This fall, there are two open Gaithersburg city council seats and the mayor is running for reelection.
The candidates
Mayor
Incumbent Mayor Jud Ashman
Stephen Escobar
City Council
Dave Belgard
Philip Cook
Lisa Henderson
Yamil Hernández
Jim McNulty
For those candidates who I have been able to make contact with, here are their Q&A responses.
Candidates responses are listed alphabetically.
If more candidates respond, they will be posted here. Candidates can send their answers to gburg@1200tech.com.
Why are you qualified to be on the Gaithersburg city council?
Jud Ashman (Mayor)
Experience: I've been active in local public affairs in Gaithersburg for more than 20 years. This is my 14th year in elected office – my seventh as Mayor after serving the previous seven on the City Council. I know our neighborhoods, I know our successes, and I know our challenges. I know our organization – inside and out. I have developed deep ties with other leaders throughout the region. I love serving our community and I know how to get things done. Record of success and good governance: During my service, Gaithersburg has maintained the lowest tax rate for any of Maryland's largest municipalities with only one property tax hike in the past 50 years. We are debt-free. And citizen surveys reflect the overwhelming satisfaction of our residents with the level of service we provide. Those are strong fundamentals.
We've also made enormous strides in building our local economy, adding thousands of local job opportunities, improving the health of our environment, adding to our transportation network, increasing our stock of affordable housing options, enhancing the safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods, and serving those in need during the pandemic.
Good fit for the role: In our system of government, the Mayor is primarily a facilitator. I've often compared it to being the conductor of the orchestra, where it's the Mayor's job to lead the symphony while at the same time making sure that each of the players and sections is heard and has a chance to contribute to the overall harmony. My personality is a great fit for this role. I am the first to acknowledge that our most substantial achievements are collective, not individual. And that leadership begins with listening. That's the way I lead our City, and I hope it makes our residents proud.
Dave Belgard
Relevant Experience: Since 2015 I have served our city as a member of several committees. First as a member of a committee to design a new park for the city and later as a member of both the Community Advisory and Police Advisory committees. I've been a regular attendee at City Council meetings and advocated on a number of important issues including the Lakeforest master plan and the CCOC.
I've managed three, and started two, small businesses during my career and I am very familiar with how hard a person must work to make a small business successful. Over the last 20+ years I have worked with CEO's, presented to boards of major companies, and run multimillion dollar international projects.
I look forward to using my leadership skills, business background, city service experience to benefit Gaithersburg. As a member of the City Council, my experience and expertise will help the city make decisions that benefit our communities and make good economic sense.
Knowledge of the area: I've lived in Montgomery county for over 30 years, and I've been a Gaithersburg resident since 2010. One of the things I love most about Gaithersburg is how it has a ‘small town' feel while also being a growing and energetic city. Gaithersburg has a true sense of community that I have found is often missing in other cities.
Background: I am the first generation of my family to not be born into poverty. From my father and my grandfather, I know about the sacrifices that families must make when they do not have economic opportunity. Because of my family's sacrifices I was able to grow up middle-class and attend college. I don't take those benefits and privileges for granted though. My family, and my history, helps me to see both sides of the economic fence, and because of that, I am committed to ensuring that there is opportunity for all of our residents.
Philip Cook
I believe that anyone who genuinely wants to improve the city of Gaithersburg and work hard for its residents is qualified to run for city council. Many times good people are discouraged from running and don't run because of the artificial guardrails that are put up. I have experience working in accounting for the last seven years and I also have experience in working class jobs. I've worked in construction, in landscaping, and as a server. I can see both sides of the coin. I will be able to crunch numbers and at the same time have compassion and understanding for our residents who are in need of advocacy.
Lisa Henderson
As a leader in the Montgomery County Government, I understand local government, the complexity of government fiscal structures, and the financial challenges of serving both the public needs and driving economic growth. As a designer and builder of large, enterprise IT systems that serve the public safety and criminal justice entities of the County, I have deep knowledge of the legislative process and the tools that can assist in maintaining safe communities. Additionally, I work as a government Contract Administrator and understand the benefits and challenges of government contracting and negotiating to maintain fiscally responsible use of government funds.
Yamil Hernández
I believe an effective City Council member needs to be able to listen and learn from differing voices in our community in order to effectively represent all constituents, including residents and businesses. There are many people that need to come together, including the four other Councilmembers, the Mayor, and City staff, in order to successfully tackle the challenges faced by the City. My background, skills, temperament, approach, and experience on diverse HOA/Boards make me well suited for this role.
Throughout my life, I have successfully championed many ideas, from small to large, and advocated for responsible solutions to a wide variety of problems encountered. When serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I was activated to the BP Oil Spill and worked tirelessly, sometimes on as little as three hours of sleep, towards the response and clean up efforts. I learned that sometimes in life there aren't "best options" to choose from, and one has to pick from the least worst. That is part of leadership.
Since then, I co-founded and run a thriving local Life Sciences Company, serve on the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board, am a member of the City's Animal Control Board, and currently serve as Chair of the Kentlands HOA. Through all of these experiences, past and present, I've learned the value of collaboration and building up others to achieve common goals. My established track record of diverse experiences, accomplishments, and successes make me well suited to take on the variety of challenges that our community will face.
Jim McNulty
A significant part of being a councilmember is being able to manage competing interests for the benefit of the city, while managing and allocating taxpayer funds appropriately. One of the unique things about how the Gaithersburg City Government is set up is that the City Council is made up of five part-time, non partisan councilmembers who are still expected to have full-time jobs out in the community. I'm not a politician, but I've had a number of experiences that I believe allow me to bring a unique insight if elected. Having served on multiple boards, including the Saybrooke HOA, the St. Martin's School Advisory Board & Finance Committee, and the Board of Governors of the Washington, DC NATAS Chapter (the people who award the local Emmys), I have experience weighing multiple points of view and working to create a consensus on how best to proceed, all the while being mindful of the fiduciary responsibility that comes with managing other people's money. And as someone who has worked in marketing for over 20 years, I also have experience communicating complex messages, which can help our city improve it's outreach efforts.
Why do you want to be on the city council?
Jud Ashman
Every morning, I wake up feeling both proud and mindful of the responsibility I've been given to serve you as Mayor. I am running to continue to serve you as Mayor for a number of reasons:
Our City is in great shape. Under my leadership – and in partnership with my City Council colleagues and our staff – I believe that Gaithersburg is moving in the right direction – and I intend to continue that. We need tested leadership at the helm. I believe that the experience and the big-picture perspective I've developed over more than two decades of involvement in City affairs – on matters that range from every area of municipal governance to every neighborhood in our City – continue to serve Gaithersburg well.
I know that there are tough decisions ahead of us, and I believe that my skill set and personality remain a good fit to help move us forward and carry on the traditions and best practices that have served us all so well.
The residents and community stakeholders deserve a Mayor who enjoys serving them. I dare say there is nobody who enjoys serving you and our community more than I do!
Dave Belgard
Growing up I was taught that it is our responsibility to help others when we can I've volunteered for nonprofits, I've worked on campaigns to help elect leaders I believed were good for our people, and I've served on city committees. Now though, I have reached a point in my life where I have the time and flexibility to do more. There are nearly 70,000 residents in our city and if I can help make their lives just a small bit better – then I feel I will have done a great deal of good in this life.
Philip Cook
I want to be on the council because I believe that every day people deserve a voice in government. I will actively interact with the public to make sure that their needs are being met and that their voices are being heard. I think that it is important to have a diversity of backgrounds on the city council, that way we can attack an issue from a variety of angles and take into account multiple perspectives.
Lisa Henderson
I am a Montgomery County native and have lived in Gaithersburg for over 25 years. I have a diverse background of public and private experiences at the senior and global levels and want to share my broad skills and capabilities to build on the strengths of the city that I love and have called home for so long. I no longer want to work behind the scenes, but in partnership, out front, with the diverse community of Gaithersburg, where we will embrace our limitless possibilities, and focus on achieving success together.
Yamil Hernández
Personally, I believe a variety of life experience will make a more insightful and in tune City Councilmember. I come from very modest means. When I was in elementary school, my parents moved our family from Puerto Rico to Texas in order to provide better opportunities for my two brothers and me. Both my parents struggled to make ends meet and I remember how our family relied on Food Assistance Programs in order to put food on our table. My father worked as a minister, and my mom learned English to teach it in our local community. Having moved to the mainland U.S. not speaking any English, prior to starting school that fall, I spent most of my days learning to speak English by watching Sesame Street (Super Grover is still my favorite). Throughout all these hardships, hard work and service to others have been important values in our family, and were instilled in me from a very early age.
Gaithersburg is a diverse City, with people from different backgrounds and walks of life (e.g., in a span of 24hrs we had a great community event at Lakeforest Mall with Summer of Peace and then we had an outdoor classical music event in the Kentlands with Musica Viva). As I've gotten older, I realized that folks like myself who came from modest means and then later in life reach a certain level of success, can sometimes think in one of two ways:
- I made it, see it wasnt so hard, everyone should be able to do it! or
- I was fortunate, lucky, helped by my community of mentors, friends, family, teachers, and others who > are a key part of my success.
I firmly believe in the latter, #2. Without the support of all those around me, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
By serving on the Council, I can help improve the quality of life for Gaithersburg residents. We are home to aspiring business owners, students, entrepreneurs, and families. If elected to the City Council, I will use my skills, abilities, and experiences to serve and advocate for our community.
Jim McNulty
I'm excited for the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of our residents. Ten years ago, I was taken hostage at Discovery Channel in Silver Spring, and my worldview was forever changed. Since then, I've tried to use my second chance to make a real difference in the community. As a problem solver, I truly believe that I can bring people together to create opportunities for the people of Gaithersburg. As a resident of the east side of Gaitherburg, I can bring a unique insight to the issues affecting Lakeforest Mall and Olde Towne. We've all seen the ugliness that politics can bring out in people. It's my hope that if more people get involved for the right reasons, and go about things the right way, we can change the dynamic for the better. So I'm modeling that behavior, raising my hand and saying I'm willing to put myself out there to work to make my community better.
If the city council could only work on one issue, what would you choose?
Jud Ashman
My top priority for the City is to foster redevelopment and revitalization on the east side of the City (i.e., Olde Towne, Lakeforest, 355 corridor). While we've made some important progress, having worked on these matters for more than a decade, it is quite apparent that a lot of the things that need to happen are outside of our control. As Mayor, I pledge to continue to take every opportunity to move the ball forward for revitalizing the east side of the City.
Dave Belgard
The pandemic has had a profound effect on our city just as it has the country. Before the pandemic we had a 9.4% poverty rate and a number of small businesses, especially on the East side of Gaithersburg were faltering. My top priority would be to strengthen our small business sector and build well paying jobs to help employ all of our residents.
Philip Cook
This is a tough question because there is so much I want to do. But if I had to pick one it would be the redevelopment of Old Town. There is so we can do here and I can't wait to get started.
Lisa Henderson
I am a Montgomery County native and have lived in Gaithersburg for over 25 years. I have a diverse background of public and private experiences at the senior and global levels and want to share my broad skills and capabilities to build on the strengths of the city that I love and have called home for so long. I no longer want to work behind the scenes, but in partnership, out front, with the diverse community of Gaithersburg, where we will embrace our limitless possibilities, and focus on achieving success together.
Yamil Hernández
There is a quote from Mike Tyson that applies here. "Everyone has a plan, until they are punched in the mouth". As I look back at my scholastic, military, and job history, a common thread emerges. You rarely get to pick "one" big idea, or "one" big break, or only "one issue". Further still, sometimes, without notice, the "issues" pick you. In order to be successful in this environment, an effective City Council member needs to prioritize and balance the many competing requests they face, while ensuring residents are heard on issues.
I don't think it likely that the Gaithersburg local government will only face a single issue. However, we can and should set priorities, themes, and focus areas. Improving services, increasing transparency, and enhancing sustainability are key parts of my campaign. In the short-term our City will still grapple with recovery and resiliency from the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are lucky that the pandemic's economic impacts on our City were not worse, it is nevertheless imperative that we reinvest in business owners and encourage new employers to choose Gaithersburg, while keeping our property tax rates in check. Long-term, as our City continues to grow, our local government should be advocating for responsible and sustainable solutions, including accounting for environmental, equitable, and modernized services.
Jim McNulty
Recovering from this pandemic has to be our first priority. It starts with making sure all our residents get vaccinated to protect each other from this deadly disease. None of us wants to go back to 2020. The next step is helping our small businesses recover. Nationally, we saw between 10-17% of restaurants close forever. Both Main Street Kentlands and Olde Town have vacancy rates over 5%. We should expand our Economic Development toolkit grants to help more of our businesses impacted by the pandemic.
What's your vision for the Lakeforest Mall property?
Jud Ashman
This is a big question and I'm going to try to answer it briefly. But I invite anyone with further questions to reach out to me directly.
I am supportive of the Master Plan update that will be coming before us for a vote on August 16. I envision a fully revamped, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use (retail, restaurant, office, residential) community with significant, distinctive, and attractive public spaces.
That said, the situation at Lakeforest is complicated. If you're interested in learning about why that's the case, I explain it pretty fully on my website.
Dave Belgard
That's an important question and I have spent a good deal of time writing and talking about it. In May I submitted eight pages of testimony and suggestions to the city, many of which made their way into the final master plan. You can read the details of that testimony here.
I have consistently said that "the reimagining of the Lakeforest Mall property represents Gaithersburg's most significant opportunity to affect the feeling and direction of our city for the next several decades." While we now have a master plan approved, it is future councils that will be responsible for implementing the plan well. I am running on a platform that focuses on: diverse job creation, increasing housing availability, and making the environment a key focus of everything we do. As a City Councilmember I will ensure that the Lakeforest Mall site rebuilding encompasses each of those values.
Philip Cook
My vision for the Lakeforest Mall property is a mixed use facility that would look similar to Rockville Town Center. A place with housing, restaurants, and entertainment. A fun place for people to come out and enjoy themselves. Just like in the movie Field of Dreams "if you built it they will come." With that being said, this is a very complex situation given that fact that there are multiple owners that all need to agree on the next steps moving forward.
Lisa Henderson
In my youth, the Lakeforest Mall property was a community gathering place. It was where I learned to ice skate and where my parents felt safe dropping me off to go shopping with friends. In high school, it was where I would meet with friends before the big rival football game to make sure we were seen as calm and confident about a hopeful upcoming win. My vision is through variable housing, affordable and market-rate, through more green space than parking lots, through strong businesses that provide for a teenager to work and save for college, or maybe a new mom to transition back into the workforce, that the Lakeforest Mall property becomes a 21st-century community gathering place, to include smart technologies, where residents, from youth to seniors, can gather and engage through the use devices like community smart boards to complete a group homework assignment or a community digital art project. Visions are good, but beyond the vision, I would work with the Mayor and Councilmembers to continue the great efforts of communicating the progress and changes of the Lakeforest Redevelopment Project to the residents and further drive community involvement so that the Lakeforest property becomes a place not built for us, but by us all.
Yamil Hernández
Developers and landowners have brought and will bring plans for the Lakeforest Mall area to the City Council. It is the Council's job to ensure those plans meet the goals and objectives of the City, balance the equities of multiple parties, and foster economic growth for the surrounding neighborhoods. The surveys conducted recently by the City show that our community residents want to see the mall transformed into a space that people throughout the City can enjoy, either as a mixed-use redevelopment or as a transformative entertainment and retail hub. Affordable/attainable housing must also be in the mix. If elected, I'll continue the work of the current Council and listen to the suggestions of our residents, and research the options presented, in order to make well-informed decisions.
Jim McNulty
The redevelopment of Lakeforest will have a profound impact on the future of our city for decades to come. As the Chair of the Olde Towne Advisory Committee, we hosted one of the city focus groups on the future of the property, and I was pleased to see many of the ideas discussed by our group reflected in the proposed new Master Plan for the property. I remain convinced that Lakeforest needs a unique draw, something that sets it apart from our other business centers, such as the Kentlands, Rio, Crown, Olde Towne, Spectrum or even the 355 corridor. The new proposed Master Plan currently calls for 35% public space, and it will be important that the property owners consolidate that space into something that can truly be an asset to the community, not simply green space scattered throughout the property. The new Master Plan, when approved, will only be a guide. We need a voice on the council that actually lives near the mall and understands the impact that the Mall property currently has on the surrounding communities, and what dominoes would fall based on any redevelopment plans that are submitted, and ask the right questions. Like what would any new housing developments do to the already overcrowded school situation? What improvements will the city and state need to do to the surrounding roads and transit options to accommodate the influx of people? We need to take a holistic approach to Lakeforest so we can maximize the opportunity that Lakeforest presents.
What's your vision for downtown Gaithersburg (the real downtown Summit and E. Diamond)?
Jud Ashman
My vision for Olde Towne Gaithersburg has remained consistent from day one: we need to take every opportunity we can to revitalize and enhance the historic heart of our City. I'd like to see it thriving with restaurants and retail, pedestrians and bikers, parks and recreational opportunities, and an overall level of enjoyment that attracts people from all over the region.
As with Lakeforest and our 355 corridor, this is complicated because the City does not own or control the properties that most need redeveloping. The economic circumstances of the area haven't spurred some of the property owners to sell or make changes. And the narrower streets setbacks in the area present some significant constraints as well.
That said, we continue to make progress in Olde Towne. We've implemented a robust set of economic incentives for redevelopment. And other projects on the east side of our City, such as the growing community at Spectrum and (hopefully) a relatively near-term redevelopment of the Lakeforest property, could provide a further catalyst for moving the ball forward in Olde Towne.
Dave Belgard
It is important that we spend our time, money, and focus on reviving and building up the East side of Gaithersburg. Working to draw in new small businesses, and supporting the ones we already have, will have numerous effects that will help with the revitalization. Olde Towne is in a unique position as it is in both and enterprise zone and an opportunity zone. These zones, new incentives or support systems that the city may implement, and the consistent focus and support of the City Council and staff will help support and build the businesses that support and > build Olde Towne and the East side.
Philip Cook
I'm in favor of the Old Town Master Plan. My vision for downtown is a walkable community with many jobs, small businesses, and a thriving economy. There is a lot of empty real estate in old town and I think we should incentivize small businesses to move there. While the redevelopment is important we should maintain the old town feel as much as possible and preserve the beautiful historical buildings that we have here.
Lisa Henderson
I have always loved the old-time, mom-and-pop store flavor, like Victor Litz and Plum's Barbershop, of the real downtown Gaithersburg and I would support efforts to maintain and grow small/family-owned business while also being innovative in restoring some of the landmarks like the former Olde Towne Tavern currently known as Growlers.
Yamil Hernández
While developers and landowners bring plans to the Council, the Council has to ensure those plans are thoroughly vetted, balance the equities of conflicting parties, foster economic growth, and will actually come to fruition. The Council should also guide, incentivize, suggest, and help developers towards these goals.
What I am not going to do is present a "10 Point Plan" that, like a magic wand, will pretend to solve all current ills. The issues are complex, and deserve careful consideration, learning, dialogue, diligence, and perseverance.
In my "Day Job", I spend a lot of time and effort performing due diligence on possible partnerships, acquisitions, and related initiatives. I know what it takes to thoroughly investigate, understand opportunities, and ensure their viability. Downtown Gaithersburg, like all parts of Gaithersburg, will have my focused attention and energy so that it may reach its full potential.
Jim McNulty
I joined the Olde Towne Advisory Committee because as someone who lives in a nearby neighborhood, I'm invested in the success of Olde Towne. I miss Growlers (when it was good), and I'm frustrated its new owners haven't opened it back up to the public. La Casita is a huge success, and Don Jorge's is a regular dinner spot for my family, among other great spots. We have seen some other success stories in Olde Towne (the city highlights them here), but there remains work to be done. Olde Towne's proximity to the MARC train makes it an attractive commuter option; but service needs to be expanded to enable it to work for the business community there, not just the residents working downcounty or in the District. We must be careful, though, that any new development proposals are within the proper scale in relation to surrounding neighborhoods. As both a Federal Opportunity Zone and State Enterprise Zone, incentives exist to support efforts to reimagine what Olde Towne can be, but we must work to ensure that we preserve Gaithersburg's rich history. Once repairs are done to the Park Plaza fountain, and the development on the Fishman site (between Park Plaza and Granary Row) is completed, my hope is that we have a destination where people want to come and spend time, exploring the various shops and restaurants and enjoying Gaithersburg's true downtown.
All candidate responses are posted unedited.
- Jud Ashman Candidate Statement votejud.com
- David Belgard Candidate Statement davebelgard.com
- Philip Cook Candidate Statement votephilipcook.org
- Stephen Escobar Candidate Statement voteescobar.com
- Lisa Henderson Candidate Statement lisahenderson.org
- Yamil Hernández Candidate Statement voteyamil.com
- Jim McNulty Candidate Statement jimmcnulty.org