The Montgomery County Council today unanimously elected Council Member Tom Hucker as president and Council Member Gabe Albornoz as vice president of the Council. They will serve one-year terms as officers of the Council.
“We will take the lessons we learned this year to guide us as we climb out of this unexpected disaster and come back stronger and better prepared for the future,” said Hucker. “By this time next year, our county will be stronger, healthier, more prosperous and more equitable.”
From Council President Hucker’s page:
Councilmember Tom Hucker was elected to the Montgomery County Council in November of 2014 representing the Council’s 5th District. Tom now serves on the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee, as well as on the Public Safety Committee. He also serves as the Council’s Lead Member on the Environment.
Tom’s entire career has focused on helping people make government more responsive and effective — first as a community organizer and environmental advocate, as founder of Progressive Maryland, for two terms representing District 20 in the Maryland General Assembly from 2006 to 2014. He serves as a board member of the Progressive States Network, and a consultant for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Since 2006, Tom has authored and passed over 40 major bills, including historic living wage laws, employee discrimination protections, environmental reforms, and more.
From Council Vice President Albornoz’s page:
Gabe is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and is deeply committed to our County, its people, and, as the son of immigrant parents, its diversity. He grew up here, graduated from Montgomery County Public Schools and has dedicated his career to public service and advocating for just social policies.
During the “great recession” of 2009, Gabe was able to maintain excellence in the Recreation Department despite the challenges of an austere fiscal environment. Under his leadership, the department expanded programing to vulnerable populations, and with its dedicated staff and volunteers, has received dozens of awards for programming excellence from organizations such as the National Association of Counties (NACO). Just this past year, the Recreation Department received eight national awards, more than any other Department in the Country.
Highlights of his tenure as director include construction of four new senior centers, six new recreation centers, and major renovations to six others.
In a letter, outgoing Council President Sidney Katz reflected on some of the Council’s accomplishments during 2020 including passage of an LGBTQ Bill of Rights, the establishment of the Local Business Preference Program for County procurement, the start of the Policing Advisory Commission, and the County’s many efforts during the pandemic.
From the letter:
As I reflect on this past year, I am both proud and grateful. I am proud that the Council was able to do so much for our residents during one of the most challenging times in our history. I am also grateful that I had the tremendous support of my colleagues, staff, family and friends.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
