The County Council Interview

This afternoon, I was interviewed by Montgomery County Council Vice President Phil Andrews, and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, Duchy Tractenberg, Roger Berliner and Donald Praisner regarding my candidacy for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

All of the Councilmembers were warm and welcoming. It was the first time that I had seen Mr. Praisner since he had been sworn in. I greeted him, specially, and mentioned that I had last seen him at People's Baptish Church for a candidates' debate.

The Council Vice President Andrews asked the following questions, in whole or part:

• Why do you want to be on the Montgomery County Planning Board?
• What experience would you bring to the Planning Board?
• What do you see as the relationship between the appointee and the County Council, Planning Board members, the Chair, the staff, and the County Executive?
• What do you think are the most important priorities for Montgomery County?
• How can the Planning Board advance those objectives?
• What would be your contributions to the Planning Board?
• How could you engage the Planning staff?
• What are your thoughts about: smart growth, the environment, roads and transit, the agricultural reserve.
• What do you think of Montgomery County Parks?
• Do you have the time required to serve as Planning Board member?
• Do you have any conflicts of interests?

Councilmember Marc Elrich asked about possible limitations to Smart Growth, and about the integrity of master plans. He also asked if I, as a Board member, would be willing to look outside of Montgomery County for planning solutions, and specifically those related to traffic and measurement. He also asked what you could do as a Planning Board member to more fully engage the public in county planning issues.

Councilmember Roger Berliner praised my civic engagement, intellect, preparation, and knowledge of the issues. He appreciated my service on the Tree Conservation Task Force, convened by him and Councilmember Elrich. He said that I would be an excellent appointee to the Planning Board.

He added, however, that Montgomery County was blessed with an abundance of riches when it came to exceptional candidates for appointment.

I thanked him for his very kind words, and I asked for his vote!

I'd like all of their votes...