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Montgomery County Councilman Hans Riemer (D) announced his plans to run for county executive Tuesday, framing himself as a more progressive alternative to current Democratic contenders.
Riemer, who has previously聽聽with incumbent Marc B. Elrich (D) over economic policy, said in an interview that Montgomery County needs 鈥減rogressive leadership that is effective and forward-thinking.鈥�
Key issues to Riemer鈥檚 campaign will include promoting economic development while also investing in affordable housing, improving education, pursuing progressive climate policies and police reform, and finishing the Purple Line.
The county executive has a 鈥渉uge impact鈥� in terms of executing those policies, Riemer said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to not get stuck in old ways,鈥� Riemer said. 鈥淚 think the county executive can be a leader for the county who sets the tone and sets the pace for our community. I think that鈥檚 what we need, that鈥檚 kind of what we鈥檙e lacking.鈥�
Riemer is in his third term on the county council and is term-limited, but he said that isn鈥檛 the reason he鈥檚 making a county executive bid.
鈥淚f I thought our executive was doing a great job, I wouldn鈥檛 run,鈥� Riemer said.
Also in the race is聽, a businessman and philanthropist who lost to Elrich by a razor-thin margin in the 2018 Democratic primary. Blair has centered his campaign around using his business acumen to help the county recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Riemer plans to use the county鈥檚聽聽system to help fund his county executive bid,聽聽successfully in 2018.
That system requires candidates to refuse contributions from 鈥渁ny group or organization including a political action committee, a corporation, a labor organization or a State or local central action committee of a political party鈥� in order to receive public match funding on smaller donations from residents, according to the county鈥檚 website.
鈥淚ndependence from special interests, I think, is a big part of my appeal,鈥� Riemer said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not going to be any special interests running big campaigns trying to get me elected here.鈥�
Riemer added that he feels like an 鈥渦nderdog鈥� in the race, but hopes his county council track record will help him appeal to a wide range of voters.
Riemer is one of three term-limited county council members: Nancy Navarro (D) and Craig Rice (D) are also serving their third and final terms. Navarro said in an interview that she is 鈥渆valuating a couple of options鈥� for what to do after her term expires, but said she isn鈥檛 ready to announce any plans yet.
Rice did not immediately return a request for comment.
