Karla Silvestre
Candidate for Montgomery County Council At-Large
RSVP for my Kickoff Event on October 5th, 2-4 p.m.
Why I’m Running
I moved to Montgomery County nearly twenty years ago for the jobs, schools, and public amenities like parks and transportation hubs that gave my family a high quality of life. However, our county faces great challenges with strained resources and now federal actions disrupting our workforce and our community. I want to put my proven experience to work for the people of our county to strengthen our local economy and provide the quality of life that our residents expect and deserve.
I know how to work with others to get things done, build bridges, and at this critical time in our county we need serious leaders who will work everyday to put the needs and interests of our residents front and center. Montgomery County continues to be full of promise, and by working together to grow our economy, we can secure the resources like quality education, workforce training, childcare, affordable housing, and reliable transportation that are essential for every member of our diverse community to thrive.
Priorities
Building a Stronger Economy with Good-Paying Jobs
A strong economy is the foundation of a vibrant, thriving community. As a county, we need to attract and retain employers, but we also need to ensure that we have a skilled and prepared workforce to meet the demands of today’s economy. That’s why I am committed to creating a business climate that not only supports existing companies but also attracts new businesses to Montgomery County. To grow our economy, we must create an environment where businesses can thrive. Too often I hear business owners tell me how hard it is to do business in Montgomery County. We need to make it easier for businesses both large and small to start, expand, and operate in Montgomery County. This includes simplifying the permitting process, reducing unnecessary red tape, and ensuring that our regulatory environment is business-friendly without compromising public safety or environmental standards. By removing obstacles, we can attract new businesses to Montgomery County and encourage local businesses to grow and stay here.
Preparing Our Workforce for Success
We must ensure that we are providing the right talent to meet the needs of employers. I will work closely with our local education and workforce institutions to align training and education with the needs of industries like technology, healthcare, biotech, and education. We must also work with our employers to offer more apprenticeships, internships, and experiential learning to get more students/residents an entry into high demand jobs. By creating stronger pipelines to good-paying jobs, we can help local residents secure the opportunities they need without relying solely on talent from outside the region.
I’ve spent my career helping people access educational and workforce opportunities, which is why I know how important it is to invest in our residents’ future. I have seen firsthand the challenges our residents face in accessing the training they need to secure stable, well-paying jobs. We must expand these opportunities, especially for those from underserved communities, to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to succeed.
We need to focus on aligning education with industry needs, making sure that students graduate from our schools ready for the workforce or college. As president of the Montgomery County Board of Education, I led efforts to improve student achievement after the pandemic, ensure better returns on educational investments, and recruit talented educators through growing our own talent. I will bring this same commitment to workforce development as your County Council member.
Fostering a High Quality of Life for All
In addition to a strong economy and a prepared workforce, maintaining and improving our county’s quality of life is essential to keeping Montgomery County a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We are fortunate to have outstanding public amenities and services, including parks, libraries, public safety, and recreation centers, but we must continue to invest in these services to meet the growing needs of our community.
Traffic congestion is a major quality of life issue that impacts daily life for many residents. I will prioritize transportation improvements to reduce congestion and improve public transit options. Ensuring that our residents have access to reliable transportation is key to supporting both the local economy and a higher quality of life.
Other critical quality of life issues include affordability in housing and childcare. It’s vital that we create an environment where people can live, work, and raise families without being priced out of our community. This means focusing on affordable housing solutions including building more housing and adding density to areas near transit. We must also expand access to childcare by making it easier for childcare centers to achieve licensing, promote a public/private model, and support home based child care centers. All the while ensuring that services remain accessible to all.
Imagine a community where…
You can live in a home
you can afford
You have a good school
for your children
You have nearby green spaces for recreation and to breathe fresh air
Your neighborhood has plenty of access to grocery stores, childcare, and transportation options
It is easy to start and grow your business