County Executive Marc Elrich, Council Are Sworn In To Office

BETHESDA, MD — Montgomery County has a new county executive and council.

Marc Elrich, along with the county's all-Democratic council, were sworn in to office Monday morning in Bethesda. Hundreds of residents and officials filed into the Music Center at Strathmore for the ceremony, which started at 11 a.m.

Elrich, who served on the county council for three terms, was elected county executive after winning nearly two-thirds of the vote. He defeated Democrat-turned-independent Nancy Floreen, a former council member, and Republican Robin Ficker in the highly contentious race. Elrich is replacing Democrat Ike Leggett, who is retiring due to term limits.

Incumbent councilmembers Hans Riemer, the current council president, Nancy Navarro, the council's vice president, Tom Hucker, Craig Rice, and Sidney Katz were joined by at-large councilmembers-elect Evan Glass, Will Jawando, and Gabe Albornoz, and District 1 councilmember-elect Andrew Friedson at the ceremony Monday.

During the ceremony, Elrich laid out a number of measures he and his administration plan to implement. Among the priorities include significantly expanding early childhood education and providing a livable minimum wage for residents.

"First and foremost for me, this election has been about the future of Montgomery County, how we will prosper, grow, treat each other, and move forward together," Elrich said.

In order to expand early childhood education, Elrich said the county must invest in children, who are the future. According to the new county executive, investing money and resources into children's futures up front will yield "dividends down the line — both for the students and society as a whole."

During his inaugural address, Elrich also spoke about another priority: providing a livable minimum wage for residents. In November 2017, the Montgomery County Council unanimously voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 starting in 2021. Elrich, who touted the accomplishment during his speech, said he will continue supporting the measure while he's in office.

"This is not about whether it’s worth $15 to flip a hamburger. This is about whether the hamburger flipper can put a roof over their heads and a roof over the heads of their children," Elrich said.

"And as a society, whether everybody's comfortable with this or not, we have to make sure that a person that goes out and works every day can earn a living and support themselves in dignity and take care of their families," Elrich added. "That is the least we should do for people and that is something that I am so proud that the council and [County Executive Ike Leggett] were able to get the 'yes' on $15. This will make an enormous difference for people."

During his speech, Elrich said he was going to miss Leggett, who was county executive for 12 years, and will continue championing some of Leggett's work.

"You made a difference that's larger than what you can measure in legislation. And I want to thank you for that," Elrich said to Leggett during the ceremony.

In addition to Elrich, four new councilmembers were sworn in to office Monday morning. Evan Glass, Will Jawando, and Gabe Albornoz — the three at-large councilmembers — are replacing Elrich, Floreen and George Leventhal. District 1's Andrew Friedson is replacing Roger Berliner.

The new councilmembers will be joining incumbents Hans Riemer, the current council president, Nancy Navarro, the council's vice president, Tom Hucker, Craig Rice, and Sidney Katz.

Riemer, who also spoke at the ceremony, thanked Leggett and Elrich for their commitments to public service, and discussed what Montgomery County should expect moving forward.

"In the four years ahead, we will engage in spirited discussions while upholding our council's traditions of professionalism and respect," Riemer said. "We probably don't all agree on everything at the council. But, friends, you don't either. That is what makes democracy so vital and exciting. We work through our differences to find a way forward."

"And if there is one thing you can count on, it is that even if the federal government is no longer responsive to the views of our country's majority, Montgomery County is going to continue to set an example of effective governance," Riemer added.

Hundreds of county officials and residents attended the swearing in ceremony on Monday. Among the attendees was outgoing state Sen. Rich Madaleno. Sen. Madaleno, a Democrat from Kensington, will be appointed as Montgomery County's next budget director by Elrich. His nomination was first reported by Bethesda Beat.

"I think we stand on the shoulders of every generation," Sen. Madaleno told Patch, referring to how Elrich will govern after Leggett. "I think [Elrich] is going to honor the progress that we've made and continue to try to build upon that."

The first meeting for the new Montgomery County executive and council is Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Images via Montgomery County Government