An Independent Voice for District 4 Montgomery County

Paula is a tireless activist and advocate. She is running as a Democrat in District 4 - Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Kensington, North Bethesda and parts of Chevy Chase and Bethesda. Click on the link below to contact us.

 

The difference: Independence

Paula understands the seriousness of the challenges we face but is also heartened by the cooperative spirit she is seeing at the grassroots. Give-away County contracting, overcrowded schools, inadequate transit, lack of affordable homes with supporting infrastructure, inadequate job strategy, clogged and dangerous roads, and absence of a coherent climate strategy. Montgomery County has a lot to be thankful for, but also has a long way to go.

Not sure what Montgomery County Council District you are in? Find out now on the council website. (Link opens in new window)

Find my council district

Make a donation.

It all begins with an idea to try to do some good in Montgomery County. Now it is up to all of us to make it happen. Please support my campaign with a contribution below or you can fill out this form and mail it in with a check.

Embed Block
Add an embed URL or code. Learn more
 

A Citizen Activist.

Paula has lived in Montgomery County since 1991, first in Rockville, then in the Luxmanor neighborhood for over 20 years, and now in the Seven Oaks neighborhood of Silver Spring. Professionally, she has worked full-time as an archaeologist and environmental planner since receiving her Ph.D. in Anthropology in 1986. She has been a citizen activist since moving to the County, a member of the PTA, and later, a Walter Johnson HS delegate to the MCCPTA. She was a commissioner on the County Historic Preservation Commission, the first archaeologist in that role. She was on the White Flint Advisory Board as the White Flint Sector Plan was developed, advocating for a larger developer investment in needed infrastructure. She is past president of the Luxmanor Citizens Association and past president of the Montgomery County Civic Federation. She received the Star Cup from the Civic Fed for her activism. As president of the Civic Fed she organized and contributed to, the constructive response to County Executive Leggett’s BRT proposals. The report advocates for free Ride On. She was a board member of the Committee for Montgomery.

She is a member of the Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County and of the Montgomery County Jewish Parents’ Coalition. Paula worked for years with the county DOT and councilmembers to slow traffic in and around her neighborhood. Her effort successfully changed signalization, so that the county finally adhered to ADA guidelines and eliminated the deadly conflict created by simultaneous vehicle green lights and pedestrian walk signs. Paula is always an independent voice, and when elected, she will work to serve you.

Issues

  • Government Transparency and Accountability

    I have worked on government transparency issues for years. First thing when I take office, I will make my calendar public. I will oppose no-bid contracts and sweetheart awards with shoddy scopes of work, and no financial accountability. As an independent Democrat, I will never vote unanimously because that’s what my party told me to do. I am beholden to no one except you, the constituent.

    A multi-story brick building with arched windows on the bottom floor and rectangular windows on the upper floors, with the address 401 Hungerford visible above the main entrance.

  • Education

    I believe each child should get the education and care they need from a first-rate school system. That’s why I will look carefully at each MCPS budget to make sure your money is well-spent. Right now our county spends abut 45% of our annual school operating budget on overhead. Not on teachers. I will fight for free education as guaranteed by the Maryland Constitution. I will work to get rid of school ‘fees’ that discriminate against our young artists and musicians. We need safe schools. We need accountability. We need oversight of our schools.

    The exterior of Montgomery Blair High School, a brick building with a tower, situated on East University Boulevard with a flagpole and American flag.

  • Climate

    We are either in a climate emergency or we’re not. I know we are. That’s why I will never vote for heat island artificial turf playing fields. I will push for accountability and measures that will reduce greenhouse gases, increase trees and shaded areas in District 4, and improve natural parks that benefit us and the environment.

    Flooded backyard with a wooden playset, slide, and swings underwater.

  • Housing and Infrastructure

    We have a housing crisis in the county, with a shortage of affordable homes. I will work to increase the housing stock, especially for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. We are a large county. I will push to expand the areas for new construction so all of the hyper-density is not pushed into District 4. Critical to this plan is upgrading our existing infrastructure so it meets the envisioned housing stock. That includes upgrading and expanding our water and sewage capabilities; hospitals and medical services; electrical grid; parks; roadways; and modern flexible public transit.

    A brick apartment building with three floors, balconies, and lush landscaping including trimmed bushes, colorful flowers, and a flowering tree under a clear blue sky.

  • Jobs

    We are lagging in the high-paying jobs we need so we can flourish. I will build on our key strengths: health and biomedical; and the hospitality industry. We are home to Marriott, NIH, FDA, NOAA and numerous biotech companiese. I will work with our taxpayer-subsidized Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation to focus on bringing high-target corporations and high-paying jobs to our county.

    Three women sitting at a white conference table in a modern office, engaged in a discussion, with a large flat-screen monitor and office equipment on the table.

  • Transit and Roadways for all

    As a regular pre-pandemic metro rider, I know the need for reliable easy-to-use public transit for everyone. I will work to reconfigure the existing bus routes, and rely on people who actually ride the buses to tell us where bus stops and routes need to be. I will work to harden bicycle lanes and improve pedestrian crossings. I will work with DOT to install smart signalization that meets ADA requirements so people can cross streets safely.

    People standing in a line on a bus, showing their legs and shoes, with some seated passengers visible in the background.