Former Senator Paul Sarbanes Endorses Becky Wagner

Former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, who employed County Council At-Large candidate Becky Wagner, has endorsed her challenge for the council. Following is Wagner's press release.

For Immediate Release

Former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes endorses Becky Wagner for Montgomery County Council

Calls Wagner a “proven leader” and strong and effect advocate for Montgomery County’s residents

August 11, 2010 – Bethesda, Maryland – Former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D), the longest serving U.S. senator in Maryland’s history, today strongly endorsed Becky Wagner for an At-Large seat on the Montgomery County Council.

“For six years Becky Wagner gave outstanding service as a representative of my Senate office in Montgomery County. She then became the Executive Director of Interfaith Works where she has continued her dedicated and exemplary service,” said Sarbanes. “Now she is seeking to extend her deep commitment to public service by becoming an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.”

Sarbanes added, “A strong and effective advocate, Becky will bring her superb problem solving abilities and her dedication to the public good to the challenges facing the county. She is a proven leader of intelligence and integrity and I urge the citizens of Montgomery County to give Becky Wagner this opportunity to serve them on the Council.”

A respected coalition builder, Becky has led progressive causes and efforts that have significantly and directly benefited Montgomery County’s residents. As Executive Director of Interfaith Works, a non-sectarian interfaith coalition of more than 165 member and affiliated congregations representing over 75,000 families of many faiths working together to meet the needs of the county’s poor, she has grown the organization into a professionally managed non-profit business with diverse funding sources.

During her service to the people of Montgomery County as Senator Sarbanes’ representative, she built consensus in the community to bring the FDA to White Oak, marshaled infrastructure funding for NIST in Germantown and additional funding for NIH and worked with community leaders to relocate several Walter Reed Medical Center research buildings to Silver Spring. Previously, Wagner advocated for the needy as the founding director of Rainbow Place, Montgomery County's first shelter for homeless women. She has co-chaired Montgomery County’s Safety Net, “Vote ‘No’ on Amendments A, B, C” and “No on Slots” coalitions.

“I am humbled and honored to have the support of my mentor and one of Maryland’s greatest progressive Democrats, Senator Paul Sarbanes,” said Wagner. “The values and ideals that he modeled for me and his staff – civility, cooperation, and collaboration – have informed my decisions and approach to developing community solutions.”

Senator Sarbanes joins former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan in recommending Wagner to the voters of Montgomery County. Additionally, she has been endorsed by such organizations as Montgomery County’s teachers (MCEA), Montgomery Women, Coalition of Asian American Democrats (CAPAD), Montgomery County Business PAC, HousingMaryland, Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce PAC. Wagner, a 40-year resident of Montgomery County, was named Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian magazine in 2008 and was the 2007 Meyer Foundation “Exponent Award” recipient in recognition of her exceptional work aiding the most vulnerable in our community.
For more information, please visit www.beckywagner.org

Media Contact:

Edward Cooper
Friends of Becky Wagner
ec@beckywagner.org