Tom Hucker
Councilmember
Tom In the News
- May 23 – WTOP
- Opponents to Beltway, 270 toll lanes speak out at town hall
- Excerpt: "People are concerned about the same things, they’re concerned about the impact on neighborhoods, the impact on our environment, the lack of progress on real congestion because of the imbalance, because of the fact it doesn’t include transit," Hucker says
- May 23 – WJLA-TV
- Hear why there is a growing concern over Maryland's I-495 toll lane proposal
- Excerpt: "We’re concerned about the impact on our neighborhoods, the impact on our environment, and the lack of progress on real congestion because of the imbalance, because of the fact that it doesn’t include transit," Hucker says
- May 17 – WDVM
- Meeting held for proposed I-270 and I-495 expansion plan
- Excerpt: "We hope they will sit down with us and manage it like any other big transportation project," Hucker says
- May 17 – WDVM
- Montgomery County County Executive Marc Elrich signs lead bill into law
- Excerpt: Bill sponsor Hucker says he is relieved that his own son and other children will be able to drink out of school fountains that are safer than before
- May 17 – The Washington Post
- As it pushes toll lane project, Hogan administration courts transit leaders
- Excerpt: If the group’s creation is "merely window dressing to create the appearance of partnership … this will be a waste of time," Hucker says
- May 17 – Montgomery County Sentinel
- Residents say gas leaks continue at Flower Branch Apartments
- Excerpt: Residents have the right to go to sleep "knowing that their kids will be safe," Hucker says
- May 16 – WTOP
- Montgomery Co. to improve school drinking water standards
- Excerpt: "Younger children are particularly susceptible to the health effects associated with lead," Hucker says
- May 15 – WTOP
- Montgomery Co. council to vote Thursday on parking rate hike
- Excerpt: "We can see the light at the tunnel in Wheaton from where we are now. When we get to the end of the tunnel — that to me is the right time to raise parking fees” and not when businesses are currently suffering," Hucker says
- May 7 – WTOP
- Montgomery Co. passes stricter limits on lead in public school water
- Excerpt: "Nothing’s really more fundamental to the long-term success of this county than our kids’ brains, and their ability to perform well. We frankly had elevated lead levels in our drinking water inside our schools for many years," Hucker says
- May 6 – Patch
- Lead Drinking Water Bill Vote Scheduled May 7
- Excerpt: "We can't take any chances with the health of our children. We need to set an updated standard that's more health protective and contemporary for Montgomery County based on the best contemporary science," Hucker says
- May 6 – Bethesda Beat
- Environmental Groups Say County Isn’t Doing Enough on Climate Change
- Excerpt: "I don’t think we know how much it costs to address adaptation versus transportation versus emissions," Hucker says
- May 6 – Bethesda Beat
- County Technology Services Cabinet Nominee Withdraws Name
- Excerpt: "I’m worried you won’t be present to get it across the finish line," Hucker says
- May 6 – WUSA
- Demand for apologies after Hogan accused of 'Trump Tactics' on Twitter
- Excerpt: "I don't think that's a good look for the governor. I like Governor Hogan. That doesn't sound like the governor I know," Hucker says
- May 5 – The Washington Post
- Hundreds attend town hall to protest Hogan plan to add toll lanes to Beltway, I-270
- Excerpt: "We are the experts on congestion in Montgomery County, not the people in Hanover, Maryland, with the Maryland Department of Transportation," Hucker says
- May 3 – WTOP
- Hogan agrees to delay vote on Beltway, I-270 expansion plan
- Excerpt: "It’s a shocking letter, honestly. Highly unusual. I’ve never seen one like it with such a damning criticism of a compromised state agency by a highly-respected, non-partisan expert government entity," Hucker says
- May 3 – WTOP
- Md.’s 2nd highest court upholds Montgomery Co. ban on lawn pesticides
- Excerpt: "This is a big win for our environment and the public health. It also affirms our county’s authority to protect our residents, especially our kids, from the harmful threats that pesticide and other environmental toxins can pose," Hucker says
- May 3 – WAMU
- Montgomery County Pesticide Ban May Go Into Effect, Following Court Ruling
- Excerpt: "The great majority of objective scientific studies tell us that pesticides cause cancer, nervous system disorders, reproductive dysfunction, immune system disorders, and many other conditions," Hucker says
- May 2 – Bethesda Beat
- Bethesda On-Street Parking Rate Hike Proposal Scaled Back
- Excerpt: "Local businesses need the availability of spaces, and giving the department the ability to raise the model to raise prices and encourage short-term parking use in the garages is an effective strategy," Hucker says
- May 2 – The Washington Post
- Appeals court finds Montgomery County pesticide ban doesn’t clash with state law
- Excerpt: "It’s unfortunate that the original law was delayed like this, but we had a very vigorous review of this, and I’m ecstatic that the law will be back in effect," Hucker says
- May 1 – The Washington Post
- Hogan pushes for Md. toll lanes vote while state treasurer with ‘serious questions’ is away
- Excerpt: Voting without Kopp, Hucker said, "is just the latest step that’s going to erode public confidence in this project."
- April 30 – The Washington Post
- Montgomery council rejects part of Elrich’s proposal for generous union raises
- Excerpt: "I absolutely think county employees are reasonable to ask for the makeup step," Hucker says
- April 30 – Bethesda Beat
- Council Rebuffs County Union’s Contract, Calls for Parity in Raises
- Excerpt: "It’s only fair for them [MCGEO] to be asking for it and us to be funding it," Hucker says
- April 29 – Bethesda Beat
- Additional Security Sought for Silver Spring Day Shelter
- Excerpt: "I think everyone understands we need 24/7 security at Progress Place, and around the building as well," Hucker says
- April 25 – Bethesda Beat
- Council Debates Higher Street Parking Rates in Bethesda, Silver Spring
- Excerpt: "To me, given all the national challenges that retailers are facing and the specific local challenges in Silver Spring, I don’t think it’s time to add more misery," Hucker says
- April 26 – Bethesda Beat
- Critics Scorch State’s Plan for I-270, Beltway Toll Lanes
- Excerpt: "If this were put up for a vote, it would sink like a rock," Hucker says
- April 24 – Bethesda Beat
- Fresh Calls for Washington Gas To Add New Safety Measures Following Fatal Explosion
- Excerpt: "It’s a long time coming and it was a very sad day for the victims to go through what happened again. At the same time, it means some resolution for some folks who have been waiting a long time for it," Hucker says
- April 23 – The Washington Post
- Montgomery council debates generous worker contracts, school funding
- Excerpt: "Paying people fair wages is a prerequisite for having high-quality services. We don’t have budget challenges, I believe, because we overpay librarians and nurses," Hucker says
- April 7 – NBC Washington
- Longest-Serving Maryland House Speaker Dies at 72
- Excerpt: "The state is so much better off because of Speaker Mike Busch," Hucker says
- March 30 – The Washington Post
- Maryland residents say they need answers about the impact of Beltway, I-270 toll lanes proposal
- Excerpt: State officials "basically said they’re going to plunge forward," Hucker says
- March 29 – WDVM
- Metro board passes budget to end Silver Spring turnbacks
- Excerpt: "They pay full fare - they don’t get a discount but they only get half the service and they have to wait twice as long on a platform no matter how cold it is that day," Hucker says
- March 29 – WJLA-TV
- After Beltway tanker crash, questions rise again about building new Potomac crossing
- Excerpt: Instead of adding more bridges, Hucker would rather rebuild the American Legion Bridge with additional lanes, perhaps some exclusively for buses
- March 27 – Bethesda Beat
- Describing Rodent, Mold and Roach Infestations, Renters Support Early Lease Termination Proposal
- Excerpt: The legislation, drafted by Councilmember Tom Hucker, … was introduced following recent inspections of the Enclave apartments that uncovered more than 2,600 housing code violations
- March 25 – Bethesda Beat
- New Limits On Parking Spaces Being Debated
- Excerpt: "Built into this is the assumption that everyone has good transit options … there’s nothing wrong with this but it doesn’t put any more buses on the street, it doesn’t make Metro go where it doesn’t go," Hucker says
- March 25 – WDVM
- Montgomery County councilmembers ask for alternatives to I-270 and I-495 project
- Excerpt: "I think the whole process is somewhat troubling," Hucker says
- March 25 – Bethesda Beat
- Council Wants Clarity from State Over Demolishing Homes for Toll Lanes
- Excerpt: "There’s a number of council members that have raised concerns about the way they’ve conducted these outreach sessions. To date they’ve essentially been dog-and-pony shows," Hucker says
- March 24 – Montgomery County Sentinel
- ‘Kids Ride Free’ program being considered for expansion
- Excerpt: "Let young people see transportation is more than something to use when your car doesn’t work," Hucker says
- March 21 – Bethesda Beat
- Purple Line is 10 Percent Complete, Project Managers Report
- Excerpt: "Why not give neighbors some relief?" Hucker asks
- March 19 – Bethesda Beat
- Stricter Water Lead Standard Suggested for County Libraries, Rec Centers
- Excerpt: "Since introducing this legislation, I’ve also asked Montgomery Parks, our libraries and our rec department to get back to me with a budget proposal for testing their fountains as well," Hucker says
- March 18 – NBC Washington
- Montgomery County Could Tighten Restrictions on Lead in School Drinking Water
- Excerpt: "We send kids to school to develop their brains and not to damage them. Lead does permanent, irreversible damage to kids' brains," Hucker says
- March 16 – Montgomery County Sentinel
- Possible toll lane impact leads conversation in transportation forum
- Excerpt: "Transit is the most-efficient way to move people dollar for dollar," Hucker says
- March 16 – Montgomery County Sentinel
- Efforts begin to reduce lead levels in school water fountains
- Excerpt: "Scientists agree: There is no safe level of lead, a neurotoxin that permanently damages our children’s developing brains and bodies," Hucker says
- March 13 – WTOP
- Montgomery County to hold community conversations on racial equity
- Excerpt: "This approach is really going to help us serve all the residents of my community in particular," Hucker says
- March 8 – Montgomery County Sentinel
- County Council meeting addresses a wide array of issues
- Excerpt: "I believe any county residents should not be living in any unsafe and unhealthful conditions," Hucker says
- March 7 – WTOP
- Elevated lead levels at thousands of Md. schools prompts bill for better water quality
- Excerpt: "We can’t allow two counties, the two biggest in the state, to protect their children from lead in their drinking water and allow a less protective standard in the other 22 counties,” Hucker says
- March 5 – Bethesda Beat
- County Clamping Down on ‘Troubled’ Rental Properties
- Excerpt: "County residents shouldn’t have to live in unsafe conditions," Hucker says
- February 22 – WJLA-TV
- Montgomery County weighs in on debate over Metro hours
- Excerpt: "Metro has rightly been very focused on safety and preventative maintenance," Hucker says
- February 21 – The Washington Post
- Compromise would close Metro at midnight weekdays, 2 a.m. weekends, but push weekday openings back to 5:30 a.m.
- Excerpt: "Frankly, I doubt D.C. residents want ... more Maryland drivers to be on D.C. streets during the morning rush hour," Hucker says
- February 21 – Greater Greater Washington
- Some Red Line riders only get half the service. When will Metro end the Silver Spring turnback?
- Excerpt: "I hope the Metro board listens to these riders and ends the turnback as soon as possible," Hucker says
- February 15 – Bethesda Beat
- Council Panel Pushes To Keep Money for Metrorail Station Improvements
- Excerpt: "It surprised me that transportation was singled out for the greatest amount of cuts and other areas didn’t get cuts at all," Hucker says
- February 8 – WJLA-TV
- Dinner and resource fair eases federal workers as potential for another shutdown looms
- Excerpt: "We have folks in the county who ... do landscaping on the Mall" and are lucky to be making $30,000 to $40,000 in a good year, Hucker says
- February 4 – Bethesda Beat
- County Looks To Tighten Limits for Lead in School Drinking Water
- Excerpt: Hucker introduces legislation to lower threshold from 20 ppb to 5 ppb
- January 15 – Bethesda Beat
- Developer of Discovery Headquarters Envisions Multiple Office Tenants, Shops and Restaurants
- Excerpt: “The building is a great asset and I’m glad there are ongoing efforts to maintain its use,” Hucker says
- January 12 – NPR
- Furloughed Workers In Hard-Hit Community Gather For Potluck During Shutdown
- Excerpt: "They're eating fish sticks in the bottom of the freezer," Hucker says
- January 11 – NBC Washington
- Hundreds Turn Out for Shutdown Dinner in Montgomery County
- Excerpt: Furloughed and other unpaid federal workers are "trying their best not to spend," Hucker says
- January 10 – The Washington Post
- Purple Line will open a year late and delays will cost at least $215 million, contractor says
- Excerpt: “I’d expect [state officials] would notify us if there are going to be delays,” Hucker said, “rather than just put it in a report.”
- January 3 – WDVM
- Montgomery County makes progress in opioid battle
- Excerpt: Our efforts in public education, training for first-responders and more treatment options appear to be paying off, Hucker says
- January 3 – Bethesda Beat
- Silver Spring Apartments Investigated for Mold, Rodent Issues
- Excerpt: “These are serious health and safety issues, and tenants say management makes superficial repairs but the issues keep coming back,” Hucker says
- January 1 – NBC Washington
- Plan to Expand Beltway, I-270 in Maryland Sparks Opposition
- Excerpt: State must listen to county's valid concerns about taking private property to add lanes, Hucker says
- December 28 – Bethesda Beat
- County Grew By 55,000 In Six Years, New Analysis Finds
- Excerpt: Hucker says Bus Rapid Transit and new bike plan will help get cars off roads
- December 6 – WAMU
- Roundup In Montgomery Parks: Lawmaker Questions Safety Of Popular Weed Killer
- Excerpt: “We’re talking about whether you’d rather have weeds or you’d rather have cancer,” says Hucker.
- December 4 – The Washington Post
- Nancy Navarro elected president of Montgomery County Council
- Excerpt: “She’s never satisfied with voices that say, 'That’s how things are here,'" Hucker said in nominating her.
- November 30 – The Washington Post
- Montgomery still waiting for inspectors to create list of ‘problem’ apartments
- Excerpt: “They find mice, rats, roaches, mold and mildew, and they continue to make excuses,” Hucker said.
- November 6 – The Washington Post
- ‘Totally unacceptable’: Polling problems in Maryland leave voters waiting for hours
- Excerpt: “It’s an attempt at voter suppression,” Hucker said.
- October 23 – WTOP
- Montgomery County Council delays vote on neighborhood cell towers
- Excerpt: Hucker introduces amendment that would require hearings for cell towers and antennas in residential neighborhoods.
- October 17 – The Washington Post
- Purple Line’s overnight tunneling leaves some residents desperate for sleep
- Excerpt: “... if it means a minor delay to give my constituents some relief in the middle of the night, I’m fine with that."
- October 12 – Bethesda Beat
- MDSHA Posting Flaggers at Silver Spring Temporary Crossing Where Child Nearly Hit by Car
- Excerpt: “Pedestrian safety hasn’t been their priority at all, no matter how many times I’ve brought it up to them over the years."
- October 9 – WJLA-TV
- Child's close call in crosswalk highlights dangerous intersection in Montgomery County
- Excerpt: “It’s terrifying to watch, very unsettling and the fact is that I’ve seen it over and over,” Hucker says
- October 8 – The Washington Post
- Montgomery council weighs whether to guarantee raises for trash crews
- Excerpt: "This is going to be a big relief to people" who didn’t have their trash picked up three years ago, Hucker says
- September 28 – WDVM
- Economic team releases fiscal report
- Excerpt: Many of the 900 new jobs are in high-wage industries, Hucker says
- September 12 – Bethesda Beat
- Could the Parks System Use Its Land as Leverage in I-270, Beltway Project?
- Excerpt: "I can’t figure out where four, at-grade lanes go in the current right-of-way," Hucker says
- September 6 – WDVM
- Silver Spring-Takoma Park Restaurant Week features discounts
- Excerpt: Wide diversity of cuisine lets people "try all kinds of new samplings."
- August 22 – WTOP
- Cheap eats: Silver Spring-Takoma Park Restaurant Week starts Sept. 4
- Excerpt: Fourth annual promotion features dozens of restaurants and wide diversity of cuisine.
- June 1 – The Sentinel
- Stormwater Runoff Causes New Council Rift
- Excerpt: Not right time to adopt "drastic policy change," Hucker says.
- May 14 – Bethesda Beat
- County Council Votes Against Leggett’s Plan to Change Stormwater Project Contracting
- Excerpt: Council opts to maintain current method, move forward with most beneficial projects.
- May 3 – The Washington Post
- Montgomery Teachers Union Endorses 4 Incumbents for Council
- Excerpt: Hucker picks up endorsement in District 5.
- March 24 – The Sentinel
- Council Decides to Delay Montrose Parkway East
- Excerpt: "This isn’t sausage-making. This is organic veggie burger-making," Hucker says.
- March 22 – Montgomery Community Media
- Hucker Picks Up Endorsement From Workers Union
- Excerpt: Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker has been endorsed by 32BJ SEIU during his reelection campaign in District 5.
- February 22 – Bethesda Beat
- Superintendent Weighs in on Wednesday’s Student Protests in D.C., Threats Against Schools
- Excerpt: MCPS can't protect students if they leave campus, Smith writes.
- February 18 – Montgomery Community Media
- Council Takes Up New Rules for Solar Panels
- Excerpt: "We need to drastically reduce our carbon emissions,” Hucker says.
- June 30 – The Sentinel
- Metro GM Addresses Council Concerns
- Excerpt: Metrorail system is in the process of fixing a number of safety issues including leakage and defective rail ties.
- June 29 – Montgomery County Council
- County Lawmakers praise new 'Enterprise Zone" for Burtonsville/Briggs Chaney
- Excerpt: Councilmember Hucker joined with the District 14 State Delegation this year to call on the Department of Commerce to create Enterprise Zone. The Enterprise Zone program provides real property and state income tax credits to businesses that create jobs and make capital investments. This program will support small businesses in Burtonsville and Briggs Chaney.
- June 27 – Bethesda Magazine
- County Council Dives Into Battle Over Legal Definition for a "Country Inn"
- Excerpt: A coalition of community groups is lauding a County Council proposal that could derail plans to build a banquet hall with guest rooms near the historic Old Angler’s Inn in Potomac." Tom Hucker and Marc Elrich propose new zoning restrictions to help keep the unwanted establishment out of the community.
- June 22 – WJLA
- May 5 – WTOP
- Montgomery Co. commute fix could put county on hook for WMATA
- Excerpt: "An effort to bring some limited short-term relief to commuters in the congested Route 29 corridor could leave Montgomery County on the hook for millions of dollars to Metro, the county’s transportation department warned a council committee Thursday."
- May 2 – The Washington Post
- New Montgomery law aims to crack down on vacant, poorly maintained homes
- Excrept: Tom Hucker sponsors a bill that will impose a large fee on owners with vacant, unmaintained properties. This bill is aimed to enusre that neighborhoods can stay clean and well maintained.
- April 24 – WTOP
- Montgomery Co. bill may help foreclosed homes get on the market
- Excerpt: "A coalition of community groups is lauding a County Council proposal that could derail plans to build a banquet hall with guest rooms near the historic Old Angler’s Inn in Potomac." Tom Hucker and Marc Elrich propose new zoning restrictions to help keep the unwanted establishment out of the community.
- March 8 – DCW50
- Montgoimery County council passes urban farm tax credit bill
- Excerpt: The Urban Agricultural Tax Credit bill passed 8-0 and will give properties that qualify up to an 80% exemption on property tax. Councilmember Tom Hucker was the bill’s main sponsor and said he hopes it encourages more people to start an urban farm.
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March 7 – WJLA
- Urban farm bill passes in Montgomery County
- Excerpt: “The more we can grow healthy food close by, and reduce the food miles, the greenhouse gas footprint of bringing food from all over and the more we can create an opportunity for local students in an urban environment like Silver Spring to come right here and see where their food comes from,” said Councilman Hucker.
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February 14 – WTOP
- Where Montgomery Co. needs to improve after apartment explosion
- Excerpt: The Montgomery County Council received an after-action report Tuesday afternoon on the county’s response and recovery efforts and the lessons learned. The review found room for improvement mostly in the area of communications.
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February 13 – WHAG
- Stand-off spills into streets of Silver Spring over unionizing
- Excerpt: “They're trying to organize a union. They've never had one,” said Tom Hucker, Montgomery County Council member. “We support their efforts to do that. If nurses vote to have a union, they should have one, and management shouldn't fight that." Nurses told WHAG they've been pulled from patients' rooms by management to discuss the ills of unionizing.”
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November 1 – WTOP
- Montgomery Co. passes parental leave bill
- Excerpt: "Bill 32-16 was passed unanimously by the county council and will give parents time off to care for newborns, and the arrival of adopted and foster children."
- September 20 – Washington Post
- Montgomery proposal aims to crack down on ‘zombie foreclosures’
- Excrept: Council Member Hucker introduces a bill that will impose fees on property owners of vacant, unkept properties.
- August 4 – Bethesda Magazine
- Hucker Looks To Expand Sick Leave Law to Parental Uses
- Excrept: "County Council member’s bill would allow employees to use sick leave to care for a newborn."
- May 26 – Bethesda Magazine
- Montgomery Council Member Calls on DLC to Reverse Price Increase
- Excerpt: "Montgomery County Council member Tom Hucker is pushing back against a Department of Liquor Control (DLC) proposal to increase the department’s price markup by 10 percent on certain special-order fine wines."
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March 1 – Bethesda Magazine
- County Council Member Proposes Law to Ban Most Teens from Using Tanning Beds
- Excerpt: Tom Hucker introduced a bill that would ban minors from using tanning beds and require salons in Montgomery County with tanning beds to post warning signs about the risk of skin cancer associated with the devices.
- November 13 – Bethesda Magazine
- Hucker Urges School Systen Against Buying Artificial Turf Fields Until Other Maintenance Needs are Met
- Excerpt: "Hucker told BOE members that money shouldn’t be spent on artificial turf fields until Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) addresses a backlog of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at schools around the county."
- September 2 – Bethesda Magazine
- Silver Spring residents Reject Idea of Moving Confederate Statue to Local Park
- Excerpt: Tom Hucker echoes Silver Spring residents' rejection of a confederate statue on the grounds that it is insulting on historical level and contradicts Silver Spring's values and character.
- February 24 – Bethesda Magazine
- Hucker Pursues Resolution to Oppose Oil and Gas Development off of East Coast
- Excerpt: "President Barack Obama outlined a proposal in January 2015 to allow offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off the coastline stretching from Virginia to Georgia ... the proposal to start drilling could damage the Atlantic coastline and make the Chesapeake Bay susceptible to oil spills."
2014