Meet The Candidate: Philip Cook Running For Gaithersburg City Council

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. Philip Cook, a candidate for City Council, 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.

Want to get more Gaithersburg local election news? Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter.

Candidate

Philip Cook

Age (as of Election Day)

31

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

City Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife: Lily
Son: Philip Jr., 2 years old

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Limestone College

Occupation

Accountant (8 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

none

Campaign website

www.votephilipcook.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for city council because every day people deserve representation in local government. I have an urgency to want to get involved and make a difference for the people of Gaithersburg.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our city is the redevelopment of Olde Towne Gaithersburg. Olde Towne has especially been hit hard by the pandemic. We have a lot of empty real estate in Olde Towne and we should be doing everything in our power to incentivize businesses to move here.

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

I am the youngest candidate running for city council. I believe that I am more in touch with the needs of every day residents in Gaithersburg. I will take a hands on approach and make sure that the voices of all residents of Gaithersburg are being heard.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I believe that city has been well run for the last several years. If there is one critique it would be the way that the storm water restoration projects have been done. With the environment being a central part of my campaign, conserving trees and green spaces is very important. With the storm water restoration projects the city has had to cut down over 100 trees. I believe we can implement these storm water restorations with less impact on the environment and existing ecosystems.

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

I believe that local officials have performed well in response to the coronavirus. They have made accommodations to restaurants to help them weather the storm. Many people in Gaithersburg have lost their jobs and are still hurting. I would implement a UBI pilot program to help ease the suffering of so many.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Environment
Stand up for the environment. Conserve trees and green spaces.

Small Businesses
Support small businesses and incentivize them to come to Old Towne.

Jobs
Work with the council to create more jobs and grow economy in Gaithersburg.

Parks
Every neighborhood should have a park or playground for kids to play.

Lakeforest Mall
Work with owners to develop a multi-use facility that could include housing and entertainment.

Districts
Work for the creation of district/at-large council mixture to ensure all parts of the city are represented.

Public
Always be willing have an open dialogue with the public and to listen to them to ensure all their needs are met.

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

I have worked as an accountant for the last 8 years. I have experience working with budgets and crunching the numbers. I have volunteered on various campaigns as well.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

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

I've lived in Gaithersburg for 6 years. I genuinely want to improve the material conditions of the city. I will bring a unique millennial perspective that is missing from the city council. The environment is something that I will prioritize if elected to the council and I will make sure that all residents have a seat at the table.