Jud Ashman Takes the Dais One Last Time as Lisa Henderson Is Sworn In as Gaithersburg Mayor

Lisa Henderson took the oath of office as Gaithersburg’s mayor at a special City Council session Monday night, Nov. 9, replacing Jud Ashman, who won the District 3 seat on the Montgomery County Council on Nov. 3.

In a statement to Moderately MOCO, Ashman said:

I know it’s cliche to use the word “bittersweet,” but it is in fact bittersweet! I have been grateful for every moment I served in the government of the City of Gaithersburg. I am going to sorely miss working in this way with our Council and our staff.

At the same time, I am truly excited to have Lisa Henderson take on the role of Mayor. She is a wonderful person and leader – and I look forward to what great heights she and her Council colleagues take us.

Jud Ashman

The session’s agenda listed two items: the oath of office to Mayor-elect Lisa Henderson and the oath of office to Council Member-elect Alyssa Krumlauf.

Henderson then administered the oath to Alyssa Todaro Krumlauf, whom the City Council selected to fill Henderson’s council seat, according to a city announcement posted Oct. 28. Krumlauf lives in Woodland Hills and has chaired the city’s Youth Enrichment Committee since 2025, according to the city.

Henderson has served on the City Council since 2021. Ashman has been mayor since 2014, when the council selected him to replace Sidney Katz after Katz won the same District 3 County Council seat. Ashman won his current term as mayor in November 2025.

Ashman joins the County Council when new terms begin at noon on Monday, Dec. 7, under Section 105 of the County Charter. More on the transition, and the questions still open about it, is in our Nov. 4 story.

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