City Council and Mayor

The city of Gaithersburg is a professional city manager with oversight by an elected city council and mayor.

Posted by Keith on July 31, 2021 8:03AM

As of July 6, 2021, these are the elected officials who represent our interests on the city council and as mayor.

Mayor Jud Ashman

Jud Ashman has been mayor since 2014. He’s originally from Miami, Florida, but it sounds like he’s lived in Gaithersburg for well over one hundred years. Well, maybe not that long, but long enough to raise some kids here. Mr. Ashman lives off of Quince Orchard near NIST. He’s up for reelection this year – November 2, 2021.

Mr. Ashman has served in Gaithersburg city government for about 12 years – as mayor and a city council member. Professionally, he owns a web design business called Web Mobile Image located near the intersection of Walkers Choice Road and Montgomery Village Avenue. According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Ashman started the mobile web design business in 2012. Prior to building mobile websites, Mr. Ashman was the president The Elegant Envelope for 25 years. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was president of the Elegant Envelope until May 2020. The Elegant Envelope was located in the same office as Ashman’s current business – Web Mobile Image.

Council Vice President Michael A. Sesma

Michael Sesma has been on the Gaithersburg city council since 2005. Dr. Sesma is retiring from the city council this year - 2021.

Council Member Neil Harris – Kentlands

Neil Harris was "selected" to join the city council in 2014. I wasn’t living here at the time, I wonder what that "selection" process looked like? A Kentlands resident, Harris was elected to full term in 2015 and reelected in 2019.

Council Member Laurie–Anne Sayles

Laurie-Anne Sayles was elected in 2017. Sayles is the first black person elected to the Gaithersburg city council. She works at the Food and Drug Administration. Sayles holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Sayles is not running for reelection this year - 2021. She's pursuing a seat on the Montgomery County Council.

Council Member Ryan Spiegel

Ryan Spiegel has been on the city council since 2007 - 14 years ago. When he's not carrying out the people's business on the city council, Mr. Spiegel can be found practicing law. He reps Washingtonian Woods.

Council Member Robert T. Wu

Robert Wu has served on the city council since 2015.