Navarro campaign focused on ‘Independent fact-based leadership’

Nancy Navarro (D-Silver Spring) has served on the Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) since 2004; the latter two years as board president.

Today, Navarro is a candidate in the race to fill the open District 4 seat on the Montgomery County Council.  She will compete against her three Democratic opponents, Don Praisner (D-Silver Spring), the husband of the deceased councilwoman Marilyn Praisner, Pat Ryan (D-Silver Spring), a federal consultant, and activist Steve Kanstoroom (D-Ashton) in Tuesday’s special primary election.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com, Navarro’s campaign manager, David Moon, said Navarro was the “only one of the candidates willing to look at the changes going on in the county and make a decision not just based on ideology.”

The campaign manager said Navarro would provide “independent fact-based leadership,” adding that her opponents were “ideologues on issues like the budget and growth.”

“The other candidates have been too fixated on the development issue,” Moon said.

Moon said the idea that you are either pro or anti-development was too simplistic, and said his candidate was in favor of the construction of a “livable community,” focused on “redevelopment near public transportation hubs,” such as Metro stations.

On other issues, Moon said Navarro would dedicate herself to preserving services for children, seniors, low-income residents, and minorities.

“We need to make sure the school budget does not get gauged,” Moon added, saying issues like health care and transportation were also important to Navarro.

According to Moon, Navarro is in favor of the construction of the purple line.

When asked to name Navarro’s accomplishments with the school board, Moon said she had helped “reduce the divisiveness on the board and build a consensus.”

He said many of the board’s decision’s were unanimous and without objection.

In addition, Moon said the “achievement gap” between students had narrowed in Navarro’s time as BOE president.

“She has also expanded efforts to include more parents and students in the decision-making process,” Moon said.

According to recent finance reports, Navarro has raised the most money, $34,446, among the eight candidates (including Democrats and Republicans) in the race.

Political action committees, largely labor unions representing firefighters and school employees, have donated $22,000 to the Navarro campaign.

Praisner ranks second in contributions, having collected $16,000 from individuals, while also loaning $5,000 to his campaign.