Hans Riemer Elected As Montgomery County Council President

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Montgomery County Council unanimously elected at-large Councilmember Hans Riemer (D) as president and Nancy Navarro (D-Mid-County) as vice president of the Council Tuesday.

Council President Riemer, of Takoma Park, served as Council vice president for the past year and begins his eighth year on the Council. Riemer succeeds Councilmember Roger Berliner, who completed his one-year term as president Tuesday.

“This is going to be a year, hopefully, of heightened public participation in our Council affairs," Riemer said in a statement. "Emotions in our community are charged as our residents reject the destructive politics in D.C. and look to our leadership to provide light in the storm.”

Riemer has been a strong advocate for funding public education and public transportation, early childhood programs, libraries, recreation, human services, housing and economic development, according to a county news release. He also worked to strengthen the County’s rural, suburban and urban areas by placing walkability, public transportation and sustainability at the center of planning goals.

Councilmember Navarro was unanimously elected to serve as the vice president of the Council for the second time during her tenure on the Council. She became the first Latina president of the County Council in 2012-2013 and also served as vice president in 2011-2012.

Navarro is committed to furthering progressive values and has worked to close the opportunity gap, increase the minimum wage, and promote and strengthen civic participation among Latinos and immigrants through her Latino Civic Project. In addition, she spearheaded the Right to Vote Task Force and made the fiscal decisions required to help the County maintain its AAA bond rating.

She represents District 4, which follows Georgia Ave. from Wheaton to the Howard County border. The district also includes Aspen Hill, Ashton, Brookeville, Colesville (west of MD 650), Etchison, Glenmont, Olney, Kensington Heights, Layhill Village, Laytonsville, Randolph Hills, Sandy Spring and Sunshine.

Photo: Nancy Navarro and Hans Riemer via Montgomery Council