Candidate Profile: Marilyn Balcombe For MoCo Council In District 2

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Democrat Marilyn Balcombe is running in the Nov. 8 general election for the District 2 seat on the Montgomery County Council.

Marilyn Balcombe defeated two other candidates in the July 19 primary to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the District 2 race. She is running against Republican Dan Cuda,

District 2's current representative on the council, Democrat Craig Rice, is stepping down after the election.

Patch asked each of the candidates running for the Montgomery Council to fill out the following questionnaire.

Name

Marilyn Balcombe

Campaign Website

www.MarilynBalcombe.com

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Names, ages and any pertinent detail you wish to share.

Daughter, Emily Balcombe

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No.

Education

PhD in Organizational Psychology; Masters in Counseling; Bachelors in Accounting

Occupation - Please include years of experience

CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce for 17 years; Department of Energy for 15 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

The 2022 election will bring significant change in leadership for the County. As the County Council grows from 9 to 11 members and term limits are enforced, there will be at least six newly elected councilmembers. During this time of transition, we need to make sure the Upcounty is well and strongly represented. I have been a trusted, respected leader in the Upcounty for almost 30 years. I have the leadership, the passion, and the experience to hit the ground running and will be an effective, dynamic representative for our community. My track record speaks for itself.

The single most pressing issue facing Montgomery County is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Housing. We have a housing shortage and an affordability issue. The County is expected to add significant housing, the next County Council is going to decide where and when it will be built. I will advocate for affordable, transit oriented units.

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

The primary difference between me and my opponent is experience in our community. I have a LONG list of community based projects that I've accomplished. I have advocated for many of our County’s assets. My opponent has not.

• Montgomery County Public Schools construction and operations
• Increased police funding
• BlackRock Center for the Arts construction and operations
• Montgomery College construction and operations
• Universities at Shady Grove construction
• Johns Hopkins University development
• National Cancer Institute construction
• Germantown and Gaithersburg Libraries construction
• Germantown Fire Stations #22 and #34 construction
• South Germantown Park and Germantown Town Center Park
• School Boundary Changes
• Various Master Plans including Germantown, Great Seneca Science Corridor, Montgomery Village, Germantown and Boyds MARC Stations
• Transportation projects, including Fix270 Now, Watkins Mill Interchange, Corridor Cities Transitway, County BRT, Father Hurley Extension, Century Boulevard completion, to name a few.

I have also been engaged in a large number of community groups

My current involvement includes:

• Montgomery County Small Business Recovery Workgroup
• Committee for Montgomery, Board Member/Past Chair
• Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan Implementation Committee Co-Chair
• Leadership Montgomery (past Board and Programs Committee Chair)
• Women’s Democratic Club
• Germantown Democratic Club (founding member)
• Montgomery Women (past Board member and Power Tea Co-Chair)
• Future link Board Vice President/Mentor
• Asbury Methodist Village Community Advisory Group
• Holy Cross Hospital Germantown Patient Family Advisory Council
• Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Past President
• Mooseum, Advisory Committee

My past community involvement includes:

• Montgomery Moving Forward Leadership Group
• 2020 Census - Complete Counts Committee
• County Executive Marc Elrich’s Transition Team
• Montgomery County Election Judge
• BlackRock Center for the Arts, Board Chair
• Arts and Humanities Council Board of Directors
• Corridor Cities Coalition, Board Chair
• Northwest Cluster PTSA, Booster Club, Cross County mom
• Montgomery County Literacy Council Tutor
• Wells-Robertson House, Gaithersburg
• Upcounty Citizen’s Advisory Board
• County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Germantown Help
• Clopper’s Mill Homeowners Association, Founding President

I've done the work to help OUR community

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I love our community, it is my home and I work hard to make sure that our community reflects our values. Although there is an endless number of issues that are important to the quality of life in our community, I will begin by focusing on the following:

Education

Our greatest asset is our educational system. We need to ensure that all children have equal access to the education they deserve.

• Ensure that our K-12 system remains world-class.
• Invest in early childhood education.
• Provide a comprehensive skills-based education system for students who choose not to attend a standard four-year college.
• Support Montgomery College and ensure that no one is denied access due to income constraints.

Jobs and the Economy
An expanded, robust economy is crucial to our success through individual jobs and the tax revenue necessary to support our County.

• Provide access to the resources residents and local businesses need to recover from the pandemic.
• Reclaim Montgomery County’s preeminence in the BioTech Industry.
• Increase attraction and retention efforts to bring more businesses and jobs to the Upcounty.
• Foster a climate where entrepreneurs can create, thrive, and scale their businesses here in Montgomery County.
• Ensure that we have a workforce that is ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Planning for the Future
We need to celebrate our growth and focus on creating the infrastructure needed to accommodate an increasing population.

• Identify ways to provide sustainable housing options for all our residents.
• Support transit-oriented, mixed-use development for future growth.
• Invest in transportation projects that will yield both short and long-term relief, such as increased capacity on I-270 and completion of Snowden Farm Parkway.
• Recognize that different areas of the County required different planning, zoning, and transportation options.
• Protect our Agricultural Reserve

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

As an Organizational Psychologist, I served at the U.S. Department of Energy lending her expertise in the areas of organizational change, employee assistance programs, substance abuse, workforce development, and workforce transition.

Focusing her efforts locally, I worked for Montgomery County at the Upcounty Regional Services Center where she was closely engaged with the community on a variety of issues. During my tenure, I also created the County budget for the five Regional Services Centers.

I was then asked to take the reins of BlackRock Center for the Arts and consider it a great honor to have served as the Executive Director; overseeing the construction and grand opening of this wonderful community asset.

I am now the President & CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce. For the past 17 years, I have been working to bring jobs to our community and nurture a strong, robust local economy.

Please see the long list of accomplishments and civic engagement listed above.

Always stay true to your values.

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

For far too long, the Upcounty has not received the resources we need to thrive. I intend to make a change. I love my Upcounty community and have worked hard for the past 30 years to make this a better place to live. I will continue to work just as hard for you on the County Council.

Related:

2022 Candidate Profile: Dan Cuda Runs For MoCo Council In District 2