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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 raceLelia True is a Democratic candidate seeking election to Montgomery County Council At-Large in 2026, bringing a rare blend of battlefield-tested leadership, strategic expertise, and lifelong dedication to service. A West Point graduate who commanded soldiers through Operation Desert Storm and earned the Bronze Star Medal, she spent over twenty years in corporate leadership at Comcast managing $190 million in operations before returning to education as head of Washington Waldorf School from 2022-2024. She continues serving as a substitute teacher and basketball coach at Winston Churchill High School while running her campaign on community support through the Montgomery County Public Election Fund. Her platform centers on fighting for economic opportunity, protecting classroom quality in schools, maintaining fiscal responsibility with transparent budgets, and building a county that is fiscally sound today and financially strong for future generations.
Sources: Campaign website
Lelia is committed to delivering a thriving Montgomery County where every resident has access to economic opportunity, quality education, and sustainable infrastructure.
She will address these key local issues with collaborative leadership and commitments to fiscal responsibility, inclusivity, and community well-being.
Cut the red tape that strangles small businesses, streamline permitting and zoning, deploy competitive incentives to stop the talent and jobs drain to Virginia, and build a strategic plan that turns our unmatched concentration of federal institutions and research talent into business ecosystems that are rooted here.
Montgomery County's schools are among our greatest economic assets — and they're under real pressure. Lelia will fight to protect classroom quality, retain great teachers, and ensure every child in this county has access to an excellent education.
Source: true4moco.com
Economic Development
Cutting red tape that strangles small businesses, streamlining permitting and zoning, deploying competitive incentives to stop talent and jobs drain to Virginia, and building strategic plans for business ecosystems rooted in the county.
“Cut the red tape that strangles small businesses, streamline permitting and zoning, deploy competitive incentives to stop the talent and jobs drain to Virginia, and build a strategic plan that turns our unmatched concentration of federal institutions and research talent into business ecosystems that are rooted here.”
Education
Protecting classroom quality, retaining great teachers, and ensuring every child has access to excellent education while addressing pressure on schools.
“Montgomery County's schools are among our greatest economic assets — and they're under real pressure. Lelia will fight to protect classroom quality, retain great teachers, and ensure every child in this county has access to an excellent education.”
Fiscal Responsibility
Transparent budgets with honest tradeoffs because families deserve to know where their money goes, cutting waste before cutting services, making priorities clear before decisions are made.
“Transparent budgets and honest tradeoffs — because Montgomery County families deserve to know exactly where their money goes. An unwavering commitment to education, public safety, and the economic growth that generates the revenue our community depends on.”
Bethesda Magazine reported on November 26, 2025 that the former head of Washington Waldorf School filed her candidacy with the Maryland State Board of Elections on Nov. 14, 2025 and formed a campaign committee named True Leadership for Montgomery County to qualify for public financing. The article notes she is 62 years old and lives in Potomac, confirming her candidacy but stating she was not available for an interview at the time.
“Montgomery County's schools are among our greatest economic assets — and they're under real pressure. Lelia will fight to protect classroom quality, retain great teachers, and ensure every child in this county has access to an excellent education.”
Source“Transparent budgets and honest tradeoffs — because Montgomery County families deserve to know exactly where their money goes. An unwavering commitment to education, public safety, and the economic growth that generates the revenue our community depends on.”
Source“Cut the red tape that strangles small businesses, streamline permitting and zoning, deploy competitive incentives to stop the talent and jobs drain to Virginia, and build a strategic plan that turns our unmatched concentration of federal institutions and research talent into business ecosystems that are rooted here.”
Source