Jim McNulty – Candidate for Montgomery County Council At-Large (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: https://jimmcnulty.org

Social Media Links: Facebook | IG: @jimmcnulty | Twitter: @jimmcnulty | LinkedIn | Bluesky: @jimmcnulty.bsky.social

Why Are You Running For Office?

I believe government should make it easier to live, work, and play in our community, yet many of the policy decisions made at the County level have made it more difficult—and more expensive. Since rent stabilization passed, multifamily building permits have collapsed by 96%. We have a structural budget deficit that can’t be fixed by raising taxes on residents who are already stretched thin. And we have communities in the Upcounty that too often get overlooked in County decision-making. We must invest in programs that jumpstart economic growth and make that a real priority. I’ve spent five years on the Gaithersburg City Council proving that smart, balanced leadership works. We have maintained Maryland’s lowest property tax rate among its largest cities, while continuing to invest in our community. We’ve approved 3,500 new housing units over the last 4 years, including the Lakeforest Mall redevelopment, and attracted innovative new employers like X-energy and Vaisala, bringing hundreds of new jobs. I’m running to bring that same pragmatic, results-oriented approach to the County Council.

What Is The Biggest Issue Facing Voters In This Race?

Housing affordability and availability. Too many working families—including teachers, nurses, first responders, and young professionals—can’t afford to buy a home or find an apartment in Montgomery County they can afford. Our current approach isn’t working: rent stabilization has frozen new construction while doing nothing to lower rents. My kids are 18 and 21, and I am very concerned about their ability to build a life in the community they grew up in. We need to change course. I’m proposing a $40 million Workforce Housing Downpayment Assistance Fund to help working families achieve their dream of home ownership. This targets the “missing middle”—people who earn too much for existing programs but still can’t afford today’s prices. Combined with policies that actually encourage housing production rather than discourage it, we can make real progress on affordability. Streamlining overly restrictive regulations and permitting processes that drive up costs for renters and homeowners alike, is a good place to start. “Big swing” projects like Lakeforest, White Flint, and the Clarksburg Sector Plan can help add housing and employment opportunities at scale, and help put a dent in our supply and demand deficit to keep housing costs from rising. The last thing we need as our families struggle with housing affordability is another tax increase. I will focus on growing our economy and expanding our tax base instead.

What Experience Best Prepares You For This Role?

Three things set me apart: First, I’ve been a Gaithersburg City Councilmember since 2021, where I’ve navigated complex zoning issues, made tough budget decisions (without raising taxes), attracted new jobs and home construction to grow our tax base, invested in transportation and public safety, and delivered excellent constituent services. I understand how local government works and how to build coalitions to get things done. Second, I’m a working REALTOR® who sees the housing market every day. I’m not theorizing about housing policy—I’m watching families struggle to find homes they can afford in real time. That ground-level perspective informs my approach. Third, I’ve been a community leader for over two decades: HOA president for a 478-home community, PTSD support group founder, parish school board member, and youth baseball coach. I know how to meet people where they are, find common ground, and work together to solve problems. My support reflects this broad appeal: I’m a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, and have been endorsed by both the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR) and Greater Greater Washington (smart growth and housing advocates), as well as the Coalition for Equitable Representation in Government (CERG 2.0), who are committed to strengthening Black communities and advancing Black‑owned businesses, and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35. I’ve also been endorsed by local leaders like Congressman David Trone, County Council Member Dawn Luedtke, Senator Nancy King, Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, former County Council Member Nancy Floreen, and many more. That kind of broad-based coalition is exactly the approach the County Council needs.

What Would You Like Voters To Know About You Personally?

I’ve called Montgomery County home for 24 years—raising my family in Rockville, Germantown, and Gaithersburg. I’ve worked in Silver Spring and Bethesda, so I understand the diverse needs of our communities and can represent the whole County. I’ve been married for over 25 years, and our children have attended both MCPS and Catholic schools. I am a volunteer at Gaithersburg Meals on Wheels, and have coached youth baseball, served on my neighborhood HOA, and was appointed to my kids’ School Advisory Board. I am an avid cyclist, a former competition BBQ cook on the Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS) circuit, and I was a goalie on a Major League Roller Hockey team for three years. For 15 years, I worked in television production, including stops at Discovery, HGTV, NBC4 and WJLA. There I learned how to manage complex projects, work under pressure, and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders—skills that translate directly to public service. Today, I am a REALTOR® with Jim McNulty Real Estate at Keller Williams Capital Properties, focused on the Upcounty areas of Montgomery County. My path toward public service began with a life-changing event in 2010, when I was one of three people taken hostage in an attempted suicide bombing at Discovery Channel HQ in Silver Spring. Montgomery County SWAT officers saved my life that day. Ever since, I have looked for opportunities where I can do the most good, and make the most of the second chance I was given. I’m not running to climb a political ladder. I’m running because I love this County, and I believe we can do better—if we’re willing to turn our focus back to the basic things that government is supposed to do: Keep our communities safe, grow our economy, keep things affordable for our families, take care of our transportation infrastructure, and create an environment where all of us have a chance to thrive. Our County is a crossroads. We have five open seats on the County Council—including three at-large. We have an opportunity to change the direction of the County for the better. This moment requires leadership, experience, and a willingness to roll up our sleeves and work together to turn things around. Together, we can meet the moment. You get four votes for the At-Large Council seats. I’d be honored to have one of yours.

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