Montgomery County residents are set to vote today in a crucial election that includes the selection of a new county executive. Polls indicate a closely contested Democratic primary, with current council members Andrew Friedson, Evan Glass, and Will Jawando vying for the nomination.
With over 70% of voters in the county registered as Democrats, the outcome of this primary is expected to significantly influence the general election in November.
In addition to the county executive race, ballots will include candidates for the County Council, Board of Education, sheriff, and circuit court judges. Current county executive Marc Elrich is unable to seek re-election due to a ballot initiative limiting the position to two terms.
Housing policy has emerged as a central theme in the campaign, with Friedson advocating for increased development, while Jawando emphasizes rent stabilization. Glass seeks to balance both perspectives.
Another significant issue is the regulation of data centers. All three candidates express concerns about the environmental impact of these facilities, though they propose different solutions. Glass has called for a six-month moratorium, Jawando supports a two-year pause, and Friedson suggests that data centers should be required to cover their environmental costs.
Two additional Democrats, Mithun Banerjee and Peter James, are also in the running for county executive, alongside Republican candidates Shelly Skolnick and Esther Wells.
David Naimon, president of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, has advised voters that final results may take up to two weeks to be reported. This practice has been standard for over 40 years to ensure all ballots, including those from military and overseas voters, are counted.
Voters are encouraged to confirm their polling locations, as district-specific ballots will only be available at designated precincts. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
In addition to the county executive race, all 11 council seats are up for reelection. Notably, Friedson's bid for county executive has left the District 1 seat open, attracting several contenders, including school board member Julie Yang and Elrich staffer Debbie Spielberg.
In District 3, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman and Rockville City Council member Izola Shaw are among those competing for the Democratic nomination to replace term-limited council member Sidney Katz.
Voters will also decide on new school board members and whether to retain the current sheriff. For those who received mail-in ballots but have not yet returned them, over 60 drop boxes are available throughout the county for ballot submission.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
0 Comments
Log in to join the conversation.