Dear Neighbors,

Many people asked me if I would consider running for the County Council. Others who don’t know me asked about my views and why I decided to run. This website provides answers to both questions.

As a lifelong County resident, product of the Montgomery County Public Schools, retired successful business person, and married father of two young daughters, I understand the County’s most pressing problems. I too have faced the struggles that many County residents have – terrible traffic, worries about our children’s education, concerns about our environment, local economy and safety.

I was concerned about where my first child would attend school before she entered Kindergarten. The last thing I wanted was for her to attend a school that required her and her teachers to be in trailers for classrooms. But, despite the community’s repeated trips to the School Board, here we are – with trailers for classrooms at her elementary school, like so many other County schools, and class sizes which are unacceptably large.

Often I would have meetings at the County’s Planning Agency. Yet despite how much time I allowed for my commute from Ashton to Silver Spring, it was never enough due to the traffic congestion.

The turning point for me came when a group of families in Sandy Spring were denied access to their properties - land that had been in their families for generations. The denial came about by a series of events at Park and Planning. To my surprise, our County leaders claimed it to be State problem, our State leaders claimed it to be a County problem, and our Attorney General believed it to be County or Federal problem. And the families were left in dire straits. Since no one had the political will to step-up, and call for accountability, I did.

As an innovator, I see solutions and opportunities where others see problems. I also see ways to bring efficiencies to the government as I did for private industry with impressive results – such as lower expenses with increased production and world class customer service.

As an advocate for those without a voice, or mired in red tape, I have worked tirelessly and successfully at the County, State and Federal levels. More recently, while advocating for Montgomery County citizens over the past two years, I believe I have found the causes and solutions for key County problems we all face today.

Many of the solutions to the County’s problems, some of which I have researched in considerable detail, lie at their source. We are all seeing the results of quick fixes and bending to special interests. Those solutions don’t provide genuine benefits within our households, or in government.

I became an expert at solving bureaucratic problems by understanding the big picture. In that way I was able to design and implement lasting solutions that removed inefficiencies, rewarded success, improved customer service, morale and profit. I believe the same principles with which I built my success upon can be implemented in our County Government. I would be honored to share them on your behalf. With your help I will do so.

I do not accept any donations from developers, PACS or special interests. I answer only to the citizens of District 4 and I come to you with no strings attached.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Steven J. Kanstoroom