Nearly two weeks after the primary elections, candidates in Montgomery County are still awaiting final results as canvassers continue to process ballots. Among those in limbo is Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, who is vying for the District 3 seat on the County Council, which includes portions of Gaithersburg and Rockville.
As of Friday, Ashman was leading Rockville City Council member Izola “Zola” Shaw by approximately 400 votes. Despite the uncertainty, Ashman is maintaining a positive outlook, attributing his calm demeanor to his experience in politics and the support of his family. “I’m in a decent headspace,” he stated, acknowledging the desire for closure in the race.
David Naimon, president of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, announced that ballot counting would resume on Monday, with an aim to finalize results by Wednesday or Thursday. Ashman noted that he has received numerous congratulatory messages from supporters, even as he reminds them that the counting process is still ongoing. “I would say the odds are in my favor, but I’m not ready to make a claim or anything like that,” he remarked.
Shaw, despite trailing in the vote count, expressed a sense of hope regarding the close nature of the race. “Regardless of the outcome, the fact that this is so close means that we’re gonna have to make sure that we work together, Jud and I,” she said.
In the race for an at-large seat on the County Council, school board member Karla Silvestre is among the 17 candidates. As of Friday, she held the fourth position in votes, leading the fifth-place candidate, Fatmata Barrie, by 950 votes. Silvestre described herself as “cautiously optimistic” and shared her experiences of addressing supporters who mistakenly believed the counting had concluded.
With the general election approaching, Silvestre is keeping a close watch on the State Board of Elections website as she navigates the uncertainty. If her lead remains intact, she plans to celebrate with her supporters before shifting focus to the general election.
Given the Democratic dominance in Montgomery County, the upcoming general election is expected to be less contentious for the candidates.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
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