Gaithersburg election results: Harris, Hernandez, Wu on track to City Council victory

Yamil Hernandez

Tuesday was a good day to be an incumbent on the Gaithersburg City Council, and a great day to be Yamil Hernandez. Councilmembers Neil Harris and Robert Wu appear to have won reelection in unofficial City election results. Hernandez has edged out Shanika Whitehurst to potentially claim the third Council seat. Those top four candidates were in a very close race, while Daniel Lukomsky and Omodamola Williams were further back with triple digit vote totals, compared to the potential winners' 2000+ votes each. Like the City of Rockville's election yesterday, turnout was very low at 12.45%.

Hernandez, who garnered attention with a very creative online video ad campaign, tweeted that "I'm having a hard time putting into text and finding the right words to express the range of emotions I feel right now" this morning. "Gratitude* - To Gaithersburg residents for entrusting me with your vote, and this opportunity to serve you. Add in a big thank you to all the volunteers, elected officials, and supporters who guided, counseled, and worked tirelessly on our campaign." 

CASA in Action endorses Omodamola Williams for Gaithersburg City Council

CASA in Action, a 501(c)(4) organization advocating for Latino and immigrant communities in the Mid-Atlantic area, has endorsed Omodamola Williams for Gaithersburg City Council, it announced yesterday. "Omodamola Williams, a proud black man, a father, an organizer, & a renter who has experienced the consequences of failed policies -- Omodamola has made strides in fair housing for ALL Gaithersburg residents!" the organization said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. 

Williams is a community organizer for The Montgomery County Racial Equity Network (MORE). He previously served as president of Young People for Progress (YPP). He is advocating for the City of Gaithersburg to adopt rent stabilization, which is opposed by the current mayor, Jud Ashman. Williams also supports implementation of bike lanes, stronger housing code enforcement, better access to playgrounds, speed bumps and police transparency.

Williams will hold a meet-and-greet event this Saturday, October 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, at the Pavilion near City Hall. Early voting for registered voters in the City of Gaithersburg begins October 29, 2023. Election Day is November 7.

Gaithersburg City Council candidates finalized ahead of November 7, 2023 election

The Gaithersburg Board of Supervisors of Elections has certified the candidacies of six residents for the November 7, 2023 City Council election. Candidates for the three open City Council seats will be Neil Harris, Yamil Hernández, Daniel Lukomsky, Shanika Whitehurst, Omodamola Williams, and Robert Wu. The three winners will serve 4-year terms. If you are a City resident, you will receive a voter's guide in the mail in mid-September. A sample ballot will be mailed in late October.

If you are registered to vote in Montgomery County, you are automatically registered to vote in City of Gaithersburg elections, and you will receive a mail-in ballot application in the mail. For information on voter eligibility contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections, or call 240-777-VOTE (8683).

The Activity Center at Bohrer Park is the only polling place where registered voters will be able to vote in person. Early Voting will take place at the Activity Center on Sunday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The polling place will be open again on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.