Gaithersburg council certifies Nov. 4 election, swears in mayor and two council members

The Gaithersburg City Council met in a special session on Nov. 17, 2025, to receive certified election results and administer oaths of office to the winners of the Nov. 4 municipal election. The Board of Supervisors of Elections, represented by Chair Ty Hardaway, certified the results and announced that a total of 6,273 valid ballots were cast.

Ty Hardaway, chair of the Board of Supervisors of Elections and chief judge for the city election, summarized the counting process: the city used a hybrid mail-in and in-person system; paper ballots were tabulated on optical scanners that were locked and sealed at the close of polls; ballots postmarked by election day and received within two business days were included, and provisional ballots completed during in-person voting were counted. Hardaway said the official results differed from the unofficial results posted on Nov. 4 but that all outcomes remained the same. "A grand total of 6,273 valid ballots were cast," he said.

Following certification, circuit court clerk Karen Bushell administered the oath to Judd Ashman, who affirmed to "support the Constitution of the United States" and the laws of the State of Maryland and to execute the office of mayor of Gaithersburg "diligently and faithfully." Lisa Henderson and James Francis McNulty each subsequently took the oath to serve four-year terms on the city council in accordance with the Gaithersburg City Charter and Code.

The council first voted to convene the special session. Council Member Lisa Henderson moved that the mayor and council meet solely to receive the certification and swear in the newly elected officials; the motion was seconded and carried on a recorded voice tally, "That carries, 5-0." The transcript records the final tally as five in favor, zero opposed; individual roll-call votes by name were not enumerated in the certified record presented at the meeting.

All three sworn officials offered brief remarks after the oaths. Henderson thanked family, volunteers and endorsers and said her priorities for the term will include housing affordability, smart development, support for seniors and families, economic growth and public safety. McNulty thanked campaign supporters, congratulated opponents Tiffany Kelly, Chris Toms and Omo Williams for running, and praised city staff and election administrators for what he described as a strong turnout and smooth administration. Mayor Judd Ashman used his remarks to describe outreach to immigrant families and to emphasize civility in local politics; he invited residents to a reception after the session and reminded the public of upcoming meetings, including a Nov. 20 work session on the Safe Streets and Roads for All safety action plan and the next regular meeting on Dec. 1.

No further formal actions were recorded in this special session beyond the motion to convene the meeting and the certification and swearing-in ceremonies. The session concluded with applause and adjournment.

What happens next: the council adjourned the special session; staff and council members noted a work session scheduled for Nov. 20 and the regular council meeting set for Dec. 1.