Basic Information
Democratic Party – running for Montgomery County Council District 6
Email christa.tichy@gmail.com
Website christatichyforcouncil.com
Facebook ChristaTichyforcouncil.com
Questions & Responses (All Candidates)
1 – What lessons learned do you have since the start of the pandemic?
A greater appreciation for our green space, the importance of proper hand washing, and the gratitude for our pets and jobs that allowed us to work remotely.
2 – If you could go back and do one thing differently from what was done in the last two years in Montgomery County what would you change?
The manner in which we look at our first responders, police and educators.
3 – What do you think are the 3 biggest and most pressing issues facing our county in the next 4 years? Why?
Jobs, training and environmental sustainability. The reason is as we address these three issues all our other concerns will improve.
4 – What specifically do you plan to do in the 3 most pressing areas from Question 3?
Workforce development through training in needed fields of education. This will create small businesses to start up knowing the labor force is available. Small businesses can be supportive of our environmental sustainability.
5 – Would you consider supporting changes to electoral process such as open primaries or non-partisan elections in Montgomery County to allow 155,000+ registered Unaffiliated/Independents in Montgomery County to vote locally when it counts?
Yes
Questions & Responses (County Council)
1 – What is your plan to attract and KEEP businesses in Montgomery County? How can we get more businesses across the county and especially where its lacking in the Up County and East County and compete with Northern Virginia?
My plan is to build a papermill in Montgomery County. Utilize wood scraps and produce paper bags of various sizes. Provide funding for training to help start up small business owners operating bee farms. The bee farms will produce a local honey for revenue, provide jobs and support education to learn to be a beekeeper. We will utilize the beeswax to line our plastic bags designed for reuse and diaper collection along with saving our Bay and environment.
We will be plastic bag FREE.
2 – How will you hold developers accountable for past, present, and future infrastructure commitments (schools, transit, roads, etc.)?
Developers need to keep their commitments. Reduced taxes for on time projects and penalties for fallen infrastructure issues.
3 – What do you plan to do about the increase in incidents of carjackings and homicides in the county and decline of applicants and morale in the police force?
WE need to offer one time incentives to sign up for our MCPD. Provide funding for Community/police projects… PAL. Support the Sanctuary bill so immigrants witnessing crimes will not fear deportation for reporting these crimes.
4 – What do you see as your biggest advantage or positive that you bring to the table over your competitors?
Ideas /solutions for our Economy, jobs, housing, training, education, environment and small businesses for all residents.
Questions & Responses (BOE)
1 – What will you do to ensure MCPS is accountable to the BOE for decisions, contracts, and spending?
Oversight committees, presentations and regular meetings .
2 – Would you ever consider going fully virtual again given the costs seen in hindsight (increased mental health issues, lowered test scores, and increased violence)?
Unless there is a pandemic we should return to in person learning for K-12 grade. Some classes maybe blended. Colleges are optional as on line learning is beneficial to the cost, traffic patterns, and convenience for adult students.
3 – Do you support the shift from balanced literacy to structured literacy/science of reading?
I advocate balanced learning. There are exceptions and structured literacy maybe preferred.
We should incorporate techniques for both. We need to relearn to appreciate reading.
4 – What is your plan for continued recovery from learning loss and proficiency issues related to covid and virtual?
Each year of school a portion of the missed curriculum should be added on and within 4 years we should be back on track. It needs to be a process and gradual. It can not be achieved overnight.
5 – What do you think MCPS should do to deal with staffing issues, subs, and make MCPS a place that people seek out for employment again?
Incentives and one time bonuses for teachers that managed teaching during covid. Paid time to plan lessons. Modified daily meetings.