Politics & Government

How to Become District 5's New Council Member

If you live in District 5 and are a registered Democrat, you may apply for Council Member Valerie Ervin's soon-to-be-vacant county council seat.

Want to try being a council member for a year? 

If you live in District 5 (which includes Silver Spring, Colesville and Takoma Park) and are a registered voter and registered Democrat, you may apply. 

Council Member Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) resigns from her council seat on Jan. 3 to lead the Center for Working Families, and any District 5 Democrat may apply to fill Ervin's seat for the rest of her term, which ends on Dec. 1, 2014, the Montgomery County Council's office reported.

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The deadline to apply for the position is Jan. 8. The council intends to appoint a new council member from District 5 by Jan. 31. 

The new council member should have "a clear understanding of the issues that are important to residents of District 5," according to the council's statement.

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And, to "assure a level playing field for all persons interested in seeking election to the next full term from District 5, the council expects to appoint a person who does not plan to run for election to that term," the statement added.

To apply, send a letter of interest with a resume to Council President Craig Rice, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850 by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. Or, submit the materials via email to: county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Resumes should include a summary of professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers, and home and email addresses.

Every application letter, recommendation letter and resume submitted as part of the appointment process will be made available to the public. And, every applicant must submit a confidential county financial disclosure statement for council review. But, only the ultimate appointee's financial disclosure statement will be made public. Non-selected applicants' financial disclosure forms will not be made public.

The council will decide which applicants to interview. Interviews will be scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Council Office Building. Additional interviews, if necessary, will be scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and Friday, Jan. 24.


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