Join Evan

The pandemic has dramatically changed our lives and required an unprecedented level of government support. As a member of the Health & Human Services Committee, Evan has served a central role in ensuring that residents have equitable access to COVID testing and vaccines, which has resulted in Montgomery County having one of the highest vaccination rates in the nation.

READ MORE →

In addition to keeping residents healthy and safe, Evan has been making sure that the nearly $161 million in federal aid received by the county has been used where it is most needed; supporting small businesses, providing nutritious food for those experiencing hunger and keeping our public transportation system operating for those unable to work from home.

At a time when budgets were already stretched, COVID exacerbated economic insecurity and made it even more difficult for residents to make ends meet. To protect residents who were at risk of losing their homes, Evan spearheaded the county’s efforts in April 2020 to provide rental assistance for individuals at risk of eviction by securing an initial $2 million in rental assistance for renters that has since grown to more than $50 million. These efforts have helped keep thousands of residents in their homes.

Evan also led the efforts to support the arts and humanities sector, which is a robust component of our local economy that provides jobs, tax revenues and entertainment for all residents. Recognizing the value of arts in our community, Evan secured $3.25 million in emergency grant funding for creative artistic professionals and theatrical organizations in Montgomery County to help keep the lights on.

A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. After identifying out-dated hiring practices that perpetuated the wage gap across race and gender identity, Evan passed the Pay Equity Act to ban the county from using previous salary history to determine new pay.

READ MORE →

Data collected from department salaries showed that men, regardless of their length of service, earned more than women. Even though this legislation was signed into law in 2019, there is more work to do in Montgomery County and in Maryland to ensure safe and equitable workplaces for all workers.

As a frequent user of public transit, Evan knows that fast and reliable bus service is critical for strong communities and strong local economies. That is why he successfully expanded the Kids Ride Free program and created new opportunities for young people to ride our public buses for free.

READ MORE →

For many residents who are reliant on public transportation –– and especially youth working minimum wage jobs, doing internships, or participating in afterschool programs –– paying for bus service cuts heavily into their paychecks and makes public transportation an unaffordable option.

Evan also led the council’s efforts that restored proposed bus service cuts which would have reduced public transportation in the Upcounty and impacted the busiest north-south lines. These routes serve populations which have few transit options and are less likely to own vehicles.

For residents who walk or bike around their neighborhood, to school or to work, we must make our roads safer for all users. Too many residents are being injured or killed on our roads. This is why Evan has been holding annual town halls and fiercely advocating for faster implementation of Vision Zero programs. Evan was awarded the 2019 Vision Zero Award by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association for his leadership.

We are in the midst of a climate crisis. The future of our planet depends on the actions we take globally and locally. Evan has been working tirelessly to reduce carbon emissions by modernizing our transportation fleet and building codes, improving our waste stream so less trash is incinerated or hauled to the landfill, and expanding opportunities for more renewable energy to be produced in the county.

READ MORE →

Montgomery County throws away 147,000 tons of food each year. To reduce the amount of food waste produced, Evan successfully passed legislation that increased the amount of compostable materials Montgomery County farmers can turn into compost or mulch. More composting and improved waste diversion not only helps foster a greener local economy but it also brings us closer to achieving our ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.

The transportation sector generates 42% of our greenhouse gases. Evan has been vigorously fighting for a more energy efficient public transportation system. He successfully implemented environmental standards for future road and highway construction across the D.C. region through his leadership at the Council of Governments’ Transportation Planning Board.

Access to housing is a basic right. With over 130,000 households in Montgomery County struggling to make rent every month, more needs to be done to provide affordable housing and help those at risk of being evicted.

READ MORE →

As the council’s Lead on Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities, Evan has expanded our longstanding efforts to reduce and eliminate homelessness among veterans, individuals and families. By strengthening the structure and governance of the Interagency Commission on Homelessness, he worked to ensure that Montgomery County is prioritizing the housing of families, youth and individuals experiencing street homelessness.

In April 2020, Evan spearheaded the county’s efforts to provide rental assistance for individuals at risk of eviction by securing an initial $2 million in rental assistance for renters that has since grown to more than $100 million. These efforts have helped keep thousands of residents in their homes.

Evan also strengthened Montgomery County’s housing anti-discrimination laws by passing the Housing Justice Act. This protects vulnerable communities and provides individuals with access to a safe, affordable home.

Evan knows the importance of maintaining in-person schooling and the need to keep our students, teachers and families safe. This is why he has consistently voted every year to fully fund the Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery College budgets.

READ MORE →

While the county has made great strides in building new schools and improving our existing ones, there is more work to do to close the achievement gap, modernize our infrastructure and enhance our after school programs to ensure that every child receives a world class public school education.

As the first LGBTQ+ member of the Montgomery County Council, Evan understands the importance of protecting the rights of minority communities. This is why he authored the LGBTQ+ Bill of Rights, which strengthens legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents by expanding Montgomery County’s anti-discrimination code to include gender expression and HIV status.

READ MORE →

The LGBTQ Bill of Rights explicitly bans LGBTQ+ discrimination in healthcare facilities, nursing homes and personal care facilities.

Evan initiated annual Pride Month celebrations throughout Montgomery County so that the local LGBTQ+ community can honor their fight for equal rights here at home. These annual events help to build a stronger and more inclusive Montgomery County.

Creating sustainable economic growth in Montgomery County is a top priority. We need to expand economic prosperity to all corners of the county, especially East County and Upcounty. This will create new jobs where they are needed, bring in additional tax revenue, and shorten commuting times, thereby easing traffic and improving the environment.

READ MORE →

Montgomery County is home to many innovative research companies that work closely with government agencies. Recognizing the important role these organizations played in protecting us during the pandemic, Evan passed the Small Business Investment and Oversight Act. This expanded grant funding for more research organizations to operate in Montgomery County and help make us the leading biotechnology and life sciences region in the nation.

During the height of the pandemic, many Montgomery County retailers and restaurants struggled. Evan helped to relieve their burden by cutting red tape and reducing fees. Some of the annual license fees that small businesses had to pay were as high as $750. Evan passed legislation to cap these fees at $15 in an effort to increase competitiveness and ease the burden on our county’s small businesses.