Marc Elrich (D) prevailed in a rare contentious general election in Montgomery County to become the County’s next executive. Elrich faced two opponents in fellow Council Member Nancy Floreen (unaffiliated) and perennial candidate Robin Ficker (R).
Floreen changed her party registration from Democrat to Unaffiliated after failing to beat Elrich in a crowded primary earlier this year and cast herself as a moderate left candidate against the more progressive Elrich. However, the tactic was unsuccessful as Elrich captured 225,900 votes (64.3%). Floreen received 67,402 votes (19.2%) while Ficker got 57,489 votes (16.4%).
Elrich ran on a progressive platform that partially included: closing the opportunity gap, economic and social justice, Smart Growth, excellent schools, and environmental protection. Elrich has been an at-large County Council Member since 2006. Prior to that he was a public school teacher for 17 years.
Floreen previously served two terms on the Montgomery County Planning Board before serving four terms as an at-large Council Member. She was also Mayor for Garrett Park. Floreen’s campaign focused on expanding the tax base and economic development through responsible growth, creating a balanced transportation plan, and addressing school overcrowding.
Ficker is a longstanding fixture in Montgomery County politics and is known for his activism in the areas of property tax caps, land use issues, and term limits. In 2016, Ficker introduced a successful charter amendment that limited County Council Members to three consecutive four-year terms in office. Ficker’s campaign priorities included education, ending gridlock, taxes and the economy, crime and public safety, and ensuring all of the County has a representative voice in government.
Note: All vote totals cited in this article are from the unofficial results of the Maryland State Board of Elections (MSBE) as of 6:08 am on 2018-11-07.
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