I will start my remarks this morning by thanking many people who brought me here; by acknowledging those who have worked tirelessly to support me in my efforts these past four years; and by reassuring all that while my last day here, today is marked by some sadness, the values, the ideals, and the work we believe in – those endure and will forever guide our future, both my own fortune and our shared destiny.
I’ll start by thanking my husband, Alan for his love and support; my daughter, Scarlett for her beautiful heart and inspiration; and my son, Wally, who has taught me more about courage and unconditional love than anyone else in the world. He is my hero. To my many friends who have stood by me in good times and at difficult moments, for your unwavering support and numerous acts of kindness. I especially want to thank my mentor and friend, the late Marilyn Praisner for her belief in me and my colleague, Ike Leggett for his trust and his friendship. To my wonderful staff, past and present (Alan, Naomi, Laurie, Emily, Wil, Pat, Dana, Richard, Paul, William, Bobbie and Jackie) for their loyalty and dedication. You made every day at the Council possible. To all those county staffers gathered here this morning for your extraordinary efforts and hard work each and every day. And I express gratitude to the residents of Montgomery County for the privilege and honor I have had in representing you.
I came to the Council having labored as a community activist, wanting to create empowerment, to offer hope and opportunity, and to reaffirm how the human spirit triumphs, always with a little help from friends and sometimes with the support of government. That has always been a core belief of mine and it will forever define my life’s work. It is no secret that these past few months have provided a temporary detour but this morning I assure you I am by no means at the end of any political road.
I believe in the power of community and compassion. I do believe this because I have in my life experiences witnessed the value of speaking the truth, becoming an advocate and taking on the most intractable challenges - those causes few embrace, many run from and often times that deplete one’s spirit and faith in humanity. This applies to the tragedy of mental illness and addiction, the misery of poverty and domestic violence, and even the risk of exercising leadership in public service.
When I came to the Council, I did not come to win a popularity contest but rather to change and improve lives. And I say with pride and joy that I believe I did do just that. Every time I walk into a county eating establishment, I chuckle at the sight of the county trans-fat ban notice, that being the first legislative action I successfully took. I hear from my allies in the LGBT community often about advocacy efforts across the country, and I am reminded of the equal protection we provided to transgender individuals here in the county, something we must never take for granted even in government service. I am surrounded daily by the vibrant and changing White Flint community, recognizing I played a small part in its re-development and ensuring adequate coordination as it evolves over future decades. When I visit my son at his new residential program here in the county, I feel a strong sense of accomplishment knowing I’ve been an effective and consistent voice for those who often are silent and without representation in policy decisions. This morning I will state for the record that my voice will remain loud and steadfast in this regard, no matter where my life’s work takes me. Of course, I will forever find joy in the tremendous cooperation and collaboration that went into the creation of the Montgomery County Family Justice Center, the county’s premier clearinghouse facility for domestic violence victims, that in its 18 months of operation has served over 2000 families from over 100 countries. And I remain resolute and without regret that the conversation that I started as the Management & Fiscal Policy Chair back in 2008 on the growing county obligations in relation to compensation and benefits was the right one - how quickly it has become politically correct and how appropriate it remain front and center as our County Executive and the next Council grapple with yet another large deficit and unsustainable obligations.
I learned a long time ago from mentors and friends, that political success is not measured by election results but rather by meaningful reform and your willingness to use your political power to achieve that end, despite electoral consequences or heartbreak.
Long after today’s elected officials are out of office, the debates that seemed so contentious and sometimes even personal will fade in memory. What will endure are the values we exemplified in the political priorities we set. That is the true legacy we pass on to our children and grandchildren.
Our future as a county belongs to those who can blend compassion, common sense and courage into a genuine commitment to the values we hold most dear.
I am reminded of the compelling words of one of my childhood hero’s, Robert F. Kennedy - a man who understood the wisdom in looking beyond the shadows, who dared to think beyond our accepted practices, who believed in testing his fortitude and taking on the odds:
“Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change."
Awards/Recognitions/Certificates (2006-2010)
CARON Treatment Centers, Community Service Award, October 2010
Maryland NARAL, Advocacy Recognition, October 2010
Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation, Marilyn J. Praisner Founder’s Award, October 2010
MCPS/Safe & Drug Free Schools, Certificate of Appreciation, June 2010
Our Bodies Ourselves, Women’s Health Hero, June 2010
Montgomery County Business & Professional Women, Certificate of Appreciation, November 2009
Montgomery County Inter ACC/DD and SEEC, Community Builder Award, October 2009
Aviva Hadassah Group, Social Action Recognition, September 2009
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Program for Executives in State & Local Government, July 2009
National Center for Children and Families, Spirit Award for Humanitarian Advocate, June 2009
GROWS, Certificate of Appreciation, June 2009
Equality Maryland, Ally for Equality Award, June 2008
Centro Familia, Advocacy Award, March 2008
American Public Health Association, ACHP SPIG, Leadership Award, November 2007
Congressional Citation, US Rep Chris Van Hollen, Mental Health Advocacy, October 2007
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Hero Award, October 2007
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