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County Council Member (At-Large) · Montgomery County · 2026 Primary
At-large county council members represent the entire county rather than a specific geographic district, making decisions that affect all residents. They are responsible for passing local laws, overseeing land use and zoning, and approving the county budget which determines funding for schools, roads, and public safety. This office is vital because these members balance the needs of the whole community to set the county’s long-term priorities and tax rates.
View all candidates in this raceJim McNulty is a Gaithersburg City Council member who was first elected in 2021 and reelected in November 2025 to seek the Democratic nomination for Montgomery County Council At-Large in 2026. Born in a blue-collar suburb west of Philadelphia and raised in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, he graduated cum laude from the University of Scranton with a degree in Communication and a minor in Business before moving to the Washington area in 1997. He currently works as a Realtor® with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Rockville specializing in the Upcounty Region, having previously worked for Discovery Communications and in television production. McNulty survived an attempted suicide bombing at Discovery's headquarters in 2010 when he was taken hostage, which led him to create a peer-to-peer support group for trauma survivors. He is active in his faith community at St. Patrick's and St. Martin of Tours, coaches youth sports, volunteers with Gaithersburg Meals on Wheels, and serves as president of the Saybrooke Homeowners Association.
Sources: Campaign website
Montgomery County is at a crossroads. Economic growth has slowed, our tax base is shrinking, and the County is now facing budget shortfalls.
Instead, we should focus on getting our economy moving again, encouraging more businesses to invest here, making housing more attainable, improving schools and transportation, and getting County government to live within its means.
That has been the City of Gaithersburg's approach for years, and it has worked. Together with the Mayor, Jim and his fellow Councilmembers have helped lead Maryland's third-largest city through equally challenging times, delivering high-quality services, bringing in new jobs and expanding housing opportunities, all while balancing its budgets, holding no public debt, and without raising taxes.
I have always leaned in when my community needed me, whether at my children's school, as a coach, in my neighborhood, and beyond.
Source: jimmcnulty.org
Economic Development
Creating and retaining more high-wage jobs, supporting local and small businesses, encouraging investment in the County to address major traffic bottlenecks
“Getting Our Economy Moving Again: Creating and retaining more high-wage jobs, supporting local and small businesses, encouraging investment in the County to address major traffic bottlenecks.”
Housing
Making housing more attainable at all levels through smart growth transit-oriented development (TOD) while growing the tax base instead of raising rates
“McNulty Proposes $40M Downpayment Assistance Fund. Making it More Affordable to Live Here: Focusing on growing our tax base instead of raising rates, making housing more attainable at all levels, and promoting smart growth transit-oriented development (TOD).”
Public Safety
Closing the vacancy gap at the Montgomery County Police Department and expanding mental health programming to support diverse neighborhoods
“Strengthening Our Communities: Investing in good schools and county services, closing the vacancy gap at the Montgomery County Police Department, expanding mental health programming, and supporting the unique needs of our diverse neighborhoods and communities.”
Transportation
Improving transportation infrastructure and addressing traffic bottlenecks along I-270 corridor and American Legion Bridge through state and federal partnerships
“I regularly use public transit on both the MARC and Metro systems, and have suffered through hour-long delays along the I-270 corridor and the American Legion Bridge. Traffic is a real frustration and it's getting worse, costing us money, aggravation, and time with our families.”
Education
Investing in good schools and county services while supporting smart growth transit-oriented development to improve community outcomes
“Improving schools and transportation, and getting County government to live within its means. Investing in good schools and county services.”
Bethesda Magazine reports that Jim McNulty became the second city official from Gaithersburg to run for County Council after Mayor Jud Ashman. He filed his candidacy with the Maryland State Board of Elections on Thursday to seek the Democratic nomination for one of four at-large seats in 2026, making him the 13th candidate to join the race. McNulty was first elected to Gaithersburg City Council in 2021 and re-elected last month (December 2025) to a second four-year term.
“Improving schools and transportation, and getting County government to live within its means. Investing in good schools and county services.”
Source“$40M Downpayment Assistance Fund. Making it More Affordable to Live Here: Focusing on growing our tax base instead of raising rates, making housing more attainable at all levels.”
Source“Closing the vacancy gap at the Montgomery County Police Department, expanding mental health programming, and supporting the unique needs of our diverse neighborhoods and communities.”
Source“I regularly use public transit on both the MARC and Metro systems, and have suffered through hour-long delays along the I-270 corridor and the American Legion Bridge. Traffic is a real frustration and it's getting worse.”
Source“Getting Our Economy Moving Again: Creating and retaining more high-wage jobs, supporting local and small businesses, encouraging investment in the County to address major traffic bottlenecks.”
Source“Economic growth has slowed, our tax base is shrinking, and the County is now facing budget shortfalls. Instead, we should focus on getting our economy moving again... without raising taxes.”
Source“Strengthening Our Communities: Investing in good schools and county services, closing the vacancy gap at the Montgomery County Police Department, expanding mental health programming, and supporting the unique needs of our diverse neighborhoods and communities.”
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