Council overturns Elrich’s veto of planning board member

The Montgomery County Council unanimously overturned County Executive Marc Elrich’s second veto of a planning board member’s appointment Tuesday.

The council voted 10-0 last month to reappoint James Hedrick to a second four-year term. Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles was absent and did not participate in the vote. Elrich vetoed Hedrick’s appointment days later.

During a media briefing last month, Elrich said he was frustrated with all members of the planning board but expressed particular irritation with Hedrick.

“Not everybody’s as up-front dismissive as he is, I’ll just put it that way,” Elrich said. “Nobody should be surprised that I’m vetoing him again.”

Hedrick, a Democrat and the executive director of Rockville Housing Enterprises — the public housing authority for the city of Rockville — was first appointed to the board by the council in 2023 after the board’s five members resigned in late 2022 following allegations of misconduct.

Elrich vetoed his appointment then, citing social media posts that were critical of the county executive’s views on housing policy. The council unanimously overrode Elrich’s veto, citing Hedrick’s right to free speech.

The council overrode the second veto 10-0 with no public discussion. Council member Will Jawando, recovering at home from a recent heart attack, was absent for the vote.

“The Council has once again confirmed our support for Commissioner Hedrick because his housing expertise and insights are needed to continue moving our County forward,” Council President Natali Fani-González said in a press release issued following the vote.

Hedrick thanked the council for their confidence in a text message to The Banner.

“I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow commissioners, staff, and community stakeholders to help guide thoughtful growth and preserve the high quality of life that makes Montgomery County such a special place,” he said.

Elrich released a lengthy statement after the council’s override.

“Mr. Hedrick is singularly focused on housing production but fails to consider racial equity, affordability, transportation, and the environment, which are part of a planning professional’s job,” it reads it part. “Mr. Hedrick’s approach ignores the planning the County has already completed and shifts planned growth away from areas already designated for growth.”

Henrick declined to respond to Elrich’s statement.

Elrich has vetoed several decisions made by the council in his nearly eight years as executive. The council has overridden each of them. With just a couple of months left in his term, Elrich still has a chance to veto council decisions, but, depending on the outcome of November’s election, this could be his last opportunity to do so before he moves to the other side of the dais and takes an at-large council seat.

A spokesperson for Elrich did not immediately comment following Tuesday’s vote.