Marc Elrich is an American politician who serves as the county executive of Montgomery County, Maryland. He was formerly an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council, first elected in 2006. Prior to that he served on the Takoma Park City Council for 19 years, representing Ward 5 which covers and incorporates the greater Long Branch / East Silver Spring area. He became the Democratic nominee for Montgomery County Executive in the 2018 primary before winning the general election against the Republican nominee Robin Ficker and an independent challenger Nancy Floreen.
Early life and education
Marc Elrich was born in Washington, D.C., near Takoma Park. His father was a postal worker and his mother, a waitress. When he was ten his family moved to Silver Spring. In 1963, when he was 14, he went to hear Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington. He attended Albert Einstein High School in Kensington and the University of Maryland. He was once arrested at an anti-apartheid rally. An early job after graduating college was as a manager in the automotive department at Montgomery Ward where one of his responsibilities was helping to open new stores. He returned to school, getting a master's degree in teaching from Johns Hopkins University.
Career
Education
Elrich taught 4th and 5th grade for 17 years at Rolling Terrace Elementary. He stated that his teaching showed him firsthand how poverty, poor living conditions and un-affordable housing can impact a child's ability to learn. He stated that seeing low income students come to school without breakfast and never having been to a doctor was some of the things that drives his public service.
County Council member-at-large
Elrich ran for the county council four times before getting elected in 2006. Since that time, he has served three terms. He was elected with the most votes of any candidate in 2010 and 2014. 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. He worked to have environmental concerns addressed in the Clarksburg Master Plan and he spearheaded the effort to protect Ten Mile Creek. 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. He supported one bill protecting the tree canopy and sponsored another protecting street trees. Both were voted into law. 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. He advocated against the use of artificial playing turfs that contain lead and other cancer-causing ingredients and sponsored a resolution banning crumb rubber turfs. He voted for the Montgomery county five cent bag tax to fund environmental cleanup efforts. He was lead sponsor of a bill to require large gas stations to be at least 500 feet from schools and parks. In 2013, Elrich was the lead sponsor of legislation to increase the county's minimum wage, which raised it to $11.50 per hour. 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. 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. At the time of the bill's passage, the State of Maryland's minimum wage was $9.25 per hour. 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. He voted against the Bethesda Master Plan because it failed to consider the effect the increased density would have on roads and schools. He voted against the Lyttonsville Sector Plan because he stated that it would increase housing costs and force residents to move out, as well as the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan. 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. In 1995, he joined with community members and fought against a proposed mega mall in downtown Silver Spring.
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. He received criticism when he described the council's plan to rezone neighborhoods around the proposed 16-mile purple line train as "ethnic cleansing". 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. Elrich supports policies such as $15 minimum wage and affordable housing that stabilize and support low-income families. On July 22, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed an executive order prohibiting county officials from asking residents about their immigration status or cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In November 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.
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. He is Jewish.
