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County Executive · Montgomery County · 2026 Primary
The County Executive serves as the chief administrator of the county, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and enforcing laws passed by the County Council. This official proposes the annual budget that directs how local tax dollars are spent on services such as public schools, roads, and emergency response. The County Executive also has the power to appoint department heads and can sign or veto legislation affecting the entire county.
View all candidates in this raceShelly Skolnick is an 82-year-old attorney from Friendship Heights who has become the first declared Republican candidate for Montgomery County Executive in June 2026, marking his second run for county executive and ninth bid for public office over the past 30 years. He previously campaigned four times for a Congressional seat in Maryland's 8th District and also sought positions on the County Council. Skolnick emphasizes government efficiency as his top priority and proposes several policy changes including replacing high-occupancy vehicle lanes with variable toll lanes, using artificial intelligence to streamline operations, and reorganizing the County Council to eliminate at-large members in favor of district representatives. He has also voiced support for retrocession, which would involve absorbing residential areas of Washington, D.C., back into Maryland while keeping a federal zone intact.
Government Efficiency
Top priority for reducing costs and stopping wasteful spending including county funds for politicians' campaigns
“"government efficiency is his top priority" ... "stop wasteful spending such as county funds for politicians' campaigns"”
Transportation
Replacing high-occupancy vehicle lanes with variable toll lanes to help ease congestion on roadways
“"replacing high-occupancy vehicle lanes with variable toll lanes to help ease congestion on roadways"”
Education
Offering free tuition at Montgomery College in exchange for student volunteers working in county government
“"offering free tuition at Montgomery College in exchange for student volunteers to work in the county government"”
AI Implementation
Using artificial intelligence to streamline government operations and reduce costs
“"using artificial intelligence to streamline government operations" ... "using artificial intelligence to reduce costs"”
County Council Reform
Eliminating four at-large seats in the council and redistricting to have 11 district council members instead
“"eliminate the County Council's four at-large seats and redistrict the county to have 11 district council members"”
Retrocession
Absorbing residential areas of DC back into Maryland while keeping a federal zone intact, so public safety there will be enhanced by state police and courts
“"I am proposing that Washington, D.C., be returned to Maryland, so that public safety there will be enhanced by the Maryland State Police, the Maryland National Guard, the Maryland courts, the Maryland prisons — and criminals could not be pardoned by the President of the United States."”
External news sources describe Skolnick as an experienced but unsuccessful candidate who ran for office multiple times including congressional and County Council seats. He acknowledges his odds of winning are "very small" in a county with four times as many registered Democrats as Republicans, yet he's running to promote "creative solutions" to local issues. The articles note he filed paperwork establishing a campaign committee with the state elections board on Monday, January 7, 2026.
“"offering free tuition at Montgomery College in exchange for student volunteers to work in the county government"”
Source“"using artificial intelligence to reduce costs and to stop wasteful spending such as county funds for politicians' campaigns"”
Source“"stop wasteful spending such as county funds for politicians' campaigns"”
Source“"replacing high-occupancy vehicle lanes with variable toll lanes to help ease congestion on roadways"”
Source“"I am proposing that Washington, D.C., be returned to Maryland, so that public safety there will be enhanced by the Maryland State Police"”
Source“"replacing high-occupancy vehicle lanes with variable toll lanes to help ease congestion on roadways"”
Source