Council interviews four nominees for Housing Opportunities Commission; housing production, property management and equity top priorities

The Montgomery County Council interviewed four nominees for the Housing Opportunities Commission on Jan. 21, with candidates stressing housing production, stronger property management and racial‑equity measures as central priorities.

Jonathan Miller, who said he has spent much of his 37‑year federal career on affordable‑housing issues, told the council he wants to focus HOC’s work on measurable outcomes and on integrating services such as transportation, education and health care with housing development. “If you want a good education, provide affordable, stable housing,” Miller said, arguing that housing is necessary though not sufficient for other outcomes.

Incumbent Chair Roy Priest described his 57 years of experience in housing and his view that HOC must accelerate production and address financial stress at the agency. Priest said HOC faced roughly $3.8 million in losses last year tied to rent arrears and that entitlement delays and rising construction costs have driven per‑unit development costs up since projects were first planned: “Three years later, that property is $65,000,000” compared with a $50,000,000 pro forma, he told the council, urging efforts to shorten delivery timelines and control soft costs.

Azola (Michelle) Shaw, a Rockville City Council member, emphasized expanding HOC’s proven programs, including the Housing Production Fund and resident services such as on‑site career development and financial education. “By expanding intentionally designed communities we can foster meaningful connections between generations,” Shaw said, describing a dual perspective as a renter and an elected official.

Paul Weech highlighted HOC’s four business lines — development, property management, lending and social services — and urged oversight that preserves assets, maximizes revenue without harming residents and ensures high‑quality services. “The key here is to use all of our tools to maximize the development of affordable housing,” Weech said, adding that board oversight should track performance indicators such as vacancies, turnover and service delivery.

Council members probed nominees on several recurring topics: how HOC can ramp up production in the face of rising costs and long entitlements; ways to improve resident responsiveness and maintenance; staff retention; union relations; and strategies to sustain programs if federal or state funding changes. Priest described recent efforts to increase staff capacity, strengthen resident services and publish an implementation plan tied to HOC’s strategic goals. Miller and Weech said they would bring fresh oversight, performance metrics and coalition building with nonprofit partners; Shaw said she would recuse herself from matters that directly intersect with her Rockville Council duties and emphasized outreach to residents and workers.

The council did not vote on the nominations at the Jan. 21 meeting; members said they will take up confirmations at a future session. The interviews produced a shared agenda among the nominees: expand the housing production pipeline, improve property management and resident services, continue ownership and preservation efforts, and make racial‑equity goals operational through targeted programs and outreach.