County

County Council Member, Montgomery County

At Large

Vote for: 4
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 5
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county council member votes on county laws, the budget, taxes and land-use decisions.

Candidates Compare by issue

Marc Elrich

Democratic

Montgomery County Executive

The gist

Supports raising the required share of affordable units
Supports higher commercial property taxes like Northern Virginia's
Supports building Bus Rapid Transit
Proposed FY27 budget focused on health care and homelessness
Supports civilian crisis intervention teams

More about Marc

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Supports raising the required share of affordable units
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“raise the required ratio of affordable units, require 3-4 bedroom units in new projects, and require no net loss of affordable housing.”
Supports higher commercial property taxes like Northern Virginia's
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“adopt a commercial tax code similar to Northern Virginia (where commercial property pays substantially higher taxes”
Supports building Bus Rapid Transit
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Spend priorities: Affordable housing, access to healthcare, build Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), services to prevent homelessness”
Proposed FY27 budget focused on health care and homelessness
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My budget for FY27 focuses on improving access to health and mental health care, fully funding our schools, ending and preventing homelessness”
Supports civilian crisis intervention teams
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“multiple civilian crisis intervention teams that provide a more appropriate response to people in crisis”

Scott Evan Goldberg

Democratic

Attorney, entrepreneur and substitute teacher

The gist

Proposes a $150 million Housing Production Fund and permitting deadlines
Supports building housing on government-owned land
Opposes raising property and income taxes and fees
Proposes Inspector General reviews to eliminate outdated programs
Proposes a single case manager for social services
Pledges support for police, citing an officer shortage

More about Scott

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Proposes a $150 million Housing Production Fund and permitting deadlines
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“increasing the Housing Production Fund to $150 million, instituting a "shot clock" system in the planning & permitting processes”
Supports building housing on government-owned land
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“using government owned land to build multi-family housing”
Opposes raising property and income taxes and fees
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We don't have to raise your property taxes, income taxes, water bill and solid waste fees”
Proposes Inspector General reviews to eliminate outdated programs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“The Council & Executive need to task the Inspector General to measure programs and eliminate ones that are no longer relevant.”
Proposes a single case manager for social services
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'll implement a Navigator case management system so people only have to work with 1 person to get all the services they need.”
Pledges support for police, citing an officer shortage
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Our police force is 200 officers short for a community our size. … I will support the police.”

Karla Silvestre

Democratic

Montgomery County Board of Education member (at large); Montgomery College administrator

The gist

Supports starter homes, accessory apartments and senior housing
Supports speeding up development approvals
Supports reviewing Blueprint spending to protect the AAA bond rating
Supports growing small businesses to expand the commercial tax base
Supports safety-net clinics, affordable childcare and food programs
Opposes police cooperation with ICE
Supports behavioral health response teams and de-escalation training

More about Karla

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Supports starter homes, accessory apartments and senior housing
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Build more housing options for different income levels, seniors, and young people starting out (starter homes, in-law suites/basement apartments, townhouses, and senior housing)”
Supports speeding up development approvals
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Make it easier to build housing by reforming bureaucratic processes, speeding up development/reducing costs”
Supports reviewing Blueprint spending to protect the AAA bond rating
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Evaluate investments in the Blueprint for Maryland's Future and maintain strong fiscal stewardship to protect the County's high credit rating-AAA bond rating.”
Supports growing small businesses to expand the commercial tax base
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Support strengthening small businesses to grow our commercial tax base so residents are not carrying an outsized share of the tax burden.”
Supports safety-net clinics, affordable childcare and food programs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Prioritize workforce training programs, affordable childcare, safety net health clinics for the uninsured, food security programs, and supporting seniors aging in place.”
Opposes police cooperation with ICE
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“No collaboration between police/local agencies and ICE.”
Supports behavioral health response teams and de-escalation training
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Community-based policing to build trust, behavioral health response teams, and de-escalation training.”

Sherwin Wells

Republican

Mortgage broker and real estate broker

The gist

Proposes same-day expedited permitting
Supports lowering property taxes on residents
Proposes performance reviews of county positions and departments
Supports more funding for food assistance programs
Supports school resource officers and clear backpacks in schools

More about Sherwin

View sources (1)

Proposes same-day expedited permitting
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Same Day & Expedited Permitting Process: Apply before midday and representatives of the various reviewing agencies will begin processing immediately.”
Supports lowering property taxes on residents
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Decrease Property Taxes on residents because we do not have a budget crisis.”
Proposes performance reviews of county positions and departments
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Review compensation plans for all county positions and conduct performance reviews and department reports”
Supports more funding for food assistance programs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Increase funding for food assistance programs to combat food insecurity.”
Supports school resource officers and clear backpacks in schools
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“School Resource Officers assigned to each school and "clear" backpack policy.”

Laurie-Anne Sayles

DemocraticIncumbent

Montgomery County Council member (at large)

The gist

Co-sponsored rent stabilization legislation
Supports the O.P.E.N. zoning amendment to speed approvals
Pledges to cut non-essential discretionary spending
Led $1 million emergency fund for health services
Supports expanding behavioral health and crisis services
Supports youth programs and mental health interventions

More about Laurie-Anne

View sources (1)

Co-sponsored rent stabilization legislation
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“co-sponsored rent stabilization legislation, and advocate for zoning reforms that encourage diverse housing types near transit”
Supports the O.P.E.N. zoning amendment to speed approvals
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support the O.P.E.N. Zoning Text Amendment to speed approvals for mixed-use developments”
Pledges to cut non-essential discretionary spending
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will reduce non-essential discretionary spending to redirect resources to critical programs”
Led $1 million emergency fund for health services
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“the $1 million emergency fund I advanced for Health and Human Services to stabilize critical programs”
Supports expanding behavioral health and crisis services
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'll continue prioritizing increasing behavioral health and crisis services in underserved communities”
Supports youth programs and mental health interventions
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council At Large (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“expanding mental health resources and interventions, and investing in youth programs that create opportunity and reduce antisocial behavior”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.