 The Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 26, 2018, with early voting from June 14 through June 21. Maryland has a closed primary system which means you must be registered as a Democrat or Republican to vote in the primary election. If there are non-partisan offices that are contested in a primary election (i.e., school board), any voter can vote for these offices. If you are registered as an Independent, you cannot vote in the primary election except for non-partisan offices. I urge you to choose a party affiliation so your voice can be heard in the primary election and decide Montgomery County's future leadership. Make sure you register to vote or change your party affiliation by June 5, 2018, to vote in the Gubernatorial Primary Election.
Visit www.777vote.org to confirm that your registration is current and for other important voter registration information. You may also call 240-777-VOTE or visit the Board of Election's office at 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, in Gaithersburg. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Voter registration applications are available online and at various locations including U.S. Post Offices, county libraries, regional service centers, all offices of the Montgomery County Health and Human Services Department, and the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles. Click here for answers to frequently asked voter registration questions.
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 The Council is well into its work on the FY19 Operating Budget and the FY19-24 Capital Improvements Program. If you would like to follow along, start with the Council's Executive Director's informative and insightful overview of the core budget issues we must consider. Our work to date supports full funding of the recommended budget for MCPS and no increase in property taxes. Visit the Council's website, and remember to check back regularly as information changes.
To weigh in, send your comments in writing online; by emailing county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov, or by regular mail to: County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.
We will have our last straw votes on May 17 and will take final budget action on May 24. The budget will take effect on July 1.
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 Join me and other cyclists on Saturday, May 5, for The Tree House's Tour de Cookie. The event begins at the Montgomery County campus of Johns Hopkins University. Riders can choose either a 12, 27, or 43 mile bike route. This is a great opportunity to have fun, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and eat a variety of delicious cookies offered throughout the ride!
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of child abuse prevention and to promote The Tree House services available to sexually and physically abused children and neglected children. All proceeds benefit The Tree House CAC.
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 Congratulations to Montgomery Blair High School students Sarah Gao, Andrew Komo, David Wu, and Alice Zhang for being named among the 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search and competing for top honors at a high-profile event in Washington D.C.
The Regeneron Science Talent Search was formerly known as the Intel Science Talent Search and the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. Despite the change in sponsors/names over the decades, it is still the nation's oldest and most prestigious science competition, having honored the nation's most promising young scientists since 1942.
Each of the finalists received a $25,000 award and David Wu received an additional $90,000 award for fifth place. Learn more about their projects, and watch the video of the proclamation presentation.
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Have you ever wondered if you could make your commute to work by bike? Here's your chance to try. Montgomery County will participate in Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 18. This annual event promotes biking as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. Here's registration information and a complete list of the many pit stops in Montgomery County scheduled for this event.
 This year, April 10 was Equal Pay Day. This date symbolizes how many extra days in 2018 women must work, on average, to equal what men earned in 2017. Last month, Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and I presented a Proclamation to Elissa Blattman, President of Montgomery County NOW, in recognition of Equal Pay Day.
Even though the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act passed more than five decades ago, women continue to suffer the consequences of inequitable pay differentials. In fact, year-round, full-time working women earn, on average, only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. The pay gap exists in every occupation, including those dominated by women. The pay gap is worse for women of color. Over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family an estimated $700,000 to $2 million in lost wages, impacting Social Security benefits and pensions.You can watch the proclamation presentation here.
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The County's 2018 residential street sweeping is underway. Last year 4,055 curb miles were swept. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) collected over 700 tons of dirt, sand and debris to protect sensitive watershed areas. Look for signs posted in your neighborhood a few days prior to the actual street sweeping. MCDOT requests you park your car off the street or in areas with no or less sand and debris. They will not tow cars for sweeping and will not return to re-sweep after cars are moved. You can check the 2018 residential sweeping schedule to learn when your neighborhood is planned for sweeping and other helpful information.
 Montgomery County GreenFest is Saturday, May 5 at Jessup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring (next to Montgomery College.) This free event is the largest environmental festival in the County. GreenFest is a fun-filled day for the whole family, featuring environmentally themed vendors, non-profits, speakers, activities, games and educational opportunities. You can learn about backyard beekeeping and pollinator friendly yards or visit the many exhibitors including artisans and food trucks. Here's a detailed schedule of events planned throughout the day.
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Is your community organization hosting a public meeting? Please let me know how I can help. I am happy to assist residents in understanding pending bills or in finding ways to get involved in the political process. I want to hear about what matters to you. Send emails to councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-7959 if you would like me to address a particular topic with your group.
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