Candidate Profile: Dan Robinson Seeks At-Large Seat On MoCo Council

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — While candidates in the Democratic and Republican parties will be competing on Tuesday in their respective primaries to see who will be on the Nov. 8 ballot, Dan Robinson will be seeking the nomination to be the Green Party candidate for one of the at-large seats on the Montgomery County Council.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County voters will choose from three Republicans — Christopher P. Fiotes, Lenard Lieber, and Dwight Patel — and eight Democrats — Gabe Albornoz, Brandy H. M. Brooks, Dana E. Gassaway, Evan Glass, Scott Evan Goldberg, Tom Hucker, Will Jawando, and Laurie-Anne Sayles.

Patch has asked each of the candidates running in select races to fill out a questionnaire, sharing facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent their party in November.

Name

Dan Robinson

Campaign website

DanielStewartRobinson.com

City or town of residence

Silver Spring

Office sought

County Council, at-large seat

Party affiliation

Green

Education

B.A. University of California at Davis 1972, three semesters at Catholic University School of Law/City and Regional Planning, 1979

Occupation

Co-operative businessperson/entrepreneur, small business supportive developer and manager

Family

My spouse and I have two grown daughters and a new grandson, Louie

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

none

Age

71

Previous public office, appointive or elective

City Council in Takoma Park, Ward 3, 2007-2011

Why are you seeking this office?

To help prepare and transition for changes in climate and to support communities in Montgomery County

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am co-operative and small business minded, with deep local roots, including elective service in a small town in Montgomery County.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I will challenge winners of the Democrat and Republican primaries in the November election for four at-large seats. Montgomery County elective politics are a failure because no non-Democrat has held office for 15 years, and very few for the prior 50 years. This is a far cry from representative or fair democracy.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Green values include democracy, ecology, community and social justice. I'll address all of these, partly through the lens of the new proposed Master Plan titled Thrive Montgomery 2050, which does a good job of listing the County's failures and chances to do better.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I'm a good and gutsy manager and a creative leader. My time on the City Council, and in leadership roles in numerous committees and groups in Takoma Park will serve me well. So will the several successful businesses I've started and grown. I like to build things, both physical and not. Legislation, with its technical and human basis comes easily, perhaps because of my legal and planning experience, perhaps because of my technical background. One business I built developed the software that the Maryland Department of Education uses for reflection of good schools.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Know thyself

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm trustworthy and supportive and am willing to smile and follow good advice, but don't give up on a good and reasoned path forward.

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