Nancy Navarro

Nancy Navarro
Member of the Montgomery County Council from District 4
Assumed office
June 3, 2009[1]
Preceded by Don Praisner
Member of Montgomery County Board of Education, District 5
In office
2004  June 3, 2009[1]
Preceded by Henry Lee
Succeeded by Michael Durso
Personal details
Born (1965-08-15) August 15, 1965
Caracas, Venezuela[2]
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Reginald[3]
Children 2[3]
Residence Colesville, Maryland[4]
Alma mater University of Missouri[3]
Occupation Public official

Nancy Navarro has been a member of the Montgomery County Council since 2009. She represents District 4, which includes parts of Aspen Hill, Burtonsville, Calverton, Clovery, Colesville, Derwood, Fairland, Olney, Sandy Spring, Silver Spring, Spencerville, Wheaton, and White Oak.[5] She lives in Colesville, Maryland.[4]

Early years

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela,[2] Navarro and her family moved to Rolla, Missouri, when she was ten years old so her father could study engineering at the University of Missouri–Rolla.[3] Navarro later returned to Venezuela to attend high school in Zulia.[2] Navarro attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology.[6]

After graduating from college, Navarro worked as a social worker for the Boone County Council on Aging.[3] At age 26, she married her husband Reginald, and they moved to Wheaton, Maryland, a few years later.[3]

She decided to open a child care center in Montgomery County, but she found the state licensing process to be burdensome.[6] She reasoned that it must be even more burdensome for individuals who have limited or no English-speaking abilities, leaving them at risk of fines and closures if they decide to provide unlicensed child care services.[6] In 1998, Navarro co-founded Centro Familia,[6] a small local nonprofit organization that trained people so they can be licensed in child care.[7] She volunteered for the organization at no pay until the organization received enough state and county grant money that it could pay her a salary and hire four instructors two years later.[6] She was with the organization until 2006.[8]

Navarro moved to Colesville in 2003.[3]

In 2004, Navarro served as co-president of White Oak Middle School Parent Teacher Students Association.[9]

Montgomery County Board of Education

When incumbent Henry Lee resigned from his seat on the Montgomery County Board of Education representing District 5, Navarro was one of four individuals who expressed interest in replacing him.[10][11] Members of the Board of Education chose her to fill the vacant seat in a vote of 4 to 3.[12] Navarro began her term on December 1, 2004.[12] Navarro said she would focus on the racial achievement gap in Montgomery County schools,[12] strengthening parental involvement, improving teacher training, and asking the state for more funding for school construction so that class sizes may be reduced.[6] Navarro served on the Board of Education's Strategic Planning Committee and Communications and Public Engagement Committee.[13]

In a vote whether to replace Seven Locks Elementary School in Potomac with a new school on Kendale Road, Navarro was in the minority by voting against the plan.[14] Residents in the neighborhood wanted to build a new school on the old school's grounds, rather than in a different location.[14] Montgomery County's independent inspector general questioned whether the Board of Education had been upfront about cost projections and community support of the project.[15] The Montgomery County Council voted against building a new school on Kendale Road, deciding that Seven Lock Elementary School should be expanded instead.[16]

Navarro ran for reelection in 2006.[17] Navarro was challenged by educational activist Philip Kauffman.[18] Navarro's candidacy was endorsed by Service Employees International Union Local 500, which represents about Montgomery County school system employees,[19] and Montgomery County Education Association, the local teachers' union[20] The editorial board of the Washington Post said criticized her confrontational style, her opposition of acceleration of all-day kindergarten, her support of an illegal plan to import prescription drugs from Canada, and her lack of strong support for incumbent school superintendent.[21] Navarro won the election,[22] receiving 64 percent of the vote.[23] Members of the Board of Election then elected her its president.[24]

Navarro supported a new sexual education plan that teach what it means to be gay and saying that homosexuality is innate.[25] She also supported pre-kindergarten for all children.[26]

Navarro was named a 2007 Hispanic Hero Award winner by United States Hispanic Youth Entrepreneur Education, which provides Hispanic youth with opportunities that lead to college and careers.[27]

Montgomery County Council

2008 election

In February 2008, Navarro announced her candidacy for the District 4 seat on the Montgomery County Council, to fill the vacancy left after Marilyn Praisner died.[28] Other candidates included Praisner's widower Don Praisner,[29] Cary Lamari, Pat Ryan,[30] Steve Kanstoroom, Mark Fennel, and John McKinnis.[28]

On the subject of land use and development, Navarro said she held a middle ground and supported livable communities.[28] She said he favored a balanced approach to policy-making and building coalitions of labor unions, individuals, and business interests.[31] Navarro accepted campaign contributions from developers, unlike the other Democratic candidates.[31]

Navarro's candidacy was endorsed by the Montgomery County Education Association, Service Employees International Union Local 500, the Montgomery County Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel,[32] United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1994, and the AFL-CIO Washington, D.C. Metro Council.[33] Council Member Valerie Ervin backed Navarro's candidacy, while four other sitting council members backed her opponent.[34] The editorial board of the Washington Post endorsed Navarro's candidacy, noting her passion, her preparedness, and her way of finding a middle ground between different interests.[35]

In the Democratic primary, Navarro lost to Don Praisner, who won with 44 percent of the vote.[36]

2009 election

Don Praisner died in January 2009, following surgery for colon cancer.[37] Navarro ran for the vacant seat.[38]

Navarro's candidacy was endorsed by sitting Council members Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, Michael Knapp, and George L. Leventhal, noting Navarro's experience with difficult budget issues on the Board of Education.[39] The editorial board of the Washington Post called Navarro a good choice for the position, but it favored her opponent State Delegate Ben Kramer, saying that while it was encouraged by Navarro's negotiation of smaller raises for teachers due to budgetary limitations, she was less willing to oppose positions of labor unions.[40] County Executive Isiah Leggett endorsed Kramer.[41]

Navarro criticized Kramer for support of a bill that would have made it easier for victims of domestic violence to get permits to carry handguns, calling it "pro-gun legislation" that did not protect children.[42] Navarro also criticized Kramer's support for a bill that would have expunged records in some unproven domestic abuse in order to prevent dismissed protective orders from being used to deny innocent people housing or jobs.[42] Navarro said the bill sided with defense attorneys rather than victims of domestic violence.[42]

Navarro won the Democratic primary, receiving 62 more votes than Kramer.[41]

Navarro advanced to the general election, where she was on the ballot with Republican Party candidate Robin Ficker and Green Party candidate George Gluck.[43] Ficker opposed increasing property taxes in order to close budget gaps, and Ficker was proud of his successful ballot initiative that prevents increases in property tax revenue beyond a certain limit, tied to inflation, without the votes of all nine council members. .[44] Gluck wanted to institute graduated property tax rates, and he opposed the Intercounty Connector, which was under construction.[44] Navarro won the general election with 63 percent of the vote.[44] She was sworn into office on June 3, 2009.[1]

First term

Navarro sponsored a bill to require contractors doing business with Montgomery County to provide the same benefits it offers to their employees' domestic partners as they do to their employees' spouses.[45] The bill covered construction contracts greater than $500,000 and service contracts above $50,000; nonprofit organizations and other government agencies are exempt.[45]

Navarro voted against a bill that would have charged health insurance companies between $300 and $800 for ambulance transport, similar to what is done in the District of Columbia, Prince George's County, and Fairfax County.[46] County Executive Isiah Leggett, who supported the bill, said the fees would have helped close the budget gap and help fund improvements to the county's emergency services.[46] Opponents of the bill were skeptical that insurance companies would pay the fees and wondered if the fees would reduce emergency service calls.[46]

Navarro voted in favor of a bill in support of widening Interstate 270 north of Maryland Route 124, to make room for reversible high-occupancy toll lanes, which would be free to carpools, vanpools, and buses.[47] The state would still need to vote to build and implement the lanes.[47] She also voted in favor of the Corridor Cities Transitway, a proposed light rail between Shady Grove Metro station and Clarksburg.[47]

In 2010, President Obama appointed her to the Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.[48]

2010 election

Navarro ran for a full term on the Council in 2010.[49] She ran unopposed in the Democratic Party primary election.[50] In the general election, she ran against Republican David W. Horner.[49] Her candidacy was endorsed by the editorial board of the Washington Post.[51] Navarro won the general election.[52]

Second term

In 2011, the Montgomery County Council elected Navarro to the position of vice president of the council.[53] In December 2012, the Montgomery County Council elected Navarro president of the council.[54]

Navarro supported a ballot initiative to recognize same-sex marriage.[55]

She also supported a ballot initiative that would allow undocumented immigrants living in Maryland to be eligible for in-state tuition at community colleges and four-year public universities in Maryland.[55] She opposed Secure Communities, a federal program in which local police share arrest data with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in order to identify and deport serious criminal offenders.[56]

Navarro asked the state to fund the purple line, a proposed light rail that would connect New Carrollton, Maryland, College Park, Silver Spring, and Bethesda.[57] She supported a bill that allows free bus fare to Montgomery County students under age 19 on weekdays between 2 and 8 p.m.[58] Navarro was critical of the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan, a major medical and life sciences research hub in White Oak that would include 11 million square feet of new commercial and residential development.[59] Navarro said the plan did not balance land use and transportation.[59]

Navarro voted in favor of a bill that would expedite zoning changes by bypassing master plan reviews, which would allow a Wal-Mart to build a store in Aspen Hill.[60] Proponents of the bill said the proposed Wal-Mart would bring jobs to the area and lead to the demolishing of a blighted, vacant office building.[60] Opponents of the bill said the proposed Wal-Mart would hurt other businesses in the area and the county would have to pay for social services because of the low wages Wal-Mart pays to many of its employees.[60]

Navarro supported a bill to gradually increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $11.50 per hour[61] in 2017.[62] She opposed a bill to increase the Working Families Income Supplement, a tax credit for low-income working residents in Montgomery County, saying the county might not be able to afford the increased tax credit in the long term.[63]

Navarro voted for a salary increase for council members of about six percent per year for three consecutive years.[64] Navarro supported a bill to institute public financing of campaigns in Montgomery County elections.[65]

Navarro supported a resolution asking the Washington Redskins to change their name.[66]

2014 election

Navarro ran for reelection in 2014.[67] She was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[67] The Sierra Club Maryland Chapter endorsed her candidacy.[68]

Electoral history

2006

2006 Primary Election, Montgomery County Board of Education, District 5[69]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Nancy Navarro 62,524 57
Nonpartisan Philip Kauffman 28,613 26
Nonpartisan Susie Wern Scofield 18,012 17
2006 General Election, Montgomery County Board of Education, District 5[70]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Nancy Navarro 136,332 63
Nonpartisan Philip Kauffman 79,177 37
Nonpartisan Write-in 485 0

2008

2008 Primary Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[71]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Praisner 3,391 44
Democratic Nancy Navarro 3,021 40
Democratic Steve Kanstoroom 824 11
Democratic Pat Ryan 422 6

2009

2009 Primary Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[72]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Navarro 3,881 45
Democratic Ben Kramer 3,819 44
Democratic Cary Lamari 730 8
Democratic Robert Goldman 118 1
Democratic Thomas Hardman 105 1
Democratic Michael L. Bigler 65 1
2009 General Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[73]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Navarro 7,364 61
Republican Robin Ficker 4,263 35
Green George Gluck 404 3
  Write-in 59 0

2010

2010 Primary Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Navarro 14,624 100
2010 General Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Navarro 39,729 71
Republican David W. Horner 16,569 29
  Write-in 53 0

2014

2014 Primary Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[74]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Navarro 12,247 100
2014 General Election, Montgomery County Council, District 4[75]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Navarro 30,512 65
Republican John O'Malley 16,691 35

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marimow, Ann E. (May 28, 2009). "County Budget Put to Bed, But It May Be a Fitful Sleep". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nancy Navarro; School Board -- Northeastern County". The Washington Post. August 25, 2005. p. ME10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "About Nancy". Nancy Navarro for Montgomery County Council. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Laris, Michael (October 4, 2009). "'Life Is Too Short'" (interview). The Washington Post. p. WMAG7.
  5. Marimow, Ann E. (March 8, 2009). "Regional Briefing". The Washington Post. p. C3.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Aizenman, Nurith C. (November 29, 2004). "Child-Care Activist to Join School Board; Montgomery Fills Vacant Seat With Supporter of Early Literacy Efforts for Latinos". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  7. Perez-Rivas, Manuel (May 31, 2001). "Learning and Caring; Group Trains Latino Women To Get Child-Care License". The Washington Post. p. ME14.
  8. Spivack, Miranda S. (November 2, 2009). "FBI examines spending by Md. nonprofit". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  9. Dana, Rebecca (November 4, 2004). "School Board To Decide On Study: Whether to Review Boundaries at Issue". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  10. Dana, Rebecca (November 18, 2004). "Four in the Running For School Board Spot". The Washington Post. p. ME3.
  11. "Metro: In Brief". The Washington Post. November 12, 2004. p. B3.
  12. 1 2 3 Dana, Rebecca (November 25, 2004). "Advocate for Latinos Named to School Board". The Washington Post. p. T5.
  13. "Montgomery County Board of Education". The Washington Post. April 27, 2006. p. T30.
  14. 1 2 Aratani, Lori (May 10, 2006). "Board Backs Plan to Build School at Kendale Road: Members Also Address Crowding at Potomac, Bells Mill in Bid to Boost Support for Proposal". The Washington Post. p. B2.
  15. Aratani, Lori (May 11, 2006). "Board Seeks Ruling over Inspector General: Decision From State May Settle Dispute With County Council Over Investigative Authority". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  16. Weinstein, Jay M. (May 25, 2006). "Seven Locks School Fight: The Final Score". The Washington Post. p. T4.
  17. "Maryland Briefing". The Washington Post. May 31, 2006. p. B2.
  18. Aratani, Lori (July 13, 2006). "School Races About Change -- and Continuity: Candidates for Four Board Seats Generally Agree With Direction of District". The Washington Post. p. ME1.
  19. "Maryland Briefing". The Washington Post. May 25, 2006. p. B4.
  20. "Maryland Briefing". The Washington Post. June 9, 2006. p. B2.
  21. "For Montgomery County Schools; The next Board of Education will confront significant challenges in the high-achieving district" (editorial). The Washington Post. September 8, 2006. p. A16.
  22. Trejos, Nancy (November 8, 2006). "Leggett Heads a Democratic Charge". The Washington Post. p. A29.
  23. "Montgomery". The Washington Post. November 8, 2006. p. A41.
  24. de Vise, Daniel (December 14, 2006). "Students Air Grievances on Computer Restrictions, Lunch Lines". The Washington Post. p. T11.
  25. de Vise, Daniel (January 10, 2007). "Montgomery School Board Approves New Sex-Ed Plan". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  26. Ervin, Valerie; Navarro, Nancy (March 15, 2007). "Pre-Kindergarten Is Needed Now To Help Most Vulnerable Children" (op-ed). The Washington Post. p. T4.
  27. "School Notes". The Washington Post. May 10, 2007. p. T6.
  28. 1 2 3 Marimow, Ann E.; Spivack, Miranda S. (February 21, 2008). "Candidates Begin Race For Praisner's Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  29. Marimow, Ann E. (February 29, 2008). "Maryland Briefing". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  30. Spivack, Miranda S.; Marimow, Ann E. (March 6, 2008). "Praisner's Husband Runs To Protect Her Legacy". The Washington Post. p. T1.
  31. 1 2 Marimow, Ann E. (April 10, 2008). "In District Primary, an Eight-Way Race for One Large Legacy; Praisner's Husband, Three Other Democrats and Four Republicans Vie to Succeed Her". The Washington Post. p. ME1.
  32. Marimow, Ann E.; Spivack, Miranda S. (March 13, 2008). "Navarro Casts Herself As Candidate of Future". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  33. Marimow, Ann E. (March 27, 2008). "Spring Cleaning For Council Committees". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  34. Marimow, Ann E. (April 3, 2008). "Ahead of Special Election, Council Intrigue Abounds". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  35. "Filling a Gap in Montgomery; A critical primary in a changing county" (editorial). The Washington Post. April 11, 2008. p. A20.
  36. Marimow, Ann E. (April 16, 2008). "Praisner's Husband Wins Primary; Democrats Nominate Widower to Succeed Wife on Council". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  37. Marimow, Ann E.; Spivack, Miranda S. (February 12, 2009). "Deciding Date For Election Proves No Easy Matter". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  38. Marimow, Ann E.; Spivack, Miranda S. (February 26, 2009). "Probe Begun On Grant to Economic Director's Son". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  39. Marimow, Ann E. (March 26, 2009). "Terms of Economic Chief's Severance Package Sought". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  40. "Montgomery's Vacant Seat; In a crowded County Council primary, Ben Kramer is the best choice." (editorial). The Washington Post. April 12, 2009. p. A16.
  41. 1 2 Marimow,, Ann E. (May 2, 2009). "Navarro Wins Democratic Primary by 62 Votes". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  42. 1 2 3 Marimow, Ann E. (April 19, 2009). "Race for Open Council Seat Takes On a Combative Tone". The Washington Post. p. C3.
  43. Marimow, Ann E. (May 7, 2009). "Council Poised to Vote On Partial Disability Plan". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  44. 1 2 3 Marimow, Ann E. (May 20, 2009). "Navarro Triumphs in Special Council Election". The Washington Post. p. B2.
  45. 1 2 Laris, Michael (November 1, 2009). "Montgomery prods its contractors to cover gay partners". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  46. 1 2 3 Spivack, Miranda S. (July 1, 2009). "Council Defeats Bid to Impose Ambulance Fee". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  47. 1 2 3 Spivack, Miranda S. (November 11, 2009). "Montgomery officials back I-270 HOT lanes; Council also picks light rail over buses for transitway project". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  48. Nguyen, Carollyn (October 19, 2010). "Shakira Chosen by Obama for Education Post". OnTheRedCarpet.com. Los Angeles, California: KABC-TV.
  49. 1 2 "In Montgomery County; In the Sept. 14 primaries for council seats, a focus on spending and taxes" (editorial). The Washington Post. July 10, 2010. p. A12.
  50. 1 2 "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial Primary Election, State of Maryland, Montgomery County, Tuesday, September 14, 2010". Montgomery County Board of Elections. September 23, 2010.
  51. "Tuesday's ballot choices" (editorial). The Washington Post. November 2, 2010. p. A18.
  52. 1 2 "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial General Election, State of Maryland, Montgomery County, November 2, 2010". November 22, 2010.
  53. Zapana, Victor (December 5, 2012). "Nancy Navarro elected Montgomery County council president". The Washington Post.
  54. Spivack, Miranda S. (December 5, 2012). "Olson loses out on post after council members change course". The Washington Post. p. B5.
  55. 1 2 Bahrampour, Tara (August 29, 2012). "Gays, Latinos seek unity". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  56. Laris, Michael; Vedantam, Shankar (May 4, 2011). "Montgomery immigration enforcement launch is set". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  57. Lazo, Luz (January 13, 2013). "Stepping up to a fuller plate". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  58. Chen, Lucy (June 2011). "Students can take Ride On and Metrobus for free again". The Black & White. Walt Whitman High School.
  59. 1 2 Turque, Bill (October 4, 2013). "White Oak research hub plan reconsidered". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  60. 1 2 3 Turque, Bill (May 7, 2013). "Vote moves Wal-Mart plan ahead". The Washington Post. p. B2.
  61. Turque, Bill; Spivack, Miranda S. (October 2, 2013). "Joint effort to increase minimum pay to $11.50". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  62. Turque, Bill (November 27, 2013). "Montgomery Council votes to increase minimum wage to $11.50 by 2017:The increase will lift the hourly rate to $11.50 by 2017 and is part of a regional effort". The Washington Post.
  63. Turque, Bill (October 22, 2013). "Montgomery panel endorses tax credit for working poor, this time without 'smackdown': A Montgomery County council committee agrees to fully restore tax credit for working poor". The Washington Post.
  64. Turque, Bill (October 23, 2013). "Council votes to phase in its raise". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  65. Turque, Bill (February 3, 2014). "All Montgomery council members co-sponsor Andrews bill for public campaign funding: The Montgomery County Council member got all eight of his colleagues to sign on to measure". The Washington Post.
  66. Turque, Bill (November 26, 2013). "Montgomery County Council punts on resolution calling for Redskins name change: Leggett resolution on Redskins name change to move slowly through system". The Washington Post.
  67. 1 2 Turque, Bill; Wagner, John (February 26, 2014). "A few surprises ahead of candidate deadline". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  68. Turque, Bill (March 28, 2014). "Montgomery Sierra Club drops Riemer, picks Daly in primary endorsements: Of the six at-large candidates, the environmental group endorsed just one incumbent -- Marc Elrich -- and one challenger, Beth Daly". The Washington Post.
  69. "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial Primary Election, State of Maryland, Montgomery County, Tuesday, September 12, 2006". Montgomery County Board of Elections. October 10, 2006.
  70. "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial General Election, State of Maryland, Montgomery County, Tuesday, November 7, 2006". Montgomery County Board of Elections. November 17, 2006.
  71. "Election Summary Report Special County Council District 4 Primary Election, Montgomery County, Maryland, Tuesday, April 15, 2008". Montgomery County Board of Elections. April 25, 2008. line feed character in |title= at position 24 (help)
  72. "Election Summary Report, Special Primary Election County Council District 4, Montgomery County, Maryland, Tuesday, April 21, 2009". Montgomery County Board of Elections. May 1, 2008.
  73. "Election Summary Report, Special General Election County Council District 4, Montgomery County, Maryland, Tuesday, May 19, 2009". Montgomery County Board of Elections. May 29, 2008.
  74. "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial Primary Election, Montgomery County, Maryland, Tuesday, June 24, 2014". Montgomery County Board of Elections. July 22, 2014.
  75. "Election Summary Report, Gubernatorial General Election, Montgomery County, Maryland, November 4, 2014" (PDF). Montgomery County Board of Elections. December 16, 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Don Praisner
Montgomery County Council
District 4

2009–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Henry Lee
Montgomery County Board of Education
District 5

2006–2009
Succeeded by
Michael Durso
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