Marc Elrich

Elrich ran for the county council four times before getting elected in 2006.[8] Since that time, he has served three terms. He was elected with the most votes of any candidate in 2010 and 2014.[9] The Washington Post endorsed his candidacy in 2010 and 2014, stating that he was viewed as somewhat anti-business, but advocated a business-beneficial transit system and had a strong focus on efficiency and the development and planning process.[10][11]

He worked to have environmental concerns addressed in the Clarksburg Master Plan and he spearheaded the effort to protect Tenmile Creek.[12] The amendment that was passed requires development to supply environmental protections. He considered protecting the stream one of his highest environmental concerns at the time.[13] He supported one bill protecting the tree canopy and sponsored another protecting street trees. Both were voted into law.[14] He advocated for the elimination of cosmetic use of pesticides on private lawns because of their cancer-causing chemicals helping the county become the first locality in the country to do so and was considered a key co-sponsor of the legislation.[15] He advocated against the use of artificial playing turfs that contain lead and other cancer-causing ingredients[16] and sponsored a resolution banning crumb rubber turfs.[17] He voted for the Montgomery county five-cent bag tax to fund environmental cleanup efforts.[18] He was lead sponsor of a bill to require large gas stations to be at least 500 feet from schools and parks.[19]

In 2013, Elrich was the lead sponsor of legislation to increase the county's minimum wage, which raised it to $11.50 per hour.[20] Elrich twice was the lead sponsor of legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in Montgomery County. In January 2017, a bill passed in the Council and was vetoed by then County Executive Ike Legget.[21] In November 2017, a second bill passed and was signed into law, making Montgomery County the first county in Maryland with a $15 per hour minimum wage.[22] At the time of the bill's passage, the State of Maryland's minimum wage was $9.25 per hour.[23]

Elrich voted against the White Flint Mall II sector plan because Elrich stated that the plan would have created 6,000 residential units located too far from a Metro station.[24] He voted against the Bethesda Master Plan because it failed to consider the effect the increased density would have on roads and schools.[25] He voted against the Lyttonsville Sector Plan because he stated that it would increase housing costs and force residents to move out,[26] as well as the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan.[27] He opposed a proposal to sell land adjacent to the White Oak Food and Drug Administration campus because local roads and infrastructure were not equipped to handle additional traffic and students.[28] In 1995, he joined with community members and fought against a proposed mega mall in downtown Silver Spring.[6]

In 2017, Elrich declared his candidacy for county executive. He participated in public financing. The largest allowed contribution is $150. He did not accept money from developers or land use attorneys.[29]

In 2019, Elrich banned Montgomery County police stations from displaying thin blue line flags. Acknowledging that the flag was a symbol of "support" to some and a symbol of "divisiveness" to others, he drew criticism from Governor Larry Hogan for the policy.[30]

Elrich has been a frequent critic of tax incentives for market-rate transit-oriented development. Elrich received criticism for describing the council's plan to allow denser housing construction around the stations of the proposed 16-mile Purple Line light rail train as "ethnic cleansing".[31] Elrich had clarified the comment and defended the argument that rezoning can cause an increase in new construction values resulting in displaced communities and said that this is not just a Montgomery County problem but a nationwide problem and a "well-known fact" of what happens when rail lines take over communities.[32]

During his tenure, Elrich has made efforts to preserve affordable housing.[33][34] Elrich has opposed multiple development plans that would increase market-rate housing construction without meeting affordability requirements. [35][33] In 2019, Elrich critiqued a nonbinding council resolution to build 10,000 more housing units (most of them affordable housing) by 2030, stating that the projected number of low-paying jobs coming to the county was inaccurate.[36] In 2020, Elrich vetoed a bill giving tax breaks to developers who built high-rise buildings on top of Metro stations, but the council overrode his veto.[35] Elrich has frequently called for higher taxes on real estate developers.[36]

The Democratic primary election was held on June 26, 2018.[38]

The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[39]

The Montgomery County executive primary election was held on July 19, 2022.[40] On August 6, Elrich declared victory with a 42 vote lead over Blair, but Blair released a statement saying he would request a recount pursuant to Maryland law.[41] Elrich ended up winning the recount by 32 votes.[42]

The general election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Elrich defeated Montgomery County GOP chairman Reardon Sullivan.[43]