County

County Council Member, Montgomery County

District 7

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
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

Harold Maldonado

Republican

Economist and intelligence professional

The gist

Supports streamlined zoning and transit-oriented development
Proposes a county fiscal accountability office to audit programs
Opposes raising taxes on residents
Supports a larger police budget and removing the Accountability Board
Supports more police officers over the drone program

More about Harold

View sources (1)

Supports streamlined zoning and transit-oriented development
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support expanding diverse housing options, streamlining zoning and permitting, and encouraging transit-oriented development”
Proposes a county fiscal accountability office to audit programs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support creating a county fiscal accountability office modeled on a "DOGE-style" efficiency review/audit (without mass layoffs)”
Opposes raising taxes on residents
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would focus on growing revenue through economic growth and business investment rather than increasing taxes on residents.”
Supports a larger police budget and removing the Accountability Board
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'd increase the police budget and start removing the Accountability Board that impedes police work.”
Supports more police officers over the drone program
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'd prioritize manpower in the police force rather than the drone program”

Dawn Luedtke

DemocraticIncumbent

Montgomery County Council member (District 7); attorney

The gist

Supports corridor zoning changes and office-to-residential conversion
Supports funding the Housing Production Fund
Supports reviewing departments for duplicated services
Supports food security and homelessness prevention programs
Supports police drone and real-time intelligence programs

More about Dawn

View sources (1)

Supports corridor zoning changes and office-to-residential conversion
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“strategic zoning changes to allow for flexibility in housing types along major corridors and near transit; 2) office to residential conversion”
Supports funding the Housing Production Fund
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“funding our Housing Production Fund for development in public/private partnership of affordable multifamily dwelling units”
Supports reviewing departments for duplicated services
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“evaluating the departments to ensure there's no duplication of services”
Supports food security and homelessness prevention programs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“My priority safety net services focus on bolstering our food insecurity programs, investments in our services to end and prevent homelessness”
Supports police drone and real-time intelligence programs
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Montgomery County Council District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“support force multiplier resources like the Drone as First Responder and Real Time Intelligence Center programs for MCPD”

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; 5 issues covered in this race.