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My Platform & My Top 5 Priorities

Kentlands playground grand opening

My Top 5 Priorities

Good governance starts with the fundamentals: public safety, public works, and fiscal responsibility. Then we get to my top 5 priorities:

  1. Grow and diversify our local economy and job opportunities. 
  2. Continue to expand redevelopment/revitalization on the east side of the City (i.e., Olde Towne, Lakeforest, 355 corridor)
  3. Navigate our community through the turmoil coming out of Washington, DC. This means standing by our federal workforce, faithfully serving our residents – regardless of where they’ve come from, and working with our Senators and Congressional representatives to secure critical funding for needed projects and programs in Gaithersburg.
  4. Move our city’s Climate Action Plan forward.
  5. Grow our local housing supply in an effort to increase affordability in a sustainable way.

The Full “Mayor Jud” Platform

  • Preserve and improve the quality of life in Gaithersburg. Deliver the excellent services that our residents have come to expect and love, such as road maintenance, great facilities, and programs, plus strong advocacy for improvements for all modes of transportation and school facilities, and fostering a healthy economy and good jobs in the City.
  • Keep our neighborhoods and commercial areas safe.  Gaithersburg is a very safe place to be, which is evidence of a commitment by City leaders to community policing, code enforcement, and a strong Public Works Department. These endeavors are fundamental to what the City does, and we must continue to provide these services with courtesy, professionalism, and fairness.
  • Continue our tradition of sound fiscal policy. Gaithersburg has a lean, efficient government, and it should maintain that tradition. I am, by nature, a fiscally conservative person – and believe that our Pay-As-You-Go system has served us well.
  • Economic development and jobs in the City.  We must continue to build our local economy and create job opportunities here in the City.  We’ve had enormous successes, but disruptions in the federal sector are generating some fierce headwinds. We must do all we can to maintain our momentum.
  • Revitalize our aging neighborhoods.  I will continue to work to bring about the redevelopment of areas of the City that need it most: Lakeforest Mall, parts of Olde Towne, and parts of North Frederick Avenue.
  • Responsible approaches to growth.  While continued growth is vital to our future, maintaining the “Quality of Life” is equally as important to current residents, and those who would consider moving to, or opening a business in, the City.  I believe that it is our responsibility to balance these priorities for everyone’s benefit.
  • Establish our City as a thriving cultural destination.  With a rich historic heritage, a broad array of recreational programs, and a growing host of outstanding cultural offerings, including the Gaithersburg Book Festival, we’ve made great progress in branding our City as a cultural destination. We need to build on that progress.
  • Responsible stewardship of our natural resources.  Gaithersburg has been a national leader in embracing initiatives to protect the environment, encourage energy conservation, and promote sustainability.  We must continue to innovate and adopt regional and national best practices in these areas.
  • Foster open, responsive government.  We must always operate openly, invite public participation, and respond to feedback.  This has always been a core value for me.