Endorsements

"The most appealing candidate, by virtue of her hands-on work in the schools and community over the last decade, is Rebecca K. Smondrowski. A leader with the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, Ms. Smondrowski has keen insights into the issues that affect students and teachers and, as the mother of a child with special needs, particular knowledge of special education and a special interest in stopping bullying. Her work as a legislative aide in Annapolis gives her valuable perspective on fiscal matters and could help the board repair tattered relations with county officials. She promises to be an independent voice."
The Washington Post

"Rebecca is a genuine, decent and smart person. She is hard-working and extremely dedicated to serving the entire MCPS community. I'm proud to support Rebecca for the Board of Education. She was a very skilled competitor and will make a very good member of the Board."

Saqib Ali
Former Candidate
Montgomery County Board of Education

GAITHERSBURG, MD – The executive board of the SEIU Local 500 unanimously voted to endorse Rebecca Smondrowski for the open District 2 seat on the Montgomery County Board of Education. SEIU Local 500 President Merle Cuttitta said: “Local 500 members drive the buses that bring children to school, keep classrooms and hallways clean and safe and provide direct instruction to this community’s children as paraeducators and media assistants - and they are committed to giving our children a world class education. Local 500 members also have children and grandchildren who attend Montgomery County public schools. That’s why it is so important for all of us to have someone like Rebecca on the Board of Education, because she has proven her commitment to our schools, our community and our children.”

Rebecca Smondrowski expressed her appreciation of Local 500’s support: “SEIU Local 500 members are on the front lines, working to keep Montgomery County schools among the nation’s best and I am honored to have their support.”

SEIU Local 500 members include supporting services employees at MCPS, Maryland family childcare providers, part time faculty at Montgomery College and employees at homes and centers for the developmentally disabled.

"Rebecca I personally know and support her, and she will stand up. She has an array of current hands on experience in the schools and in our politics. I have always found her to be good listener, forthright, and someone who can make things happen."
Suzanne Weiss
Parents Coalition Chair and List Co-Owner

"The years I have spent working with Rebecca on school, student and county PTA based advocacy issues, has shown me that she has the knowledge, dedication and understanding of the needs of Montgomery County to be an effective leader and a refreshing voice to the Board of Education."
Delegate Ben Kramer,
Maryland Legislative District 19

"Good choice with Rebecca Smondrowski. I know her as a fellow MCCPTA Board member and have been impressed by her passion for schools and her work as the past VP for Legislation. She's worked on a number of MCPS committees and MCCPTA issues, its a great combination with her professional career in Annapolis. She has a relationship with many local and state politicians which seems like it would be helpful when working thru issues important to the school system. Best of luck to her!
"Mom'sView"

"Montgomery County Public Schools face some serious challenges in the years to come.  An increasing school-age population, flat County tax revenues, and an uncertain contribution from the State are but a few.  These challenges will require pragmatic, innovative solutions, collaboration and certainly some hard choices by the Board of Education.  The Future Farquhar Community Coalition knows that Rebecca Smondrowski is eminently qualified to be part of the Board in these times.

In our struggle to find a solution for Farquhar Middle School’s modernization that benefits the entire community, Rebecca’s personal involvement and counsel has been invaluable.  Having seen how important Montgomery County and its people are to Rebecca first hand, we wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy for the open Board of Education seat."
Troy Kimmel
On behalf of the Future Farquhar Community Coalition Executive Board
[Angela Edwards, Jennifer McKneely, Robin Bruckner, Felicia Kimmel, Laura Lampshire, Anne Rood, Susan Ramsay, Andrea Keller, Robert Hanson, Ric Wugalter, Joe Pasternak, Patty Pasternak, and A. Shabeen Jafri]

Organizations

MCGEO – Local 1994
Future Farquhar Community Coalition
The Brickyard Coalition

Statewide Support

Honorable Peter Franchot - Comptroller
Honorable Craig Zucker
Honorable Brian J. Feldman
Honorable Aruna Miller
Honorable Kathleen M. Dumais
Honorable William Frick
Honorable Ariana Kelly
Honorable Kumar Barve
Honorable Jim Gilchrist
Honorable Luiz Simmons
Honorable Benjamin Kramer
Honorable Sam Arora
Honorable Charles Barkley
Honorable Kirill Reznik
Honorable Shane Robinson
Honorable John Hurson
Honorable Ron Young - Frederick
Honorable Richard Colburn - Caroline
Honorable Victor Ramirez - Prince George's
Honorable Jolene Ivey - Prince George's
Honorable Michael Summers - Prince George's
Honorable Shawn Tarrant - Baltimore City
Honorable Steve Hershey - Queen Anne
Honorable Rick Impallaria - Hartford
Honorable Warren Miller - Carroll
Honorable Kris Valderrama - Prince Georges
Honorable Derrick Davis, Prince Georges

Countywide Support

Honorable Phil Andrews - Councilmember
Honorable Nancy Floreen - Councilmember
Honorable Joe Griffin - Register of Wills
Honorable Eddie Kuhlman – Commissioner of Poolesville
Honorable Henry Marraffa - Gaithersburg City Council

Businesses and Community Leaders

Susan Byrne
Catherine Leggett
Mike Hirsh
Stanton Gildenhorn
Dan Rupli
Joe Foley, North Potomac
Alex Markoff, Executive Director of Calleva
Gabrial Albornoz, Montgomery County Director of Recreation
Pete and Leigh Henry, Watkins Mill Developers
Bob Hydorn, Montgomery Village
David Fraser-Hidalgo, District 15
Richard Turner
Barbara Goldberg-Goldman, Potomac
Troy Kimmel, Farquhar
Antigone Deborah
Andy Chod, Minkoff Development
Cindy Gibson, Potomac
Marjorie Goldman
Joe Shapiro
Courtney Samuels
Eric Bernard
Ron Canova, Gaithersburg
David Kossoff, Gaithersburg
Barbara Goldberg Goldman

Educational Advocates

Levi D. DeLaine
Shawn Joseph, Past MCPS, Director of School Performance/ Current - Superintendent of Seaford School District
Khadija Barkley, Germantown
James Koutsos, Clarksburg
Carol Working, Gaithersburg
Chris Garrin
Betty Strubel
Juan Johnson, Germantown
Cheryl Peirce, Rockville
Francis Frost, Silver Spring
Suzanne Weiss, Potomac
Jennifer Cope, Bethesda
Jamie Jacobson, Germantown
Patrick Dunn, Olney
Julie Lucas, Germantown
Jim Kennan, Gaithersburg
Craig Brown, Chevy Chase
Rick Ford, Silver Spring
Andrea Bernardo Rockville
Todd Powell, Clarksburg
Janet Sanchez, Clarksburg
Laurie Augustino, Gaithersburg
Annie Foster Ahmed, Derwood
Martha Crews, Montgomery Village
Sumbal Sheldon, Gaithersburg
Larry Edmonds, Burtonsville
Seenu Suvarna, Clarksburg
Kevin David, Germantown
Shebra Evans, Silver Spring
David Lechner, Montgomery Village
Barbara Ferry, Kensington
Karen Collishaw, Gaithersburg
JoAnn Burl, Burtonsville

Collaboration of government at every level throughout the State is important to Maryland’s success. Together we can make a difference.