Potomac is governed at the county and state levels. The county government consists of an elected nine-member council and an elected county executive.
Five of the council members are elected from districts, with Potomac and Bethesda represented by District One. The other four members are elected at large, or by voters from the entire county. This is to ensure that Potomac residents are represented on County Council by five of the nine members: the District One member and four at-large members.
Council members and the executive serve four-year terms, and the council appoints a president and vice president who each serve a one-year term.
The council meets as a whole on Tuesdays, with committee meetings throughout the week. Public hearings on proposed legislation usually take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Stella V. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville.
Council meetings, as well as news and analysis shows dealing with the issues raised, air on the County Cable Channel 6.
Maryland has a bicameral legislature with 101 delegates in the House and 47 senators in the senate.
<b>County Executive </b>
<i>County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) </i>
240-777-2500
e-mail: douglas.duncan@montgomerycountymd.gov
FAX: 240-777-2517
101 Monroe St., Second Floor
Rockville, MD 20850
<b>Montgomery County Council </b>
Potomac is represented in County Council by the District 1 council member and four at-large members. All nine seats on County Council will be on the ballot during elections in 2006. Potomac residents will cast votes for seats in District 1 and the four at-large districts.
Visit the council Web site at ww.montgomerycountymd.gov/council.
Any correspondence sent to the Council President is shared with all other members of the council. The current president is George Leventhal (D-at large). With very rare exceptions, all correspondence sent to any council member becomes part of the public record and is available for review by interested parties.
Contact information for individual council members is listed below. Written correspondence to the whole council or individual council members may be sent to:
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building,100 Maryland Ave. Rockville, MD 20850.
Call 240-777-7900, leave a message on the 24-hour comment line at 240-777-7999, fax to 240-777-7888 or e-mail county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. Hearing impaired citizens may call the TTY line at 240-777-7914.
The County Council is a public body subject to local and state sunshine laws. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open to the public. Closed sessions are allowed in certain prescribed circumstances, such as to discuss personnel matters or government real estate acquisitions, or to receive advice from attorneys.
The Council offers free subscriptions to the weekly mailing of the Council and committee agendas by e-mail, and the cable television schedule of broadcasts of Council sessions. To get on the mailing list, call Legislative Information Services 240-777-7910 or e-mail the Council at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Howard Denis (R-District 1) </i>
District 1 includes Potomac, Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
240-777-7964
councilmember.denis@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) </i>
240-777-7959
councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Steven Silverman (D-At Large) </i>
240-777-7960
county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>George Leventhal (D-At Large) </i>
Current Council president
240-777-7811
councilmember.leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Michael L. Subin (D-At Large) </i>
240-777-7828
councilmember.subin@montgomerycountymd.gov
Other Council Members, representing districts outside of Potomac:
<i>Phil Andrews (D-District 3-Gaithersburg, Rockville) </i>
240-777-7906
Councilmember.Andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Michael Knapp (D-District 2-Upcounty) </i>
240-777-7955
Councilmember.Knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Tom Perez (D-District 5-Silver Spring, Takoma Park) </i>
240-777-7966
Councilmember.Perez@montgomerycountymd.gov
<i>Marilyn Praisner (D-District 4-Eastern County) </i>
Current Council vice president
240-777-7968
Councilmember.praisner@montgomerycountymd.gov
<b>Board of Education </b>
The eight-member board is the county’s official educational policy-making body and is responsible for the direction and operation of the public school system.
Although board members are divided into regions (Potomac falls into District 2) in order to ensure that there is representation from different geographical areas of the county, all members are elected at-large. There is one student member of the board who is elected by the middle and high school students of the county. The student member’s vote does not count in certain cases.
The school system's Web site is www.mcps.k12.md.us. This site is updated regularly with Board of Education agendas, minutes, announcements, invitations for public comment on new policies and other information. E-mail for any Board of Education member should be sent to boe@fc.mcps.k12.md.us. E-mail is shared with all members of the Board.
Current Board President-First Term expires 2006
<i>Charles Haughey (At Large) </i>
301-279-8501
Current Board Vice President-2nd Term expires 2008
<i>Sharon Cox (At Large) </i>
301-540-7970
<i>Gabe Romero (District 1) </i>
301-353-8534
Term expires in 2006
<i>Stephen Abrams (District 2) </i>
301-279-3774
<i>Patricia O’Neill (District 3) </i>
Term expires in 2006
301-320-7600
<i> Valerie Ervin (District 4) </i>
301-650-6433
<i>Nancy Navarro (District 5) </i>
301-680-7170
Term expires in 2006
Student Board Member: Term expires July 1st, 2007
<b>Sarah Horvitz </b>
301-279-3617
<b>State Government </b>
The state legislature convenes in Annapolis for 90-day sessions to consider and pass legislation. The session begins in early January and ends in early April. Potomac is represented by Districts 15 and 16. Visit for more information.
Elections for governor and all members of the general assembly will be held in 2006.
<b>Executive Branch </b>
<i>Gov. Robert Erhlich (R)</i>
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-974-3901
1-800-811-8336
fax: 410-974-3275
governor@.gov.state.md.us
<cal1>Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R)
<cal2>State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-974-3591 1-800-811-8336
fax: 410-974-5882
Visit www.gov.state.md.us/mail/ to send a message online.
<b>Maryland General Assembly </b>
District 15
<i>Sen. Rob Garagiola (D) </i>
James Senate Office Building Room 104
110 College Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401
301-858-3169
rob.garagiola@senate.state.md.us
Delegates from District 15 can be reached by mail at Lowe House Office Building, Room 226, 84 College Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401
<i>Del. Jean Cryor (R) </i>
301-858-3090
jean.cryor@house.state.md.us
<i>Del. Brian Feldman (D) </i>
<cal2>301-858-3186
brian.feldman@house.state.md.us
<i>Del. Kathleen Dumais (D) </i>
301-858-3052
kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.us
<b>District 16 </b>
<i>Sen. Brian Frosh (D) </i>
Miller Senate Office Building, 2 East Wing 11 Bladen St. Annapolis, MD 21401
301-858-3124
brian.frosh@senate.state.md.us
Delegates from District 16 can be reached by mail at: Lowe House Office Building, Room 221, 84 College Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401
<i>Del. William Bronrott (D)</i>
301-858-3019
William.bronrott@house.state.md.
<i>Del. Marilyn Goldwater (D) </i>
301-858-3454
marilyn.goldwater@house.state.md.us
<i>Del. Susan C. Lee (D)</i>
301-858-3019
susan.lee@house.state.md.us
<hdr15>United States Congress
<b>House of Representatives</b>
<i>U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-8)</i>
The 8th Congressional district of Maryland covers about half of Montgomery County and a small part of Prince George’s County.
1419 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5341
fax: 202-225-0375
Visit www.house.gov/writerep/ to contact Van Hollen online.
<b>U.S. Senate</b>
Include room number for faster delivery. Send mail to Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
<i>Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D) </i>
202-224-4654
Room 503 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
Visit mikulski.senate.gov/mailform.html to contact Mikulski online.
<i>Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D)</i>
202-224-4524
Room 309 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
Visit sarbanes.senate.gov/pages/email.html to contact Sarbanes online.
<1b>Sen. Sarbanes is up for re-election in 2006.
<b>President </b>
<i>George W. Bush (R) </i>
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Fax: 202-456-2461
comments@whitehouse.gov