Drew Morrison – Candidate for Council District 1 (Moderately MOCO Candidate Introduction Series)

This post is part of the Moderately MOCO Candidate Introduction Series. Candidates who did not receive the questionnaire via email or need more information can get access through our contact form. The information in this post was submitted directly by the candidate and does not represent the views of Moderately MOCO or its publication.

Basic Information

Political Party: Democratic

Campaign Website: morrisonforcouncil.com

Social Media:
Twitter: @DrewEMorrison
Instagram: DrewMorrison2026
Facebook: DrewMorrisonforCountyCouncil

Why Are You Running For Office?

Montgomery County faces unprecedented challenges to continue to be the successful, thriving community that we love. I bring the right mix of experience and vision to help us address the current challenges and set a vision for a stronger future. In my career, I have helped government to get big things done. I drafted the legislation that created the Montgomery County Green Bank, which made Montgomery County a leader in advancing green energy. I fought the Pepco-Excelon merger and secured key provisions to protect consumers' pocketbooks. At the Maryland Department of Transportation, I responded to the Key Bridge collapse and helped build workforce development efforts that provide more workers with family-supporting wages.My vision for Montgomery County is one where young people don't have to move away and seniors can afford to stay. We can deliver on private-sector jobs that restore our County's economic base while taking on affordability challenges around housing, energy, childcare, and rising property taxes. We can ensure the school system truly delivers on its promises, while building infrastructure we need for our quality of life. And we can do it in a way that builds consensus and trust in government. That's the approach that I'll bring to the County Council.

What Is The Biggest Issue Facing Voters In This Race?

Affordability. It has become harder than ever for families to afford to live in Montgomery County, for young people to start families here and for seniors to age in-place. Housing, childcare, and energy costs continue to increase. And recently, the County Executive proposed raising taxes even higher. I stood against that proposal. I will work to increase housing supply in the places where it's most appropriate, fill the gaps in early childhood education and put forth bold initiatives to help people afford it, and take on Pepco and other utilities when they seek continued rate increases. Here's how:Lower the Cost of Childcare: Montgomery County has fallen behind its peers in guaranteeing access to affordable, accessible childcare. Improving the system of childcare will require sufficient subsidies, increased educator salaries, timely access to space, and better coordination and navigation to link providers, parents, and available resources. Lower the Cost of Housing: We can strengthen our affordable housing programs by continuing to support the Housing Production Fund and by reforming how Low-Income Housing Tax Credits are administered in Maryland, so Montgomery County can implement more projects to create affordable housing. We can help seniors age in place by lowering the required time in a residence from 40 to 25 years for our county's Senior Property Tax Credit. And we can build the right housing in the right places, leveraging existing sites like the White Flint Mall that are ripe for redevelopment, to provide a strong mix of housing for our community.Lower the Cost of Energy: To help lower costs, I will work to enable clean energy generation here in Montgomery County and work with stakeholders across the state to develop new generation in Maryland that will reduce the excessive cost spikes we are currently facing. I will leverage the County's voice to fight Pepco rate hikes at the Public Service Commission.

What Experience Best Prepares You For This Role?

In my roles as a legislative aide at the Council, in the private sector as a transportation planner, and now at the Maryland Department of Transportation, I have helped create real, transformational projects. I drafted the legislation that created the Montgomery County Green Bank a decade ago, the first County-level green bank in the country that made Montgomery County a leader in protecting our environment and creating green energy. I helped fight the Pepco-Excelon merger and secured key provisions to protect consumers' pocketbooks. I helped develop new transit access for the historically African-American community of Tobytown, which had been isolated with many community members needing transportation options, and the Great Seneca Transitway, connecting a major transportation hub and job center. And at the Maryland Department of Transportation, I helped build a workforce development program that is a pipeline to good-paying, family-sustaining jobs in the transportation industry. I also learned how to take on crises, having to navigate severe budget challenges at the state level, and being detailed to the Key Bridge collapse response. I spent three months living and working in Baltimore to help coordinate the Department's response to that crisis. I know how to help District 1 residents navigate County government and fix everyday quality of life issues. I know how to get a pothole fixed or a tree trimmed because I've done it. I also have been responsible for building consensus among stakeholders to resolve differences, break barriers, and help communities move forward on big, regional projects. That requires a specific combination of experience, knowledge, and a desire to do what's best for the community that I would bring to the Council.

What Would You Like Voters To Know About You Personally?

I was raised in Bethesda, grew up playing B-CC Baseball and MSI Soccer, watching Big Train games, and acting in Imagination Stage programs. My parents live in the Mohican Hills home where I grew up. My wife, Nicole, and I live in downtown Bethesda. This is my home and I'm eager to fight for its future.

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