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Dear Friends,
This month, my colleagues and I held our final Council session of 2022. This year has been a momentous year, to say the least, with significant implications for our county and its more than one million residents.
The 19th Council passed Thrive 2050, a document for future planning and betterment of Montgomery County and we reformed our policing practices so that our officers are better equipped and trained to respond to our residents. The new 20th Council will have the opportunity to accomplish great things as we work together in the new term to advance our shared goals of improving the county.
You play a critical role as well. Your voice is vitally important to shaping policy and ensuring we do not overlook underserved members of our community. I look forward to hearing from you at community gatherings, public hearings, and connecting with my staff.
Challenging the Status Quo
Photo credit: Montgomery County Council
As we know, the 20th Council is historic for a myriad of reasons. We have the most significant representation of women and the most culturally diverse Council. On its face, we have made history. Still, to be historic and leave a lasting legacy, we must change how we conduct our official business. Our Council should strive toward being more transparent and inclusive with each other and the residents we serve.
Photo credit: Montgomery County Council
On the first day of the 20th Council, alongside Councilmembers Kristin Mink and Laurie-Anne Sayles, I raised the need for more transparency in our decision-making to ensure racial equity and democratic values. We must reform our operating practices to serve our community best and challenge assumptions and how things work to make things better for our residents. View my full remarks here. The Washington Post recently did an in-depth article on this topic as well. You can read that story here.
Celebrating my Tenure as Lead for Libraries
Over the past four years, I have served as the Council’s Lead for Libraries. My time in that role has come to an end as I move to Chair of the Education and Culture Committee. Lead for Libraries was a role that I have genuinely cherished and have often said was my favorite part about being a councilmember. I’m proud to say that I visited all 22 of our public libraries and even hosted Community Conversations to listen and learn from our residents during my library visits.
I know our library system will be in excellent hands as my colleague Councilmember Kristin Mink takes over as the new Lead for Libraries. Best of luck to her!
Addressing the Recent Vandalism of Walt Whitman High School
I am disturbed to learn about another incident of antisemitism in our community, this time at Whitman High School. This kind of hatred has no place in our community and will not be tolerated. The defacing of one of our schools, which is a place of learning, striving, and appreciating differences, is genuinely vile and antithetical to the values of our community. I appreciate the work of our law enforcement investigating this incident. We must recommit our community and schools to foster conversations addressing antisemitism and racism.
Defending Anton's Law
I was proud to stand with members of our community, along with my Council colleagues, Councilmembers Kristin Mink and Laurie-Anne Sayles, State Delegates Gabriel Acevero and Charlotte Crutchfield, at a press conference to defend Anton’s Law and speak out against ongoing legal efforts to block the public’s access to police records. There is a civil rights concept that “justice delayed is justice denied." Delaying the public access to the records they are lawfully allowed to see is tantamount to denying them such access. The details of community members’ interactions with law enforcement cannot be shrouded in mystery. They must be viewed and studied in the light of day for the good of our law enforcement, our society, and those in the community directly impacted by these interactions.
Encouraging our Seniors to Stay Active
I was pleased that my staff got to present a certificate to Holiday Park Senior Center, Montgomery County’s largest senior center, to commemorate their new outdoor fitness equipment. Holiday Park is the county’s largest senior center serving nearly 600 adults over 55 years old each day.
Celebrating Rockville Economic Development Inc.’s 25th Anniversary
My staff also presented Rockville Economic Development Inc. with a certificate to celebrate and recognize their 25th anniversary. REDI continues to drive economic development growth in Rockville, and their impact on the community has been and continues to be immense.
Honoring CCI Health Services
I led a proclamation celebrating 50 years of CCI Health Services’ positive impact on our community. I have interacted with CCI Health Services. CCI Health Services has provided critical services to our community for decades. CCI Health Services kept its doors open when our residents were scared and needed medical assistance and guidance. They helped our county become one of the most vaccinated large counties in the nation.
Photo credit: Montgomery County Council
Wishing you a Happy Holiday
I’d like to wish you all a happy holiday. Whatever you celebrate, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, I know this time of year is festive, joyous, and very special for many. I’m looking forward to spending the holiday with my wife, Michele, and our children. Please soak up your time with your loved ones, and have a blessed holiday.
Meet Team Jawando
I’m excited to work with this dedicated group of public servants who are ready to ensure every Montgomery County resident has the opportunity to thrive. Please be in touch with my office if we can be of any assistance to you.
Michelle Whittaker, Chief of Staff
Marisa Van Saanen, Senior Legislative Aide
Morgan Wright, Director of Communications
Christina Neidlinger, Senior Legislative Aide, Scheduler
Dave Kunes, Senior Advisor
Left to right: Morgan, Marisa, Christina, Will, Michelle, Dave
As always, please be in touch if I can be of assistance by emailing me at Councilmember.Jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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