County Council District 4

Candidates:

Al Carr (D)
Amy Ginsburg (D)
Troy Murtha (D)
Cheryl Riley (R)
Kate Stewart (D)
John Zittrauer (D)

Al Carr (D)

No response

Attended AIM Candidate Action?: Yes

Amy Ginsburg (D)

Council District: District 4

Website: www.AmyGinsburg.com

Twitter: @amy_ginsburg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.ginsburg.3

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.ginsburg.moco/

Attended AIM Candidate Action?: Yes

Housing, Transportation, and the Environment

Will you work with AIM to make Ride-On permanently free to riders and create dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

Yes, I believe Ride-On should be permanently free to riders — it has been a very successful experiment that should be made permanent. Bus Rapid Transit must have dedicated lanes for it to be reliable, efficient, and rapid. If it doesn’t, it’s just fancy express bus service.

Will you work with AIM to encourage high density housing near transit hubs, including bus rapid transit, Metro and the Purple Line through upzoning to allow increased density within a half mile of these hubs? Will you commit to prioritizing high-density affordable housing development on all public land near transit?

Yes, I will work with AIM to encourage high density housing near transit hubs. Density in our downtown areas and near transit is one of the major keys to addressing our housing crisis, encouraging the use of multi-modal transit which will help mitigate climate change, and providing a high quality of life. High-density affordable housing (with, perhaps, attainable and market-rate housing to make it pencil out) on public land near transit is imperative.

Will you work with AIM to stabilize market rate affordable housing in places at risk for significant price increases through strategies such as geographically specific rent stabilization for low-income residents, compensation for tenants whose housing is being redeveloped, and requirements for developers to provide the support necessary for households to resettle in the same community?

I will work with AIM on limited rent stabilization near the purple line as the people in affordable housing that survived ten years of construction should not be displaced. Redevelopment should enable current residents to resettle in the same community as much as possible by encouraging and incentivizing new development into which current residents can move so their current buildings can be redeveloped.

Will you work with AIM to provide more protection for tenants including: following current legal requirements for frequency of housing inspection every 1-3 years; hiring inspectors bilingual in Spanish and English; requiring landlords to address identified problems quickly and work with tenants’ associations to establish a tenant hotline via 311 (the county’s information line) in Spanish and English?

Assuming housing inspection every 1 to 3 years is the appropriate norm for the industry, I would work with AIM to support that. A tenant hotline in multiple language, not just Spanish and English, would be useful and I would like to work with AIM to create it. And of course, landlords ought to address identified health and safety problems quickly.

Education and Childcare

Will you commit to work with AIM to increase compensation for teachers and recreation staff within the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program?

Assuming there are sufficient funds in the budget, I would work with AIM to increase compensation for teachers and recreation staff with the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program.

Will you commit to expanding the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program to four new schools each year, until it is in every Title I Elementary School in Montgomery County?

Assuming there are sufficient funds in the budget, I would commit to expanding the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program to four new schools every year wit the goal of it being in every Title 1 school. Excel Beyond the Bell is proven program that should be expanded.

Will you make pre-K available to more students by: expanding the number of full-day pre-K seats through Head Start, MCPS and Judy Centers; and making the application for subsidies less cumbersome and not contingent on proof of employment?

Assuming there are sufficient funds in the budget, I would support making pre-K available to more students. The application for subsidies should be easy to complete and not contingent on proof of employment.

Will you commit to work with AIM to offer Universal Pre-K to all four-year-olds in Montgomery County by 2026?

Early childhood education is critical — studies have shown that pre-K education is critical to setting the foundation for a child’s future academic and life success. Assuming there are sufficient funds in the budget, I would work with AIM to offer universal Pre-k to all four year olds in Montgomery County by 2026.

Will you work with AIM to make the state’s 529 plan accessible and nearly automatic for low-income families to sign up for each year as part of their school registration paperwork, and will you commit to working with AIM so that the county matches the state’s contribution to the program?

Yes, automatic sign-up for 529 plans is a wonderful idea. In fact, it’s such a good idea one must wonder why it hadn’t been thought of before. If there are sufficient funds in the budget, I would work with AIM so that the count matches the state’s contribution to the program.

Healthcare, Dental Care, and Mental Health

Over the next 4 years, will you work to create an effective dental care system for the uninsured such that those who need dental care can be seen twice each year without waiting 3 months for an appointment? Will you commit to increasing funds for dental services such that common specialized services such as root canals can be addressed in the safety net and county dental clinics? Will you establish a patient record system such that patient records can be shared across the safety net and County clinics when a patient is referred to a different clinic?

Assuming there are sufficient funds in the funds in budget, I would work to create an effective dental care system for uninsured residents. While security and privacy must be ensured, a patient record system to coordinate care makes sense.

Will you include funding by 2025 for an emergency medical and dental health crisis fund to county safety net clinics?

Assuming there are sufficient funds, we should include funding for an emergency medical and dental health crisis fund.

What ideas do you have to increase equitable access to mental health care for young people and how will you work with us to explore these ideas?

We should offer mental health care for young people through our school system. We should also explore partnering with youth nonprofit organizations and faith based organization to provide mental health care. It is critical that care be easily accessed and located in a wide variety of neighborhood. Online counseling is an option that should also be explored as it can often offer more affordable, more accessible care.

Democracy with Accountability

Do you commit to meeting with AIM within a month of taking office, and on a quarterly basis subsequently?

Yes.

Troy Murtha (D)

Council District: District 4

Website: troymurtha.com

Twitter:

Facebook: murtha4moco

Instagram: murtha4moco

Attended AIM Candidate Action?: Yes

Housing, Transportation, and the Environment

Will you work with AIM to make Ride-On permanently free to riders and create dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

I will work with AIM to ensure that we have the best possible transit outcomes for Montgomery County. Currently, I believe that BRT with dedicated lanes is a great idea, and I am excited about the potential of the free-to-riders program, but I will not commit to anything because I will always do what I believe is in the best interest of the people of Montgomery County, and sometimes that means changing the plan. I make mistakes all the time, but try to correct them as soon as possible. If I was shown evidence that changes my beliefs on the best course of action for transit in Montgomery County, I will change my plan.

As before, I will do what I believe is best for Montgomery County. Currently I believe that we need more housing and upzoning is one, but not the only, tool towards achieving that goal. Increasing housing density near transit hubs is a sensible move but it has to be done with local involvement and input: we need to build, not break, communities. It is also important that we recognize differences in the various modes of mass transit. Treating the MARC train like we treat the Metro is a mistake.

I do not believe that such measures will stabilize the market. I am always willing to have my mind changed by new information though. If AIM has good data on this, I will listen and update my opinion. In general, people should not be pushed out of their communities, and Montgomery County has room for people of all socioeconomic status. I will take steps to make sure that no one is pushed out, and that low-income residents can afford to live within the county, but the steps suggested will not bring about that result.

I will work with AIM to achieve some of these objectives. The government has a duty to make information accessible, it is an essential characteristic of rule of law.. Creatıng bilingual services is good government and I wholeheartedly endorse it.

Education and Childcare

Will you commit to work with AIM to increase compensation for teachers and recreation staff within the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program?

I would like to make sure that teachers are adequately compensated and that we are pursuing effective pre-k programs, early childcare programs, and afterschool programs. If these goals are not being met, I will work with AIM to fix the problems. Currently, I believe that Excel Beyond the Bell is doing good work and should be funded and expanded, but I am open to counterarguments.

Will you commit to expanding the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program to four new schools each year, until it is in every Title I Elementary School in Montgomery County?

I like that this goal is actionable and measurable, and I think that in its current form Excel Beyond the Bell does great work, but expanding the program may lead to unexpected challenges. As long as the program is effective and beneficial, we should expand it, but carefully, so that we can address problems and ensure its continued success.

Generally I am for expanding pre-K programs. They are some of the most efficient and rewarding programs a government can pursue for the long-term health, education, and betterment of its citizenry.

Additionally, Interfacing with the government is far too difficult, in this case in particular and in other cases more generally, we should work to make the process less cumbersome.

Finally, I never believe children are responsible for the actions of their parents, and thus the availability of pre-K should not be tied to any parental qualifications.

Will you commit to work with AIM to offer Universal Pre-K to all four-year-olds in Montgomery County by 2026?

This is an ambitious objective but sometimes you need big goals, and everything I have seen indicates that this is both an effective use of resources and a morally correct action. To the extent possible, I will work with AIM to achieve this.

Both the stated goals are things that I want to see actualized. Helping people pay for education and making government less cumbersome are good goals. To the extent possible, I will work with AIM to achieve this.

Healthcare, Dental Care, and Mental Health

I will work to improve the dental health of the county. I would need to see more information about the specific benefits of the listed rules before committing firmly to them. Generally, because the county often bears the cost of emergency interventions, we should pursue pro-active programs which can save the taxpayer money in the long run.

Will you include funding by 2025 for an emergency medical and dental health crisis fund to county safety net clinics?

I would try. Governing is about balancing competing needs. There are over a million people who live in this county and we have to address dozens of issues while simultaneously planning and preparing for the future. If we can, we should, but setting up this fund is not my top priority.

What ideas do you have to increase equitable access to mental health care for young people and how will you work with us to explore these ideas?

I like to describe myself as cautiously experimental. We need to try lots of things and use what works. This is particularly important with mental health because of the wide range of mental health challenges and the equal range of solutions.

The questions in this questionnaire show that AIM is full of great ideas. Some of which I agree with and some of which I don’t. But I will always listen, and I will always change my mind when someone shows me that I am wrong, with respect to mental health or any other issue, and through AIM or through any other dedicated group of citizens.

Democracy with Accountability

Do you commit to meeting with AIM within a month of taking office, and on a quarterly basis subsequently?

Yes

Cheryl Riley (R)

No response

Kate Stewart (D)

Council District: District 4

Website: votekatestewart.com

Twitter: @votekatestewart

Facebook: votekatestewart

Instagram: @votekatestewart

Attended AIM Candidate Action?: Yes

Housing, Transportation, and the Environment

Will you work with AIM to make Ride-On permanently free to riders and create dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

Yes. I see this as both an issue of equity, as well as helping us advance our climate change goals. Free Ride-On incentivizes the use of public transit and provides access to all residents in a way that preserves their dignity and agency. Bus Rapid Transit provides an efficient and sustainable way to move people throughout the County.

Yes. I am currently the Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and have worked on this issue regionally. It is important that we not only increase afforable housing, but that we grow affordable communties, which means that we build housing near transit hubs, childcare, and other amenities and necessities.

Yes. Takoma Park has rent stabilization and I have worked with non-profit housing developers who have been renovating properties in our city to help relocate residents and ensure they continue to have stable housing. We need more afforable housing, and we also need to make sure that current residents are not displaced, and we need to be willing to use a variety of strategies to ensure that they are not. This issue is particularly important along the Purple Line, where over 40% of residents are already house burdened (meaning they pay more than 30% of their income on housing).

Yes. As Takoma Park’s Mayor I have been a strong advocate for renter’s rights and will continue to push for more protections, includeing Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins’ “Just Cause” Eviction Bill. I’m honored to be endorsed by Delegate Wilkins and by CASA in Action. In addition, I believe that we should also look beyond providing information in English and Spanish and in some areas also make sure we have Amharic and other languages.

Education and Childcare

Will you commit to work with AIM to increase compensation for teachers and recreation staff within the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program?

Yes. It is crucial that we continue these programs and attract and retain highly qualified staff.

Will you commit to expanding the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program to four new schools each year, until it is in every Title I Elementary School in Montgomery County?

Yes. In Takoma Park, we have invested heavily in pre- and after-school recreation and education programs a short distance from our elementary and middle schools. It is important that County do so as well because such programs are essetial to meeting the needs of our families.

Yes. High qualiy pre-K produces a variety of positive results for students, especially those from families that face barriers to resources, and our whole community. We need to make it easier for families to access pre-K as we work toward Universal Pre-K.

Will you commit to work with AIM to offer Universal Pre-K to all four-year-olds in Montgomery County by 2026?

Yes.

Yes. We need to make sure that all of our high school graduates can pursue a college education if they choose to do so and make it easier for them and their families. As we look to address issues such as the generational wealth gap and undo years of discrimination and the impact of institutional racism we need to put in place more programs such as these.

Healthcare, Dental Care, and Mental Health

Yes. We need to help residents qualify for state and federal benefits and fill in the gaps when they are not available. We also need to help people access care by expanding and supporting community clinics and providing care in more convenient places for people. During COVID we have learned the benefits of bringing care to people and should provide more services like mobile dental and eye clinics. In particular dental health is critical to people’s overall health and too often is not covered or overlooked. We need to ensure children and families receive this care.

Will you include funding by 2025 for an emergency medical and dental health crisis fund to county safety net clinics?

yes

What ideas do you have to increase equitable access to mental health care for young people and how will you work with us to explore these ideas?

We need to:
• Expand the number of mental health professionals in our communities and schools by putting in place loan forgiveness programs and partnering with institutions of learning to address the shortage of mental health professionals.
• Address the full spectrum of mental health and put in place programs and resources to ensure mental health promotion, crisis prevention, and treatment.
• Stop asking police to handle situations that call for civilian mental health intervention.

Implementing these reforms will take cooperation and coordination with advocates, experts, the County Council and Executive, and state officials. I plan to work cooperatively with these groups to push these ideas forward and to explore and implement other ideas for addressing the crisis. All of this work must be done using an equity framework because we know that some communities, such as Black and Brown communities, have suffered generational trauma and disparities in accessing care.

Democracy with Accountability

Do you commit to meeting with AIM within a month of taking office, and on a quarterly basis subsequently?

Yes. Continued engagement with advocates and experts in our community is critical to making progress on the important issues and opportunities in the County.

John Zittrauer (D)

Council District: District 4

Website: https://www.friendsofjohnzittrauer.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnZittrauer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofjohnzittrauer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnzittrauer/

Attended AIM Candidate Action?: Yes

Housing, Transportation, and the Environment

Will you work with AIM to make Ride-On permanently free to riders and create dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

Yes, I was disappointed in the council’s inability to preserve the free Ride-On service and will renew that benefit, and BRT needs dedicated lanes to be reliable.

Yes, I believe in public land for public good and affordable housing on public land near transit is a prime example of that. Our restrictive zoning impedes that goal and needs to be thrown out.

Yes to all of these. As an MPDU renter, I know firsthand the need for affordable housing and will do everything I can to meet that need.

Yes, tenant rights are near and dear to my heart.

Education and Childcare

Will you commit to work with AIM to increase compensation for teachers and recreation staff within the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program?

Yes, if we want the best educators we have to pay for them.

Will you commit to expanding the Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary Program to four new schools each year, until it is in every Title I Elementary School in Montgomery County?

Yes, students need quality after school programs without the financial burden.

Yes, the goal is universal pre-K and we achieve that through all available avenues.

Will you commit to work with AIM to offer Universal Pre-K to all four-year-olds in Montgomery County by 2026?

Yes

Yes, until tuition free higher education is a reality we need to erase the financial barriers to higher education any way we can.

Healthcare, Dental Care, and Mental Health

Yes. The idea that dental care is separate from health care is wrong and I believe in health care without concern for cost.

Will you include funding by 2025 for an emergency medical and dental health crisis fund to county safety net clinics?

Yes, our campaign focuses on caring for the least fortunate members of our society and this is another good example of that focus.

What ideas do you have to increase equitable access to mental health care for young people and how will you work with us to explore these ideas?

Equity in mental health means going where the need exists. One condition that severely exacerbates mental health struggles is homelessness, so we need to work with our shelters and nonprofits who provide assistance to young people experiencing homelessness to include quality mental health care with their services.

Democracy with Accountability

Do you commit to meeting with AIM within a month of taking office, and on a quarterly basis subsequently?

Yes, part of constituent services includes regular listening sessions.