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Montgomery County council elects Natalie Fani Gonzales as president, Marilyn Balcom vice president
Summary
The County Council unanimously appointed Natalie Fani Gonzales as council president and Marilyn Balcom as vice president during its Dec. 2 session; Gonzales outlined priorities including public safety, early education and economic development.
Natalie Fani Gonzales was chosen by the Montgomery County Council as its next president on Dec. 2, following a nomination and a unanimous raised‑hand vote. The council also elected Marilyn Balcom as vice president in a separate unanimous vote.
Gonzales, who was nominated from the dais and confirmed after a second, used her acceptance remarks to outline the council's agenda for the coming year. "Our values of fairness only endures when we have one system of justice for everyone," she said, and listed priorities that include public safety, early childhood education, and economic development.
Council members who spoke during the ceremony credited outgoing leadership and highlighted recent budget and programmatic accomplishments. A video prepared by the council’s public information office summarized the year's work, noting the county’s adopted operating and capital budgets and investments in schools and community services.
The votes were taken by raised hands. The meeting recessed briefly to allow the leadership to change places on the dais; Gonzales then delivered an extended remarks laying out a focus on equity, support for displaced federal workers, and plans to seek funding for capital projects such as a redeveloped District 4 police station.
Next steps: Gonzales and Balcom will lead the council through committee assignments and the upcoming budget season, when the body meets frequently to consider the FY26 operating and capital budgets.
