Marc B. Elrich (born November 2, 1949) is an American politician serving as the county executive of Montgomery County, Maryland.[1] He is a former member of the Montgomery County Council and the Takoma Park City Council.[2] He became the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Executive in the 2018 primary before winning the general election.
Elrich ran for the county council four times before getting elected in 2006.[8] Since that time, he has served three terms. He was elected with the most votes of any candidate in 2010 and 2014.[9]The Washington Post endorsed his candidacy in 2010 and 2014, stating that he was viewed as somewhat anti-business, but advocated a business-beneficial transit system and had a strong focus on efficiency and the development and planning process.[10][11]
He worked to have environmental concerns addressed in the Clarksburg Master Plan and he spearheaded the effort to protect Tenmile Creek.[12] The amendment that was passed requires development to supply environmental protections. He considered protecting the stream one of his highest environmental concerns at the time.[13] He supported one bill protecting the tree canopy and sponsored another protecting street trees. Both were voted into law.[14] He advocated for the elimination of cosmetic use of pesticides on private lawns because of their cancer-causing chemicals helping the county become the first locality in the country to do so and was considered a key co-sponsor of the legislation.[15] He advocated against the use of artificial playing turfs that contain lead and other cancer-causing ingredients[16] and sponsored a resolution banning crumb rubber turfs.[17] He voted for the Montgomery county five-cent bag tax to fund environmental cleanup efforts.[18] He was lead sponsor of a bill to require large gas stations to be at least 500 feet from schools and parks.[19]
In 2013, Elrich was the lead sponsor of legislation to increase the county's minimum wage, which raised it to $11.50 per hour.[20] Elrich twice was the lead sponsor of legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in Montgomery County. In January 2017, a bill passed in the Council and was vetoed by then County Executive Ike Legget.[21] In November 2017, a second bill passed and was signed into law, making Montgomery County the first county in Maryland with a $15 per hour minimum wage.[22] At the time of the bill's passage, the State of Maryland's minimum wage was $9.25 per hour.[23]
Montgomery County Executive
In 2017, Elrich declared his candidacy for county executive. He participated in public financing. The largest allowed contribution is $150. He did not accept money from developers or land use attorneys.[24]
In 2019, Elrich banned Montgomery County police stations from displaying thin blue line flags. Acknowledging that the flag was a symbol of "support" to some and a symbol of "divisiveness" to others, he drew criticism from Governor Larry Hogan for the policy.[25]
In 2019, The Washington Post editorial board called Elrich's decision to block construction of communication towers in Montgomery County a "victory for NIMBYism."[26]
Positions on housing and development
In 2013, Elrich was the lone vote to oppose a plan to preserve affordable housing along the Purple Linelight rail corridor.[27] In 2017, Elrich was criticized for describing the council's plan to allow denser housing construction around the stations of the planned 16-mile Purple Line as "ethnic cleansing".[28] He said he was sorry if his language was offensive, but he defended his comment saying that this is not just a Montgomery County problem but a nationwide problem and a "well-known fact" of what happens when rail lines take over communities.[29]
During his tenure, Elrich has said he has tried to preserve affordable housing.[30][31][32] Elrich has opposed market-rate housing construction,[33][30] and higher density near public transit stations.[2] He has opposed allowing duplexes, fourplexes and sixplexes in some neighborhoods that are exclusively zoned for single-family housing.[34] In 2019, Elrich opposed a nonbinding council resolution to build 10,000 more housing units (most of them affordable housing) by 2030, saying that the county cannot afford to build that much affordable housing.[35] He has cast doubt on projections by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on the need for more middle-income and low-income housing.[36][35] In 2019, Elrich said that he rejected the concept of missing middle housing, and said that Montgomery County did not lack housing for middle earners.[37]
In 2019, he opposed a zoning change that allowed homeowners on single-family zoning plots to build accessory dwelling units, saying that it would "fundamentally alter" neighborhood character and not lead to more affordable housing – the zoning change was approved unanimously by the council.[35] In 2019, he said he would prevent tearing down affordable housing to "build housing for millennials."[38] In 2020, Elrich vetoed a bill giving tax breaks to developers who built high-rise buildings on top of Metro stations, but the council overrode his veto.[33] Elrich has frequently called for higher taxes on real estate developers.[35]
Housing activists have characterized Elrich as a NIMBY.[33][39]
Elrich voted against the White Flint Mall II sector plan because Elrich stated that the plan would have created 6,000 residential units located too far from a Metro station.[40] He voted against the Bethesda Master Plan because it failed to consider the effect the increased density would have on roads and schools.[41] He voted against the Lyttonsville Sector Plan because he stated that it would increase housing costs and force residents to move out,[42] as well as the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan.[43] He opposed a proposal to sell land adjacent to the White Oak Food and Drug Administration campus because local roads and infrastructure were not equipped to handle additional traffic and students.[44] In 1995, he joined with community members and fought against a proposed mega mall in downtown Silver Spring.[6]
2026 Montgomery County Council election
During the 2024 elections, Montgomery County voters approved a referendum backed by the Montgomery County Republican Party to limit the county executive to two consecutive terms, blocking Elrich from running for a third term.[45] On November 18, 2024, Elrich announced that he would run for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council in 2026.[46]
Personal life
Elrich has four children. Two were foster children, including a son who has Down syndrome. He has lived in Takoma Park for most of his life.[5] He is Jewish.[6] On January 1, 2022 it was announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[47]
2018 elections
Primary election results
The Democratic primary election was held on June 26, 2018.[48]
The Montgomery County executive primary election was held on July 19, 2022.[50] On August 6, Elrich declared victory with a 42 vote lead over Blair, but Blair released a statement saying he would request a recount pursuant to Maryland law.[51] Elrich ended up winning the recount by 32 votes.[52]
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