Dear Friends,
This week we have been watching the first days of the Trump presidency with a particular eye on potential impacts to our County and community.
We are still reviewing most of his executive orders to understand how they would be implemented and their impact. However, there are a few that I want to mention here.
The President’s executive order that pardoned all of the Jan. 6 rioters (nearly 1,500) and halted further prosecutions is very troubling. This impacts us here in Montgomery County. We had police officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and we continue to have police officers dealing with the physical and emotional trauma of that day. Pardoning everyone involved in this attempted takeover of democracy is a chilling message to send to our law enforcement personnel and others. If you look at the video footage from that day, you can see some of the individuals attacking police officers; they were later convicted for their vicious acts but now those convictions are overturned – the message from those pardons are quite chilling. It is also a sign of our sad state of affairs that President Biden had to issue pardons to those on the January 6 Select Committee – including our own Congressman Jamie Raskin – to preemptively protect them from political persecution. You can hear Rep. Raskin’s reaction here. These lawmakers and aides were doing their jobs and investigating crimes that happened right in front of our eyes.
Another executive order withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the United Nations treaty on climate change.
Additionally, the President’s actions to demonize immigrants are not simply mean-spirited; it is also counterproductive. Our immigrant neighbors are vital to the fabric of our community and economy. I support Attorney General Brown’s decision for Maryland to join other States in a lawsuit filed this week to challenge President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship.
We are also hearing from our LGBTQ+ community, who are outraged and concerned about the Executive Order to dismantle the legal and social recognition of transgender people. Last year, I was proud to support Maryland’s Trans Shield Act, legislation that was co-sponsored by Del. David Moon and the majority of our House delegation, that ensured that those states that banned gender-affirming care cannot use private health records against transgender Marylanders and their physicians. It is sad and scary that this community, which already suffers from high suicide rates and is often alienated from their own families, is now being victimized by its own federal government.
New orders would also effectively shut down an array of programs and practices aimed at reversing decades of systemic inequities and discriminatory practices that have disproportionately affected Black Americans. As I mentioned to the audience at Strathmore during the County’s MLK Birthday Celebration, we will not waiver in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. At the core, they want to pretend that slavery never happened.
We cannot know what will be coming next from the federal government, but we do want you to know that we will do everything we can to uphold the values of Montgomery County.
Honoring a Fallen Hero
This week, I joined leaders, friends and family of Lt. Christopher Higgins in paying tribute to a hero. Chris was a 23-year member of the Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service who died this month answering a call for help.
Those lucky enough to know Chris had the utmost respect for him. He was a master firefighter in title and in the truest sense of mastering the skills. He loved his work, and he did it well. He was a mentor and a role model. Last week, he was posthumously elevated to the rank of lieutenant.
During the ceremony, I heard the last and final call for Chris, but our community will join his loved ones in continuing to mourn this loss.
45th Annual Women’s Legislative Briefing
On Saturday, I will be part of the 45th annual Women’s Legislative Briefing organized by Montgomery County’s Commission for Women. We will be joined by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Comptroller Brooke Lierman and County Council President Kate Stewart to talk to leaders from our County and State about the issues facing women and the legislative work ahead of us at the local, State and Federal levels.
Now more than ever, it is important to be informed and engaged in political matters. The Women’s Legislative Briefing is an excellent way to empower more women to advocate for themselves and others. Find out how to register later in this newsletter.
Maryland Commerce Secretary Anderson Visits Montgomery County
As I mentioned last week, Governor Wes Moore released his Fiscal Year 2026 state budget proposal. His key focus will be to turn around Maryland’s stagnant economy by fostering an environment for Maryland businesses to start, grow and succeed, attract new companies to our state and create good-paying jobs and careers for our residents.
This week, we were pleased to welcome Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson, who visited with the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation’s (MCEDC) Board of Directors to better align the State’s job creation efforts with our County’s efforts.
This type of engagement and partnership is exactly what we asked for from Gov. Moore. Montgomery County is only one-sixth of our State’s population, but we account for about one-quarter of Maryland’s gross domestic product (GDP). This chart shows how the County’s GDP has been rising since 2020, though it has yet to include 2024 totals.
A strong Maryland economy relies on a strong Montgomery County economy. By working more closely together, we can share resources, leads and strategies that will benefit the state and County.
To learn more about our efforts to attract good-paying jobs, please visit the MCEDC website at thinkmoco.com.
National Mentoring Month
This week, at Council, I helped recognize National Mentoring Month. We see the impact mentors have within our schools and classrooms. When I was a fourth-grade teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary School, I was asked to pick just four students from my class to participate in the school’s Community Bridges program. I easily could have given most of my class that opportunity and so did other teachers who placed students into the program.
Mentoring in our schools is not limited to academics. Sometimes, a meaningful conversation with someone you admire can teach you a lot about life. It sparks curiosity, engagement and a desire to learn more. Not all kids can talk to their parents; not all kids have someone they can talk to and get guidance from. I saw it back then and it remains true today: the need for mentors far outweighs the supply.
Adults can also find mentors to help with things like job training. I have friends who have helped older immigrants learn English. This is a way to help others fully integrate into our community.
We saw outstanding participation at last weekend’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service events. I want to thank the hundreds of people who showed up to help our community partners. These photos show some of the projects they worked on.
The County partners with numerous groups that could use more volunteers in a mentorship role. We are grateful for these collaborations and encourage more of them. Please browse through all the opportunities to help on our Montgomery County Volunteer Center website at montgomeryserves.org.
Lunar New Year
During this time of year, many of our communities are preparing for the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The holiday gives us several opportunities to celebrate the vibrant heritage, culture and incredible contributions of our Asian American community.
According to this study by WalletHub, Montgomery County is home to four of the nation's 10 most diverse cities. Our diversity is not just a statistic but a testament to our community's inclusivity and welcoming spirit.
Census data shows more than 160,000 Asian residents in Montgomery County, comprising 16 percent of our population. On my trips to China, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Vietnam, I have consistently heard how welcoming and friendly Montgomery County is. We have built a reputation as a community where diversity thrives.
Lunar New Year celebrations are always a highlight of my year. One of the things I love about them is that the celebration lasts almost two months, giving people multiple opportunities to interact with friends in their communities and celebrate their hopes for the new year. I look forward to attending many of this year’s festivities.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
Marc Elrich
County Executive
