Montgomery primary: Gaithersburg lawmaker joins council race

More candidates have entered races for the 2022 Democratic primary election in Montgomery County, including a Gaithersburg City Council member and the former legislative director for Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.), both of whom are seeking seats on the Montgomery County Council.

Laurie-Anne Sayles announced her campaign Tuesday for an at-large position on the Montgomery County Council. Born and raised in Prince George’s County, she attended the University of Maryland.

Prior to becoming the first Black person elected to the Gaithersburg City Council in 2017, Councilmember Sayles served on several County and City advisory boards. Appointed by the County Executive, she has served on the Montgomery County Community Action Advisory Board & Executive Board. Appointed by the Mayor, she has served on the City of Gaithersburg Economic & Business Development Committee and the City’s Education Enrichment Committee. Councilmember Sayles was also appointed by the Montgomery County Public School's Superintendent to serve on the MCPS Roundtable to address overcrowding in the Gaithersburg Cluster.

“All these experiences will bode well for the County Council,” Sayles said in an interview before her announcement. “I want to make sure that we have trusted, tested, and experienced leaders in these roles.”