Nancy Navarro
How would you characterize the quality of civic engagement in Montgomery County, and what do you think should be done to improve it?
Increasing civic participation on the part of currently underrepresented groups is a priority of mine. As the results of the 2010 Census are already beginning to show, we are experiencing major demographic changes in Montgomery County. However, on the issues that matter, we often hear from only a small group of civic activists. Although their opinions are welcome and helpful, we need to see more involvement from all groups—young families, immigrants, people of color, seniors, environmentalists, small business owners—on a wide range of issues.
In order to achieve broad participation and input, the County needs to better target outreach by partnering with schools, non-profits and other organizations with ties to these communities. While I served on the Montgomery County Board of Education, I worked successfully with my colleagues to increase participation by limited English proficiency residents and other groups we hadn’t typically heard from. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to make sure we understand our residents’ priorities before we act on issues that will affect them.
What role do you think the Council and County Executive should play in setting education policy and providing oversight of the Montgomery County Public Schools?
Montgomery County Public Schools is an independent, state-chartered agency and the Board of Education, made up of elected members, is the policy-making body responsible for its direction and operation. However, over half of the County’s budget goes to MCPS. I believe the County Executive, Council and MCPS need to do a better job of collaborating on the budget process before the final MCPS budget is submitted to the Council. Through the budget process and the work of the Education Committee, the Council does have an important role to play in advising the Board on policy and fiscal matters.
What steps should the county take to maintain or improve public safety at a time when budget pressures are forcing cuts to spending on police and social services?
Along with safety net services and education, public safety is one of my main priorities and during the FY11 budget deliberations I fought to restore funding for four satellite stations that were slated for closure. However, compared to libraries, recreation and transportation, which saw reductions approaching 25%, Fire & Rescue and Police faced cuts of only 2.6% and 5%. Nevertheless, any reductions to public safety services have an impact and we need to find ways to encourage cost-neutral partnerships with schools, the Department of Recreation, and community organizations to target high-crime areas and work with youth to prevent crime.
What, if any, changes to the structure of the county's tax system should we be considering?
In order to close the $1 billion FY11 budget gap, the Council had to approve significant reductions, furloughs and a large energy tax increase. These measures were necessary in part because of much lower than anticipated income tax revenue, which constitutes a significant portion of the County’s resources. Revenue assumptions are one of the factors being examined by the Council’s Office of Legislative Oversight in its pending study of the County’s structural budget deficit, scheduled for completion in December 2010. As a member of the Management and Fiscal Policy, I am working closely with my committee colleagues and OLO as this work proceeds and I look forward to reviewing the findings and recommendations in the report. This will be an important step in achieving long-term fiscal balance and ensuring Montgomery County’s future economic stability.
What should we expect Montgomery County's transportation network to look like in 30 years, and how will that affect where and how we live and work?
We need a robust public transit system that includes a light rail Purple Line and CCT, a countywide bus rapid transit network and a system of bike lanes and paths. In addition, new development should be walkable and transit-accessible. To improve our quality of life and reduce vehicle miles traveled, we also need to make it possible for residents to live near jobs and amenities. Addressing District 4’s stark jobs-housing imbalance is one of my top priorities, and I worked closely with Councilmember Valerie Ervin and the Planning Board to prioritize the development of the East County Science Sector Master Plan. This master plan will lay the groundwork for a mixed-use bioscience center that will capitalize on the adjacent FDA White Oak facility. If we plan intelligently for the future, we can create more sustainable, diverse and livable communities over the next 30 years.
How will Montgomery County be different four years from now if you are elected?
Montgomery County is experiencing major demographic changes. While this diversity is an asset, we must make sure that our educational system can successfully accommodate and educate all our new students so that they are prepared to enter the workforce. In addition, we must create high-quality jobs for them so they can continue to live and work here. Finally, developing mixed-use, transit-oriented communities is a top priority. Truly healthy and vibrant communities include a mix of incomes, ages, races and backgrounds and our planning efforts should encourage this. Living near jobs and amenities should not be an exclusive privilege for the young and affluent—we need to include all our residents, including immigrants, seniors and young families, in our vision for the future. We won’t be able to accomplish these goals in the next four years, but if we begin planning now, we can preserve the best of Montgomery County while incorporating the changes that are both inevitable and necessary as we move well into the 21st Century.
Nancy Navarro
District 4
Democrat
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