Cherri Branson Selected to Fill District 5 Council Seat

County Executive Ike Leggett welcomes new District 5 Councilmember Cherri Branson at her swearing in ceremony. Branson will serve the unexpired term of former Councilmember Valerie Ervin who resigned in early January

Cherri Branson has been selected by acclamation by the County Council as the new Councilmember for District 5. She succeeds former Councilmember Valerie Ervin, who resigned from the Council to become executive director of the Center for Working Families. Branson will complete the unexpired term, which ends December 1, 2014.

She has held key staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1989 and is currently Chief Counsel for Oversight on the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Branson is a past president of the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County. In 2011, the Council appointed her to County’s Commission on Redistricting. She has also served on the Charter Review Commission.

“Cherri Branson has outstanding civic and professional experience, and the Council looks forward to her service,” said Council President Craig Rice. “We were fortunate to have many excellent applicants, and our decision was a difficult one. We deeply appreciate their willingness to serve the community.”

“I am familiar with many of the key issues facing the County and the Council, and I will work quickly to learn more,” Branson said. “I pledge to effectively represent the residents of District 5 -- and all the people of Montgomery County.”