Nancy Navarro To Be Inducted Into County Women's History Archives

ROCKVILLE, MD — Nancy Navarro — the first Latina elected to the Montgomery County Council — will be inducted into the Montgomery County Women's History Archives later this month, officials announced Wednesday.

The District 4 Democrat was selected by the Montgomery County Commission for Women after spending years in public service and receiving a host of regional, state, and local awards and accolades — many to do with her influence in education, politics, and the Hispanic communities.

"Being inducted into the County Women's History Archives is an honor and privilege that few in the history of our great County have had," Navarro said. "I am deeply humbled to be on a list with such distinguished and pioneering Montgomery County women, particularly as we celebrate this year the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women nationwide a fair and equal voice in our country."

The commission recognizes women whose lives are of historical significance to the county. Founded in 1972, the organization has amassed an archive for the biographies of 48 women.

"We are absolutely thrilled to honor her. I think it's long overdue," Nicole Y. Drew, president of the Montgomery County Commission for Women, told Patch in an interview. "She joins a network of wonderful women who have done great things in Montgomery County."

Past inductees include: actress Goldie Hawn; author and environmentalist Rachel Carson; American Red Cross founder Clara Barton; Korean-American morning news anchor Eun Yang; and Montgomery County's first practicing female physician and surgeon Lauretta Kress.

Navarro was elected to the county council in 2009 special election, and was re-elected to a four-year-term in 2010. Since then, she has chaired the Government and Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and serves on the Education and Culture Committee.

In 2019, she was elected as council president for the second time in her tenure — and pushed for greater protections for immigrants facing deportation, cleaner energy alternatives, and universal pre-K.

"We are very proud that she is the one remaining female member of the county council. So this (induction) is definitely timely," Drew said. "It's just acknowledging that female presence on the council. We truly appreciate her."

Navarro will officially be inducted at a ceremony on Jan. 26 at the Universities at Shady Grove.