Barclay Gains Momentum in County Council Race

BOE member Christopher Barclay announced in February that he would be seeking office for the District 5 Montgomery County Council seat, which includes communities in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Burtonsville. Last week, Barclay was endorsed by SEIU Local 500, a labor union with offices in Annapolis and Gaithersburg. Earlier this month, he scooped up endorsements from Montgomery Council President Craig Rice (D-Dist. 2), former Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4), and Cherri Branson (D-Dist. 5) as well as the Montgomery County Education Association.

“This campaign, this race for the District 5 seat on the county council is about much more than who just gets the most votes.It’s about who gets to determine the future of this county. Our district is diverse, it’s vast, and it’s unique.” Barclay said during his endorsement speech earlier this month. “We’ve really got to change the way we operate as a county as a community. We’ve got to get serious about economic inequities.”

Barclay will be facing off against community activist Evan Glass, Del. Tom Hucker (D-Dist. 20), Jeffrey Thames, and Terrill North in the June 24 democratic primary for the District 5 seat. Branson, who was appointed to the seat after Ervin stepped down earlier this year, will be vacating the office. The election is expected to be one of the most contentious in the county this cycle. Still, Barclay’s supporters said they’re confident in his collaborative leadership and his ability to build support in the community.“Chris has been there when we needed someone to be there,” Branson told The Gazette.

To see a list of candidates in other races in Montgomery County or the state, visit the Maryland Board of Elections website.

Caleb James is a political blogger and enthusiast based in Montgomery County.From 2007-2009, he served as editor of TheMoCoScoop Blog, a website dedicated to community news and happenings in Montgomery County.