commissions. I’m a pragmatic progressive who understands that business is vital for a successful community – we need that voice to move our county forward. We are a wealthy county but not everyone is thriving. I want everyone to have opportunity created by a strong education, to feel safe in their communities, and I know I can make things happen.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Everything we value: strong and safe schools, protecting the environment, a multimodal transportation infrastructure – all need resources. We must grow the economy – expand jobs. Economic development goals must be measurable and require accountability. Our county services must improve; streamlining permitting and inspection and an increased investment in small business navigators are a start. We should leverage county buying power to stimulate inclusive economic growth. We should invest in innovation and microbusiness development as a means to solve problems and deliver solutions to our communities. We must address transportation and housing as we work to grow jobs – we require holistic solutions.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
School Safety – I would have listened to the school principals who overwhelmingly wanted to keep school resource officers and I would have kept the program we had in place. Acknowledging those students who do not feel safe with law enforcement in the schools, I would have addressed this fear through outreach to vulnerable communities. I would have examined officer selection and training and would have worked to augment their presence with counselors and increased investment in school-based wellness centers.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
Formerly a business executive and small business owner, I’m currently a university leader and entrepreneurship instructor. I’ve been a civic leader in arts and education in the county for decades: chair of the Arts and Humanities Council when we transformed grant making; helped Olney Theatre through the pandemic as board member and executive committee member. I’ve successfully advocated to bring funding into county non-profits and already have experience with the county’s budgeting process. My unique combination of private and public sector expertise and success building partnerships to deliver programs prepares me to serve and will be vital to the council.
Paul Schwartz
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Brookeville
Date of birth: 05-18-53
Current occupation and employer:
Retired – Columnist for the Montgomery County Sentinel
Federal manager for the United States Customs Service, the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA
Political experience:
I was precluded from running for elective office while in government service due to the restrictions imposed on me by the Hatch Act (I am not Ivanka Trump). This is my first run for elective office. I did cover politics including both the White House and Congress as the political columnist for the Montgomery County Sentinel for several years.
Website: https://paulkschwartz.com
Email: schwartzpaul02@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/paul.schwartz.79025
Twitter: @PKSpaul
Instagram: schwartzpaul02
Why are you running for this office?
My experience at the federal, state and local levels of government will be a great asset to the County Council. As a fed for over 30 years, I served as Director of Trade Enforcement for U.S. Customs, moved to DHS to help integrate the more than 26 disparate federal agencies Then, after Katrina, I joined FEMA where it was my responsibility to work w/state and local governments to identify vulnerabilities before the next major event. Achieving “buy-in” is a handy skill. My experience in developing legislation AND the programs designed to implement that legislation is invaluable. As NARFE’s Chair of its State Leg Committee, I worked to achieve passage of the Retirement Tax Reduction Act of 2022
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
Tax relief is an overriding issue that directly impacts every other critical issue from climate change, to safety, to housing, to transportation, to education. to job creation, and every other critical issue. The reason is because in order to address all of these critically important issues, we must expand the tax base, not reduce it by driving people and businesses from Maryland due to high cost of living. Attracting more businesses results in more jobs, more jobs results in more tax revenue. The same goes for enabling retirees to retire in place. Moneywise Magazine and Bankrate ranked MD as the worst place in which to retire. When retirees move to tax friendly states like Pennsylvania, they take their tax money, buying power and community service with them. We must address the continued flow of business to Virginia to make Maryland, specifically Montgomery County, more attractive, especially small businesses. We must streamline the permitting process, institute turnaround times, etc.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
The response to the pandemic failed in two key areas. One was the insufficient access to virtual learning for all students. It should not have taken a pandemic to reveal that insufficiency. Disasters, especially as we continue to face the threats brought about by climate change, will be a constant and we should have been better prepared to have the option of virtual learning for all students of all income levels. In addition, the communication of healthcare related notifications also failed to reach all impacted residents and areas. We have to work with trusted community leaders to help in the effort to reach all community members regarding healthcare locations and the need for healthcare treatments. We need to build stronger relationships with the private sector to supplement the public sector regarding needed resources during emergency circumstances. In the case of the pandemic, this could have included access to both communications and virtual capabilities.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As mentioned, my experience at the federal, state and local levels of government will be an asset to the County Council. As a fed for more than 30 yrs, I served as Director of Trade Enforcement for U.S. Customs, moved to Department of Homeland Security to help integrate the more than 26 disparate federal agencies, and, after Katrina, joined FEMA where it was my responsibility to work with state and local gov’ts to identify vulnerabilities before the next disaster. Achieving “buy-in” is a handy skill. My experience in developing legislation AND the programs designed to implement that legislation will be a great asset. I get things done as evidenced by the recent passage of the Retirement Tax Reduction Act after years of relentlessly advocating for tax relief as the Chair of NARFE’s State Legislation Committee. The co-sponsors of that bill reached out to me to help develop the bipartisan legislation. I was also a weekly columnist for the Sentinel where I wrote about many local issues.
Ben Wikner
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Democrat
Where you live: Montgomery Village
Date of birth: Jan. 15, 1971
Current occupation and employer:
Pastor of Cross Community Church and executive director of The Equity Center (local non-profit)
Political experience:
Ben is a first-time candidate for public office.
Website: https://www.benwikner.com/
Email: benwiknerforcountycouncil@gmail.com
Facebook: @benwiknerforcouncil
Twitter: @benforcouncil
Instagram: @benforcouncil
Why are you running for this office?
When the question was put to me by local community leaders asking if I would consider running for council, I decided to step forward because I believe we can and must do better for Montgomery County, and especially for the people of upcounty and District 7. Government is supposed to serve the people. But what we often face is complexity and bureaucracy that keeps people uninformed and disconnected. I believe we can and must do better in order to improve and access affordable housing, quality healthcare and education, and strengthen the job market. I am asking for your vote so I can help lead the change and bring the necessary improvements to local government to better serve the people.
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
The residents of Montgomery Village, Derwood, Olney, Damascus and the other parts of District 7 have not been well-represented or served. Too many critical issues have been neglected and overlooked. As a council member, I will work hard to represent the people of the district. One of the first things I will do is to create a People’s Committee for District 7 that will allow me to be deeply connected to the interests and concerns of the people and will set the tone for engaged leadership with the public. I will also work to eliminate redundancy in government, improve organizational communication, and identify ineffective systems that need to be changed. All of this will free up tax-payer funds to go towards the needs of the people, rather than feed and grow the bureaucracy. I will work hard to simplify and shrink government bureaucracy and hold County government accountable so that our tax revenue and programs accomplishes the intended purpose.
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
An egregious example of the lack of vision and ineffectiveness of recent county leadership is the handling of the Crabbs Branch/Shady Grove Bus Depot. To quote one county official who I recently spoke to about this matter, “This is a great example of the dysfunction of the county.” It is inexcusable that the county cannot find an appropriate solution and suitable location in the 324K acres that make up Montgomery County. The Shady Grove Master Plan of 2006 had much to commend, including plans that gave Derwood residents optimism for the future of this space. But it is nearing two decades and the bus depot remains without change or solution. We can and must do better. As a council member, I will work to better represent the people of Derwood and prioritize strategic spaces like this (as well as Lakeforest) so that they fulfill the potential for new jobs, economic development, and community improvement. I will work with the County and the Planning Board to get this done without delay.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As a pastor of a local church and director of a high-impact, local non-profit, I have been deeply engaged in public service for the past 22 years. This has allowed me to listen to the concerns of the people while getting things done for the community. Since the start of the pandemic, I have led the effort to distribute over 2 million pounds of food to more than 10,000 upcounty residents and have brought in more than $1 million in grants and resources to help sustain struggling families. Recognizing my track record of getting things done, county officials came to me in 2020 to assist in meeting needs in Montgomery Village and we started the Village Resource Center at Lakeforest. In working with county government I know who to go to and how to move forward the wheels of government bureaucracy. I have seen first-hand the areas that need improvement, which will allow me to more quickly be able to bring about necessary change. In addition to this, my wife, Erin, and I have raised seven children in the county.
Republican
Harold Maldonado
What office are you running for? County Council
Political party: Republican
Where you live: Derwood
Date of birth: Nov. 22, 1973
Current occupation and employer:
Senior analyst at FINRA.
Political experience:
15 years as a political analyst
Website: https://haroldmaldonado.com
Email: maldonado4council@usa.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HaroldM4Council
Twitter: @HaroldM4Council
Why are you running for this office?
As an economist with over 25 years of experience working on economic development issues and home and abroad, I have the technical and on-the-ground wherewithal to present real solutions to fix our broken economy, our broken education system, and reduce the rising crime that has been growing exponentially. I have been a public servant and know the responsibility this poses on personal accountability, responsibility, and on the public policies that the people I represent hold as unnegotiable issues. The council has lost the trust of the people and they’re not accountable to anybody. It’s time for a change!
What is the most important issue in this race and what specific plans do you have to address it?
To say there’s one overarching issue in our county is to be shortsighted. I would say we have three main issues; economy, education, and public safety, which are interdependent of one another. For the economy, I plan to focus on improving the investment environment to foster growth and establishment of small- and medium-sized businesses. For education, I plan to make the Board of Education and teachers independent from teacher unions. For security, I plan to increase the budget for the police department and increase the ratio of a police officer per 1,000 population to at least five (current national average is 2.4).
What is one major issue that has been handled poorly and what would you have done differently?
The council has handled education poorly. Reading and math scores have plummeted, once top schools in the country, are now in disarray and decay. Closing schools through unnecessary remote learning and harmful mask mandates have caused irreparable damage to our kids’ learning, social, health, and overall development. What the council has done with our kids is criminal. Our kids are learning about hate, racial animosity, and inappropriate sexual issues at a time when they should be learning about improving reading comprehension and math skills. The future of our county is in jeopardy as the level of education is declining.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
As an economist with over 25 years of experience working on economic development issues and home and abroad, I have the technical and on the ground wherewithal to present real solutions to fix our broken economy, our broken education system, and reduce the rising crime that has been growing exponentially. I have been a public servant and know the responsibility this poses on personal accountability, responsibility, and on the public policies that the people I represent hold as unnegotiable issues. The council has lost the trust of the people and they’re not accountable to anybody. It’s time for a change!
