Endorsements - Alan Bowser for Montgomery County Planning Board

Larry Gordon, Esq.

Dear Council President Andrews and Members of the County Council,

I write in support of the candidacy of Alan Bowser for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board. I have served with Mr. Bowser for the past several years as a fellow member of the Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Committee to the Department of Permitting Services, including the past year when I had the privilege of serving as Committee Chair.

In our work together, I have found Mr. Bowser to be a thoughtful, creative and open-minded problem solver. He has the ability to quickly grasp and synthesize complex land use and development issues and to formulate “win/win” solutions. Mr. Bowser’s wide range of experience in areas directly related to land use matters has undoubtedly attributed to his unique abilities in this area.

In closing, based upon my first-hand experience, I highly recommend Mr. Bowser to you for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry Gordon, Esq.

Tony Hausner

Council President Andrews and Members of the County Council

I am writing this email to support Alan Bowser for the Planning Board. Alan has been very active in a number of important organizations in the Silver Spring community and made a variety of key contributions in these capacities. In particular, he has served on the Silver Spring Town Center Board, the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board including as chair of the Neighborhoods Committee, and has been President of his Park Hills Civic Association. In his position with the Town Center, I know that he organized a successful Blues Festival. As Chair of the Neighborhoods Committee, I felt that Alan allowed for all groups to participate evenly in the discussions particularly when it came to meetings on the Purple Line where there were quite a diversity of views. Alan was also quite supportive of the Safe Silver Spring Summit that we recently held.

Tony Hausner
Silver Spring, MD

Alan Friedman, Chair, Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District Advisory Committee

Council President Phil Andrews
Montgomery County Council Office
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Andrews:

I am writing to strongly support Alan Bowser's application for appointment to the Planning Board. Everyone in the know within our civic community wholeheartedly reveres Mr. Bowser as a Most Valuable Player in the ongoing revitalization of Downtown Silver Spring. With his wealth of talents and relevant experiences and extraordinary dedication to the livability of Silver Spring and the County, I do believe he would be a tremendous asset to the Planning Board.

Sincerely,

Alan Friedman
Chair
Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment Advisory Committee

Sheryl Brissett Chapman, Executive Director of the National Center for Children and Families

Mr. Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Mr. Andrews, I have been a resident of downtown Silver Spring for 25 years, raising 5 children and participating in such community efforts as the Silver Spring Civic Center Advisory Committee, in recent years. I have also had considerable exposure to the Planning Board in my role as Executive Director of the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) as it has undergone major facility transformation over the last decade.

I am now writing to support the appointment of Alan Bowser to the Planning Board. I serve on the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Board with Alan who is President and have observed his leadership, both with the Silver Spring Advisory Board and the Park Hills Civic Association. Alan is very smart, thoughtful, well-connected to people, hardworking, analytical, able to acknowledge what he does not know, asserts what he knows, and works collaboratively. He is well known in the community and highly regarded by many. In my opinion, he would be an excellent addition to the Planning Board, especially during these current times.

Thanks for your consideration.

With Regards,

Sheryl Brissett Chapman, Ed.D., ACSW
Executive Director
6301 Greentree Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20817

Robert Bor, Esq.

President Phil Andrews
Montgomery County Council
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Andrews,

I am writing in support of the application of Alan Bowser for the position of Member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I enthusiastically endorse his candidacy knowing of his views about the important planning and development issues facing Montgomery County. These arise from having worked with him on issues affecting the Park Hills community and having observed his activities on the Silver Spring Advisory Board and other organizations dealing with transportation, planning, and zoning issues in Silver Spring and elsewhere in Montgomery County.

Alan reactivated and energized a moribund civic association. Through association meetings, face to face discussions and list serves on the computer, he helped to educate the community on transportation and development issues. He moderated differences of views always maintaining civility and a congeniality among the members. I am a friend and neighbor of Alan and have often spoken with him on transportation and development issues affecting the Silver Spring community and elsewhere in the County. He has proven to be knowledgeable, level headed, forceful when needed, and a consensus builder.

I am a long term resident of Silver Spring and feel qualified to recommend him because of my experience as a former President of the Park Hills Civic Association and a person who in past years had been active in county zoning and planning issues, including, as a member of a former County Council Development Advisory Board and a member of a study Commission of the WSSC.

In my view, Alan would be an outstanding member of the Planning Board and a credit to the County.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Bor

Guled Kassim

Council President Phil Andrews
Montgomery County Council Office
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Phil:

It has been a few weeks since you and I last spoke. I write this letter to you in support of Mr. Alan Bowser to be appointed as a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board. Mr. Bowser has already dedicated countless time in service to the County, as evidenced by his membership to numerous county committees, commissions and boards.

Mr. Bowser will serve not only as a breath of fresh air but will also strive to maintain the quality of our County's green areas. Mr. Bowser is already an asset to the county as a whole, and Montgomery County Council will benefit from his serving on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,

Guled Kassim
Silver Spring, Maryland

John H. Komoroske, Chair, Planning Board, Alexandria, VA

Honorable Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Re: Application of Alan Bowser for Appointment to the Montgomery
County Planning Board

Dear President Andrews:

I am writing in strong support of Alan Bowser's application to become a member of the Planning Board.

I have served on the Alexandria VA Planning Commission for 18 years, two as Vice Chairman before I became Chairman in March of this year. Alan and I have known each other well for more than 23 years as members of a running club that meets weekly. We have spent hours running or at each other's houses discussing civic activities in our respective jurisdictions. While I thought I contributed at least my fair share to my jurisdiction (e.g., president of the largest civic association for more than 3 years, 5 terms on Planning Commission, chair of a number of commissions and task forces over the past 25 years), Alan has given much more to Montgomery County in his numerous roles.

The breadth of his interests - zoning, planning, transportation, environment and housing - and his grasp of them has never failed to impress me. Through our 22 years of friendship, I have admired his razor sharp intellect, his ability to develop a course of action from a sound theoretical basis, his gift of working things out among disagreeing parties, and his practical approach to problem solving - no matter how complex the factors involved.

Based on the hours of discussions Alan and I have had over the years, I would like him to move to Alexandria and serve on the Planning Commission with me, but he feels too strongly for Montgomery County to even consider it.

I recommend Alan to you for appointment to the Montgomery Planning Board without reservation.

Best regards,

John H. Komoroske
3106 Circle Hill Road
Alexandria VA 22305

Woody Brosnan, President of the North Woodside Montgomery Hills Citizens Association

June 8, 2009

Council President Phil Andrews
Montgomery County Council Office
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville,
Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Andrews:

I am pleased to support the application of Alan Bowser for the position of Member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

As president of the North Woodside Montgomery Hills Citizens Association I have had the opportunity to observe and interact with Alan on several issues and in several different forums including, the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, the Presidents Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations (PREZCO) and the steering committee for the Safe Silver Spring Summit.

I know of no one who devotes more volunteer time to the betterment of his community. I also have observed that Alan is a quick study, that he asks intelligent questions and that he understands the need for inclusiveness. I doubt if Alan and I would agree on all issues but I know I will always be treated with respect and consideration. That is exactly what you want on the planning board.

Woody Brosnan
President of the North Woodside Montgomery Hills Citizens Association

Mark Gabriele, President, Seven Oaks-Evanswood Citizens Association

Mr. Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Councilmember Andrews,

It is my pleasure to recommend Mr. Alan Bowser to you as a distinguished and highly qualified candidate for the Montgomery County Planning Board. My acquaintance with Alan began several years ago when I was elected to the presidency of my local civic organization, the Seven Oaks / Evanswood Citizens' Association. At that time, Alan was working to re-invigorate the civic organization representing his neighborhood, Park Hills; that organization had been effectively dormant for many years. He succeeded admirably; the Park Hills Civic Association is now an active and effective advocate for their community, and it was Alan's effort that made the difference.

I have worked with Alan since then on a variety of community issues affecting our neighborhoods, and have found him to be thoughtful, reasonable, and insightful. He is an excellent listener and seeks to find common ground to bring all parties together, while not losing sight of the goal. Not only is he a good listener; Alan is also capable of expressing his own opinions in a clear, yet diplomatic, fashion. He is engaged, communicative, and enthusiastic, and will go out of his way to help others in finding solutions to problems. As a resident of Montgomery County, I can honestly say that he is the sort of person that I would want to have on the planning board. He has my enthusiastic recommendation for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Gabriele

Lisa Arrington, President, Hamptons Homeowners Association

Mr. Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Councilman Andrews:

I am pleased to support Alan Bowser’s candidacy for the Montgomery County Planning Board. I know Alan from his good work on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board and the Steering Committee of the Northwest Park Oak Weed & Seed Committee. He is strongly supportive of our community and has worked with us on a range of local issues, especially the renovation of the Broad Acres Park.

I am impressed with his knowledge of public safety, schools, parks and recreation, and neighborhood development issues from our work together. Additionally, he seems to have tireless energy, as he is involved in all sorts of community happenings.

He would be an outstanding member of the Planning Board.

Sincerely,

Lisa Arrington
President
Hamptons Homeowners Association

Barbara Ditzler, President, Woodside Park Civic Association

June 09, 2009

Council President Phil Andrews
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20950

Dear Mr. Andrews:

This letter is written in support of Montgomery County Planning Board candidate Alan Bowser. Alan and I became acquainted through PREZCO, Presidents’ Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations as we are both presidents of our civic association.

During the years I have known Alan, we have worked on issues such as pedestrian safety, the Purple Line, the new Silver Spring library, development in downtown Silver Spring and general safety issues.

Many others and I have been the beneficiaries of his wide range of knowledge and diligence as he approaches a variety of concerns. He is analytical and thoughtful about matters and doesn’t stint on researching an area before formulating plans. Once a plan is formed, he is diligent in his pursuit of the best possible outcome. His interests and expertise are broad and will be an asset to the Planning Board.

My first hand experience with the Planning Board reinforces the importance of Board members having the ability to see many facets of a problem. They need to be able to weigh legal matters, judge the soundness of reasoning, be creative in problem solving, and balance the greater good of the community with individual rights and responsibilities. I believe that Alan has both the experience and judgment to help Montgomery County’s Planning Board make wise decisions.

Sincerely,

Barbara Ditzler
President, Woodside Park Civic Association

Aaron Kaufman

Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying a well deserved breather after passage of the budget. I am writing to encourage you to appoint Mr. Alan S. Bowser, Esq. to the planning board seat being vacated by John Robinson. I have had the pleasure of watching Alan in his last two interviews for the Planning Board with the Council. I have been very impressed with his knowledge of the intricate details of various mater plans and the complexities of our county’s growth policy as well as the thoughtfulness of his answers. I believe Alan possesses the right philosophy when it comes preserving the quality of life in our county and allowing smart growth so that our beloved county can continue to flourish. He also has a genuine appreciation for our parks and Agricultural Reserve. I believe Alan’s appointment would bring needed diversity to the board as all the current commissioners are of Caucasian descent and would also ensure that the Board had a member from the Down-County area. I hope you all agree with me that Mr. Bowser’s experience in a range of areas makes him eminently qualified to serve on the Planning Board.

All my Best,

Aaron Kaufman

Luther Hinsley, President, Avery Park Community Association

Mr. Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Mr. Andrews:

I am writing today to endorse the candidacy of Alan S. Bowser of Silver Spring, MD for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I have had the pleasure to know Alan Bowser for several years through his work on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Committee. He has always taken a very keen interest in our neighborhood located off New Hampshire Avenue near I-495 and has worked hard to advocate for public safety, parks and recreation and neighborhood revitalization in our area.

As an attorney, he assisted me in the establishment of our Avery Park Community Association. As a member of the Steering Committee of the Northwest Park Oakview Weed & Seed program, he has been a strong advocate for more attention by Montgomery County to our community’s needs. As a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, he encouraged our neighbors to participate in the Board’s Neighborhoods Committee where we regularly discussed issues regarding affordable housing, health care, and quality of life.

He has been a good friend, a trusted adviser, and important supporter of our work in Avery Park.

He will be an outstanding member of the Planning Board, and I recommend him without reservation.

Sincerely,

Luther Hinsley
President
Avery Park Community Association

Carole Ann Barth, President, North Four Corners Civic Asssociation

Council President Andrews and Council Members Berliner, Elrich, Ervin, Floreen, Knapp, Leventhal, Navarro, and Trachtenburg:

I am writing to urge you to appoint Alan S. Bowser to the Montgomery County Planning Board vacancy. Alan has a great deal of relevant experience and knowledge, but what really sets him apart from the typical applicant are his motivation and character.

Some seek appointment to the Planning Board as a stepping stone to higher office. Others expect a monetary reward once they re-enter the private sector. Alan, however, truly wishes to serve the public on the Planning Board.

Moreover, he understands that a true commitment to public service entails a lot of work. Whatever task he undertakes - chairing the Neighborhoods Committee, organizing the first Silver Spring Blues Festival, or President of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., Alan is both dedicated and hard working.

Alan also understands how Planning Board decisions impact County residents’ quality of life. Planning theories come and go like spring fashions, but their effects (overcrowded schools, inadequate public transit, loss of multi-functional green space) continue to reverberate throughout our communities and into the future. I am confident Alan will not forget those who must live with the outcome of Board decisions.

Furthermore, he recognizes that without public buy-in, no plan is worth the paper it’s printed on. Community is not be created by fiat, it springs from the grass roots. I know that Alan appreciates public participation as the valuable resource it is. Indeed, he genuinely enjoys working with all sorts of people.

For all these reasons, Alan would be an excellent addition to the Planning Board.

Sincerely,
Carole Ann Barth
President
North Four Corners Civic Association

Sandra Fair, Treasurer, Park Hills Civic Association

June 15, 2009

Dear Councilmember Andrews,

I am writing concerning the application of Alan S. Bowser, Esq. for the position of Member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

For the past several years, I have had the pleasure of serving as Treasurer of Park Hills Civic Association, of which Alan is President. While PHCA is a very old civic association, it was inactive and ineffective until Alan was elected president. He has single-handedly revived community interest and participation in this association and transformed it into a vital, active organization with nearly 140 members. I've watched Alan evolve in this role from someone who is smart and passionate about the issues facing our community as it develops, to someone who not only understands and is well informed about the issues, but who is able to appreciate and represent fairly the variety of strong opinions voiced within our civic association, and to lead us to resolve on controversial issues. He has made our quarterly meetings interesting, informative and fun by inviting a wide range of guest speakers, keeping business to the point and effective, and encouraging members to express their opinions without monopolizing precious time.

I am aware that Alan is involved with and serves on many other community boards and associations and I appreciate all that he does for Silver Spring. On a personal level, I find Alan terrific to work with and enjoy knowing him and having him as my neighbor.

Alan is an energetic, smart, devoted public servant who has done and continues to do an enormous amount of good for Silver Spring. I have lived and worked in Montgomery County for the last 10 years and because I have lived in other states and counties that are not as well run, I very much enjoy and appreciate all that Montgomery County offers. It is a wonderful place to live and wise planning is key to its future. I don't know anyone more qualified, or who I'd rather see appointed to the Montgomery County Planning Board than Alan Bowser.

Sincerely,

Sandra M. Fair
Treasurer, Park Hills Civic Association

Loetta Vann, Silver Spring, Maryland

Council President Phil Andrews
Montgomery County Council Office
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Andrews:

I am writing to support Alan Bowser for the position of Member of the Montgomery County Planning Board. As you know his interest in serving the Council and the residents of Montgomery County, as a member of the Planning Board is longstanding and his efforts have been tireless. I believe that his appointment to the County Planning Board will go far towards the goal of garnishing public support for its missions. I cannot remember the last time I went to a local activity and did not see Alan there is some sort of participatory role. He has been building deep inroads into our community and our hearts.

To name just a few of the places I have witnessed Alan in action recently, we crossed paths at the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, Purple Line Master Plan Advisory Group (MPAG), and a couple of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. outreach activities. I also enjoy reading his bogs: Silver Spring Neighborhoods www.silverspringneighborhoods.blogspot.com and Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com and read them with great interest. On issues that have been of concern to me, I have found Alan to be a good listener and on occasion to offer valuable insight.

Alan’s thirty years of professional experience and education working on energy, environment, transportation, housing and agriculture issues, in both the public and private sectors will make his contributions to planning and regulatory tasks of this board invaluable. Alan’s unique high-level experience and expertise with public sector boards and committees is directly relevant to this appointment and could help forge some unique partnerships here in the back yard of our nation’s capital.

Mr. Council President, I appreciate your time and consideration and I hope you will give Alan your full support to for this appointment.

Sincerely yours,


Loetta M. Vann

James Anderson, Ph.D, Silver Spring, Maryland

Council President Phil Andrews
Montgomery County Council Office
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Andrews:

It is with pleasure that I write a brief letter of support for Mr. Alan Bowser, who would like to become a Member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I have only known Mr. Bowser for about 3 years. I remember meeting him. My wife and I had just moved to our new home on Fleetwood Terrace in Silver Spring. Mr. Bowser was going door-to-door passing out a flier concerning the fall picnic of the Park Hills Citizen Association. He told us about the political folks who were going to be present and guaranteed a good time and good food. He did a good job of organizing the politician turnout as well as the turnout of the citizens from Park Hills. Since then, we have seen a great deal of Mr. Bowser on his work to get all sides of an issue on the table. He goes to great length to get as folks from the community to participate.

In this immediate community, the Purple Line is the big issue at the current time. We don’t know how this is going to turn out, but all citizens have been encouraged to come and participate and share their ideas with the community.

Another item is the renovation of the old “Blair’ auditorium. Mr. Bowser is the leader on trying to get this completed. These are some of the issues he is intimately involved in that are very important to this community. Of course, he has much more going on involving the greater Silver Spring area. I don’t know too much about these other aspect’s, so will not be able comment on them.

In summary, Mr. Alan Bowser is a great asset to the community and would do an outstanding job of representing the residents of Silver Spring on the Montgomery County Planning Board. He will be a ‘Green’ approach to future development.

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me for more information.

Sincerely,

James D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Retired Agriculture Research Service USDA, Scientist

James L. Preston, Silver Spring, Maryland

Mr. Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville , MD 20850

County Council Members,

I am writing in support of the appointment of Alan Bowser to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I have been a neighbor, friend, and associate of Mr. Bowser for many years and cannot recommend him more highly for this position. There are many reasons why Mr. Bowser would be an excellent addition to the planning board, which I will attempt to elucidate here.

Mr. Bowser has taken the lead in revitalizing our local Park Hills Civic Association over the last few years. This effort involved a tremendous amount of organizational skill, consensus-building, patience, and persistence. What had been a long-dormant civic association is now an organized and active voice in local issues, ranging from planning for the Purple Line to environmental concerns in Sligo Creek, as well as many other issues. In every case, Mr. Bowser has taken the initiative to bring the neighborhood together so that all voices can be heard, and made great efforts to gather and present critical information to the community so that we can work together in an informed manner. Mr. Bowser has shown exceptional skill in leading this organization without exerting ideological or partisan influence over it, and has consistently promoted the civic association as a forum where the diversity of views in the community should be both welcomed and celebrated.

Mr. Bowser is extremely knowledgeable about land-use issues in Montgomery County. As an avid user of parks and recreation facilities throughout the county, Mr. Bowser greatly appreciates the value of our county's green spaces, including the agricultural reserve, and would be a strong voice on the planning board in support of robust and effective maintenance and planning for our parks. Regarding future residential and commercial development in the county, I am sure that Mr. Bowser would be a prudent voice on the planning board, consistently seeking success-oriented solutions that promote economic development in the county while preserving the environment and our valuable parklands, streams, and farms.

Mr. Bowser has been a strong advocate for Downtown Silver Spring. He has worked with the Silver Spring Town Center organization to promote activities in Silver Spring, and has worked extremely hard to inform our community about the planning for the new civic building and plaza. He recently helped to organize the first annual Silver Spring Blues Festival, which was a great success.

I hope that I have provided enough information about Mr. Bowser's unique qualifications for the County Planning Board. I think that it is unlikely that you will find another candidate who is as knowledgeable, committed, or open-minded as Mr. Bowser. I hope that you will consider him favorably for this appointment.

Thank you very much,

Jim Preston
Silver Spring, Maryland

Charlotte Coffield, Lyttonsville Civic Association

Mr. Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Councilman Andrews:

I strongly support appointment of Alan S. Bowser to serve on the Moungtomery County Planning Board. Mr. Bowser is an energetic, knowledgeable, and disciplined team worker with an impressive educational, professional and employment track record.

I served with Mr. Bowser on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board and worked closely with him on the Board's Neighborhood Committee which he chaired. He has proven himself to be knowledgeable and effective and has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills. On his own initiative, he has been instrumental in soliciting the Advisory Board's participation in several successful community events such as the Community Forum on Youth Violence and Gangs and the Community Forum on Emergency Preparadness. Under his leadership and guidance, the Neighborhood Committee has made great strides in community outreach by inviting representatives of community organizations to our meetings to address current issues.

Mr. Bowser is a hardworking, dedicated and loyal citizen on Montgomery County and would be an excellent choice to fill the Democratic seat on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Charlotte A. Coffield
Former two-term member of the Silver Spring Citizen's Advisory Board
Lifetime member of Montgomery County
Long-time member of the Lyttonsville Civic Association

Chris Richardson, Park Hills Civic Association & Montgomery County Planning Board Purple Line Functional Master Plan Advisory Group

Mr. Phil Andrews, President
Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Council President Andrews:

I am writing to urge you to support the candidacy of Alan S. Bowser of Silver Spring, MD for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board. I know Alan Bowser in many capacities, and I am confident that he would be great member of the Planning Board.

I serve as Secretary of the Park Hills Civic Association and as Chair of its Purple Line Task Force, and I have worked for several years with Alan Bowser who serves as our civic association president. Under his leadership, we have reinvigorated the Park Hills Civic Association and made it dynamic and very effective community organization. We now routinely review, discuss and act on a broad range of community issues--transportation and pedestrian safety, environment, parks & recreation, libraries, and community development—because of Alan Bowser’s work.

I also have served as a member of the Silver Spring Citizen’s Advisory Board’s Neighborhoods Committee, where Alan Bowser served as Chair for many years. I’ve seen first hand the considerable time and energy he has devoted to making the Committee an important and popular forum for the discussion of neighborhood issues such as affordable housing, parks and recreation, arts & humanities, and urban revitalization.

Finally, I serve as a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board’s Purple Line Functional Master Plan Advisory Group; Alan Bowser serves as an alternate member. To assess our neighborhood’s views on the Purple Line, Park Hills established a Purple Line review process that was pro-active, transparent, and fair, and we achieved a broad consensus in support of public transit in our neighborhood. While there are members of our neighborhood who still do not support the Purple Line, a majority of our residents believe that the process we developed was fair and that all voices were heard. I am confident that Alan Bowser would bring the same spirit of honesty, transparency, inclusiveness, hard work, consensus building and fairness to the Planning Board.

I urge you to support his candidacy to be a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Sincerely,

Chris Richardson
Secretary, Park Hills Civic Association
Member, Purple Line Functional Master Plan Advisory Group (MPAG)
Silver Spring, MD

Caren Madsen

The Honorable Phil Andrews
President, Montgomery County Council
& Members of the Council
Rockville, MD 20853

Dear Council President Andrews and Council Members:

I am writing in support of Alan Bowser's candidacy as one of our Montgomery County Planning Commissioners. I have known Alan now for about six years and have worked with him in various community service positions. I believe Alan would make an outstanding member of the Planning Board.

My experience with Alan is that he is a person of tremendous depth and integrity. He thinks issues through and is deliberative, fair and sound in his decision-making. Alan is obviously very dedicated to serving the community and is astute in a wide range of issues but particularly in local land use and environmental issues.

I think you will all agree that Alan's academic and professional credentials speak volumes about his ability to serve on the Planning Board. I hope you will vote to add Alan to our Commission. We need his judgment on the Board as we continue to face the many challenges of a growing community and fiscal constraints.

Thank you for your consideration of Alan.

Best,

Caren Madsen