Hans Riemer Announces He Will Run for County Executive in 2022
Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer has announced that he will be running for County Executive in 2022.
He has been a Montgomery County Councilmember since successfully running for an at-large seat in 2010 and winning re-election in 2014 and 2018. He was unsuccessful in a previous run for the District 5 seat in 2006, losing to Valerie Earvin.
Riemer graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1995 and worked for the National Academy of Social Insurance, where he interned during college. Later in 1995, he was hired as Public Policy Associate at the Save Our Security Coalition, under Arthur S. Flemming.
In 1996 he founded the 2030 Center, a non-profit policy organization focused on protecting Social Security, improving health care, and supporting progressive solutions for fiscal challenges at the federal level.
In 2004, Riemer started working for Rock the Vote as their political director and led Rock the Vote’s partnership with CNN to host a youth debate in the Democratic presidential primary. In 2008 he joined the Obama presidential campaign, serving as the National Youth Vote Director before working for the AARP as a senior advisor on Social Security policy.
The following message is posted on his campaign website:
“Dear friends and supporters,
The Montgomery County Executive can set the tone and the pace for our dynamic and thriving community — by bringing people and ideas together to move us into the future.
Montgomery County needs progressive leadership that is effective and forward thinking. It is time to move on from the politics of the past. You know my deep convictions for Democratic values and my record as a councilmember with a vision for the future.
That is why I am writing to let you know that I will run for Montgomery County Executive in the June 2022 Democratic Primary.
COVID has taken a hard toll, but we are ready for the hard work of rebuilding and reinventing. It is time for:
- Economic development so that the next generation can live, work, and thrive here; and to help small businesses recover
- Housing policies that promote affordability and inclusivity, and support a growing workforce
- Creative investments in education to accelerate learning in the wake of COVID from pre-k to higher ed; and including new STEM talent pipelines for both students and jobless workers
- Climate policy that provides national leadership through local action
- Police reform that positions Montgomery County as a model for the nation in transparency and trust — and for youth and racial justice
- Finishing the Purple Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway and upgrading MARC into real commuter rail
We can do this!
Join me this June as I launch my campaign. Together, let’s build momentum to make Montgomery stronger and more vibrant! You can choose from two events:
In-person, Saturday, June 12th at 12pm at Silver Branch Brewery in downtown Silver Spring — a lively event with friends, food, and fun
Online, Wednesday, June 16th at 5pm via Zoom — an online discussion (link will be sent after you register).
The primary is on June 28, 2022. As in the 2018 election cycle, I will proudly run as a public finance candidate, meaning that I will only raise contributions from individuals, no special interest groups.
Use this form to let me know you are coming on June 12 or June 16. You can make your donation right away to help me reach the public financing threshold of 500 individual donations.
Thank you!
Your friend,
Hans Riemer“
Councilmember Hans Riemer Says Swimming Pool Guidance to be Revised to 50% Capacity, Hopeful for 100%
Councilmember Hans Riemer tweeted a promising update this morning for those hoping pools will return to full capacity by this summer.
“Good news. Constituents have asked why swimming pool restrictions are more strict now than last summer. I followed up; guidance will be revised to allow 50% capacity, rather than less than 50%. Good for now, by summer I hope pools will be 100%. TBD.”
Per his tweet, guidance will now allow for 50% capacity at swimming pools. He also states that he is hoping for 100% capacity by the end of the summer.
A constituent responded to his tweet asking the follow, “Given the very limited evidence of outdoor transmission, can the council reconsider blanket closures on baby pools for our littlest constituents? I can actually wear a mask in a baby pool and I can’t in a regular pool, so these can be as safe as what’s allowed now.”
Riemer replied with “Great point. I’ll follow up.”
