Starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, Gaithersburg voters filed into the Boher Park Activity Center to vote on three city council positions. Candidates stood outside, handing out fliers and attempting to convince last-minute voters.
There are six candidates vying for three council seats. The candidates are incumbents Neil Harris and Robert Wu and newcomers Yamil Hernández, Daniel Lukomsky, Shanika Whitehurst and Omodamola Williams.
Multiple voters voiced concern about a lack of affordable rental housing. One was Nancy Romaine, who said that affordable housing is important and that city development must be managed carefully.
“It’s really important for the city government to represent all of the people, not just the small number of people who want to preserve their personal neighborhood to suit them,” Romaine said.
Roman Santillan said he shared the same concern for affordable housing, saying that this is the biggest issue in his community. To solve this issue, Santillan said the city has to focus on building more homes.
The Gaithersburg resident said he voted on three council members that represent the diversity of Montgomery County – Hernandez, Wu and Whitehurst.
“I think the community is very diverse, so I choose diversity,” Santillan said. “When we have one point of view, it doesn’t work, sharing ideas is much better”.
Kirsten Petersen, a private school communications director, said she wants the city council to help keep her vibrant community alive through housing support and transportation resources. Petersen was happy to see that many of the candidates prioritized supporting disenfranchised people, she said.
“I want everybody who lives here to be able to enjoy everything that makes Gaithersburg so great,” Petersen said.
Nicholas Ritchie, a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, rode his bike to the polling place.
Ritchie said he hopes the next city council improves bike and other alternative transportation infrastructure. Alternative transportation is important, Ritchie said, because of the health benefits, increasing environmental concerns and how these transportation methods improve livability standards.
“It is clear that we’re going to have to rethink how we do things today,” Ritchie said in an interview. “Gaithersburg is a wonderful town, but it can be even better if we if we make it easier to experience it on a more personal level, get out of the car and enjoy the city”.
Voters also mentioned that crime prevention and job growth were top-of-mind this election.
No matter who they voted for, Gaithersburg early morning voters all were adamant about one thing: the importance of voting in local elections.
Kirsten Petersen, a private school communications director, said her past career as a local news reporter influenced her passion for local elections.
“I know how important it is for people to know who they’re electing to local office and how much influence those people have on what happens in their community,” Petersen said.
Ritchie said that in every election – local, state and national – it’s important to come out to get the right people in office.
“Voting is not only our right, it’s our obligation given how important the issues are today,” Ritchie said.
Polls in Gaithersburg will be open until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Preliminary election results will be available Tuesday evening on the city website.
I’m at the Boher Park Activity Center talking to voters in the Gaithersburg city council election. Voters I’ve interviewed say they want more affordable housing and safer alternative transportation.
Story to come for @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/KPlcszV9ED
— Katharine Wilson (@kwilson_news) November 7, 2023
