Andrew Friedson is the Montgomery County District 1 Councilmember, representing the community where he was born and raised. His tireless commitment to enhancing quality of life, growing the local economy, and modernizing local government and his pragmatic, data-driven approach have delivered real results during one of the most challenging periods in County history.
The youngest ever Councilmember upon taking office in December 2018, Andrew hit the ground running in his first year. He spearheaded successful legislation to support businesses by requiring an Economic Impact Statement on all County legislation, to boost quality of life by maintaining pedestrian access around construction sites, and to strengthen fiscal oversight by instituting regular financial reviews of all County spending. Andrew led the effort to add millions in additional funding for affordable housing, restore proposed funding cuts to the County's parks, and increase coverage for emergency mental health counseling. As a result, Andrew was named the Best County Freshman Legislator and “the economic and fiscal center of the Montgomery County Council.”
When the COVID-19 crisis hit in 2020, Andrew was the driving force behind the Public Health Emergency Grant program to support hard-hit small businesses and nonprofits, the Telework Assistance Program to help businesses transition to telework, and the Reopen Montgomery program to aid businesses in safely resuming operations. He worked with his Council colleagues and the County Executive to create, fund, and implement relief programs for childcare providers, renters who lost income during the pandemic, and arts and cultural institutions. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce named Andrew Legislator of the Year for his immediate and sustained leadership in helping local employers weather the worst period of COVID-19.
RT @HannapelTim: Many thanks for stirring opening remarks about the need to know our history by @amfriedson of the Montgomery County Counci…
Amid so much darkness in our world, it was such a pleasure to celebrate light with Chabad of Bethesda, @GlenEchoFD, @mkorman & neighbors for the Annual Community Menorah Lighting and Parade on the first night of Hannukah. A ray of light can extinguish darkness. #HappyHannukah https://t.co/JjRp8YC42N
@JulieParkerComm We’ve been through some stuff together, @JulieParkerComm! Hope you’re well, my friend!
@DrMFischer
I am humbled, honored & excited for this new chapter as Council President as we strive to make Montgomery County more attractive & competitive, more equitable & welcoming, and a beacon of light & hope for everyone in our community, especially our youngest & oldest residents. 2/2
Yesterday, my colleagues unanimously elected me to serve as President of the Montgomery County Council. It’s hard to describe the profound honor to give back to a place that has given me so much — to represent the only place I’ve ever called home. https://t.co/vIXRdDznCA 1/2 https://t.co/mlQ6vNZXC6