We continue with our County Executive questionnaires with Councilmember George Leventhal (D-At Large).
What was your most important achievement in your current or past office? How do you think it demonstrates your leadership ability?
My most important achievement is that I have consistently been a champion for those who most need a government on their side. My leadership in public office has been to utilize innovative methods of helping and serving those who, but for the involvement of government, could not achieve a high quality of life on their own.
- I established the Montgomery Cares program, a network of community clinics that this year will provide 70,000 visits to patients without health insurance. The program includes medical check-ups; sick visits; medications; lab tests; X-Rays; flu shots; access to specialty care; access to behavioral health care; oral health care; and more.
- In 2015, because of my leadership, Montgomery County housed every identified homeless veteran in the county. We are one of three states and 51 communities that have achieved functional zero for veteran homelessness.
- In 2017, I provided funding to ensure the county can house every chronically homeless individual by the end of 2018, through the “Inside Not Outside” campaign.
- I have been the champion every year since 2003 for supplementing the wages paid to caretakers for people with developmental differences.
- I passed the Design for Living legislation, which provides property tax credits for investments that make housing accessible for elderly and disabled residents.
- I created the county’s Interagency Commission on Homelessness.
I have consistently championed funding for the Maternity Partnership Program, to ensure prenatal care for expectant mothers without health insurance, and Care for Kids, to ensure health insurance for all Montgomery County children.
