Meet The Candidate: Jud Ashman Seeks Reelection As Gaithersburg's Mayor

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Gaithersburg voters will have the opportunity to elect a new mayor and two city councilors at the Nov. 2 election this year.

Patch has reached out to all of the candidates and asked them to share with readers why they think they're the best pick on the ballot. Jud Ashman, the incumbent for mayor, filled out this survey.

Early voting for the Gaithersburg election will be held at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 and 24, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular voting will be on Nov. 2 also at the Activity Center.

Candidate

Jud Ashman

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Position sought (mayor, city council)

Mayor

Party Affiliation

Democratic Party (though this is a non-partisan race)

Family

Wife: Elizabeth
Son and Daughter-in-law: Jeff and his wife Brittney
Daughter: Jenna

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My daughter Jenna works part-time in Special Events for the City of Gaithersburg.

Education

Master Degree (candidate), Accounting & Financial Management, University of Maryland, Global Campus
Bachelor's Degree, Journalism & Political Science, University of Miami (FL)
Certifications:
Maryland Open Meetings Act, Academy for Excellence in Local Governance from the University of Maryland
Ethical Leadership Certification, NASBA Center for the Public Trust

Occupation

President, Web Mobile Image, LLC (since 2012)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Mayor of Gaithersburg: November 2014 – Present
Member, Gaithersburg City Council: 2007 – 2014
Founder and Chair, Gaithersburg Book Festival: 2008 – Present
Coordinator, Quince Orchard High School Cluster of PTAs: 2005 – 2007
President, Brown Station Elementary School PTA: 2002 – 2003
Board Member, Orchard Place Homeowner’s Association: 2007 – 2011

Campaign website

www.VoteJud.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Every morning, I wake up feeling both proud and mindful of the responsibility I’ve been given to serve our community as Mayor. After seven years of service in this position (and seven before that on the City Council), those feelings are as strong and as motivating as ever.

I am running to continue to serve you as Mayor for a number of reasons:

Our City is in great shape. Under my leadership – in partnership with my City Council colleagues and our staff – I believe that the City is moving in the right direction. I intend to continue that momentum.

We need tested leadership at the helm. I believe that the experience and the big-picture perspective I’ve developed over more than two decades of involvement in City affairs – on matters that range from every area of municipal governance to every neighborhood in our City – will continue to serve Gaithersburg well.

I know that there are tough decisions ahead of us, and I believe that my skill set and personality remain a good fit to help move us forward and carry on the traditions and best practices that have served us all so well.

The residents and community stakeholders deserve a Mayor who enjoys serving them. I dare say there is nobody who enjoys serving our community more than I do!

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

My top priority is revitalization of some of the areas on the east side of our City, including Olde Towne, Lakeforest, and areas along 355. Indeed, the future of Lakeforest is incredibly important; not only in our efforts to help this area reach its potential, but because a strong redevelopment there can serve as a powerful catalyst for revitalization across this whole section of Gaithersburg. Much of what needs to happen for a redevelopment is beyond our direct control, but we can do things to foster the right conditions for it. For example, I supported and helped pass our recently-updated master plan, and I have the knowledge and experience to be at the table with the property owners, and our staff - to help bring about the top-quality redevelopment project our community deserves.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The biggest differences between me and my challenger, about whom there is much to admire, are relevant knowledge and experience. My challenger has only lived in the City for a couple years and has not been active at City Hall at all until very recently.

By contrast, I’ve been active in the Gaithersburg community for more than 20 years. This is my 14th year in elected office - my seventh as Mayor after serving the previous seven on the City Council. I know our neighborhoods. I know City Hall - inside and out. And I know how to build and lead a great team in order to get things done.

I have deep ties to elected leaders throughout the County, State, and those serving us at the Federal level. I bring considerable institutional knowledge to the table and a working understanding of every major issue that has come before the City since 2001.

More importantly, I have a substantial record of success to point to. Under my leadership with a great City Council and staff, our local government has made enormous strides in building our local economy, bringing thousands of job opportunities to the City, improving the health of our environment, adding to our transportation network, increasing our stock of affordable housing options, enhancing the safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods, and, most recently, serving those in need during the pandemic.

At the same time, we’ve maintained the lowest tax rate for any of Maryland’s large cities. We are debt-free. And citizen surveys reflect an overwhelming satisfaction of our residents with the level of service we provide.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

When it comes to public health emergencies, Montgomery County is the lead agency; the City of Gaithersburg plays a supporting role. However, we had to make our own operational decisions, learn how to operate virtually, and rework our annual budget in order to adapt to the situation. Looking back on it, I think our City staff did a fantastic job. Our residents were wonderful about complying with social distancing guidelines. And everyone came together to serve those in need. We're obviously not fully through the pandemic, but our community has come a long way and I'm proud of it.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Gaithersburg has long been a leader on environmental policy and I believe we need to remain so. During my tenure, we became perhaps the first city in the U.S. to implement both a commercial and residential green building code. Our conversion of all City-owned street lights to LED is nearly complete. We are in the midst of converting our vehicle fleet and equipment to electric. We’ve benchmarked energy consumption at City facilities and will be working to reduce that consumption each year. And I intend to push for concrete goals that take us down the path to carbon neutrality. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've been in elected office for 14 years, so there are literally volumes of evidence! Positions and votes I've taken, statements I've made on behalf of the City and our Council, and a proud record of success and achievement on behalf of our residents.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Our City politics are non-partisan, and I believe it was our former Mayor Sidney Katz who first explained to me why that made sense. "There's an old saying," he told me, "that there's no 'Democratic' or 'Republican' way to fix a pothole." I've always kept that little bit of wisdom in mind and found it invaluable.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

In our system of government, the Mayor is primarily a facilitator. I’ve often compared it to being the conductor of the orchestra, where it’s the Mayor’s job to lead the symphony while at the same time making sure that each of the players and sections is heard and has a chance to contribute to the overall harmony. This happens to be a really good fit for my personality, as I am the kind of person who likes to shine the spotlight on others. I'm the first to acknowledge that our most substantial achievements are *collective*, not individual. And that leadership begins with listening. That’s the way I lead our City, and I hope it makes our residents proud.