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Mayor and Council Profiles
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 Gaithersburg operates under the council-manager form of municipal government, with the City Manager being appointed by the City Council. The Mayor and City Council are elected to staggered four-year terms, and the Mayor serves as Council President.
The Mayor and City Council meet the first and third Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 31 S. Summit Ave. They also conduct worksessions on alternate Mondays and other evenings.
Meetings are also held in various neighborhoods within the City under the Council in the Communities program. To obtain more information about the Council in the Communities program call the City Manager's Office at 301-258-6310.
You may email the Mayor and City Council and City staff at cityhall@gaithersburgmd.gov.
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Mayor Sidney A. Katz
skatz@gaithersburgmd.gov
Education: University of Maryland, Bachelor's in Public Administration
Occupation: Owner, Wolfson's Department Store
Civic Experience: Mayor 1998 - present; President, Maryland Municipal League, 2008; Elected Council Member 1978; Gaithersburg Planning Commission 1976 - 1978; President, Montgomery County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) 2005-2007; First Vice President, MML, 2007; Inducted into MML Hall of Fame 1998; National League of Cities Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR) Policy Committee, 2007; Graduate and Fellow of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance.
Family: Married to Sally Katz; two children
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Council Vice President Cathy C. Drzyzgula
cdrzyzgula@gaithersburgmd.gov
Education: Yale University - B.A. Economics, George Washington University Graduate School
Civic Experience: Chesapeake Bay Water Resources Committee, Chair, 2009; Gaithersburg Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, 1997-2007; Greater Historic District Committee, 2000-2007; Gaithersburg Day Labor Task Force, 2006; Gaithersburg Ad Hoc Election Participation Committee, 2007; Girl Scout Leader, 1988-2005.
Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Environmental Affairs, Greater Historic District, Multicultural Affairs
Family: Married to Robert Drzyzgula; one child
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Council Member Jud Ashman
jashman@gaithersburgmd.gov
Education: University of Miami - B.A. Communications/Political Science
Occupation: President - The Elegant Envelope
Civic Experience: Council Member, 2007-present; Board of Directors, Orchard Place Homeowners’ Association, 2007-present; Mayor's Ad Hoc Committee on Election Participation, 2007; Coordinator, Quince Orchard Cluster of PTA’s, 2005-2007; Board of Directors, MCCPTA, 2005-2007; President, Brown Station Elementary School PTA, 2002-2003; Gaithersburg Citizens for Smarter Growth, founding member, 2001.
Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Cultural Arts Advisory, Police Chief’s Advisory, Technology and Innovation, Book Fair Ad Hoc Committee
Family: Married to Lee Ashman; two children
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Council Member Henry F. Marraffa, Jr.
hmarraffa@starpower.net
Education: Southeastern University, BBA in Business Management, Univ. of Maryland, Engineering
Occupation: Retired. Various consulting jobs.
Civic Experience: City Council Member 1995-1999, 2000-Present; Gaithersburg City Council Vice President 2003 & 2008; Gaithersburg Planning Commission 1999-2000; Board of Appeals 1993-1995; National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, 2006 - 2008; Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors 2006 – 2008; NLC Community & Economic Development Steering Committee, 1998 to present – Vice Chair 2005, Chairman 2006; Appointed to NLC Task Force on Immigration, 2005; Appointed by Governor to Maryland Task Force on Eminent Domain, 2004; Past President of West Riding Homeowners Civic Association; Appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Physical Fitness Commission 1985; Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Junior Olympic Track and Field Program, 1980.
Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Economic Development, Gaithersburg Senior Council, Olde Towne Advisory
Family: Married to Donna Jean Marraffa; 5 children, 6 grandchildren
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Council Member Michael A. Sesma
msesma@gaithersburgmd.gov
Education: University of California, San Diego - Revelle College, Bachelor’s in Biology and Psychology; University of California, Riverside, PhD in Psychology
Occupation: Neuroscientist, Educator. Currently Chief, Research Scientist Development Program, Office for Special Populations, National Institute of Mental Health/National Institutes of Health.
Civic Experience: Elected City Council Vice President 2008; Council Member 2005-present; National League of Cities Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee, 2007; Alderman, City of Pasadena Hills, MO, 1986-1988, 1990-1992; Trustees of Pasadena Hills, Trustee and Treasurer, 1992-1994; Diamond Elementary School (DES) PTA, 1995-2000; DES - Quince Orchard Cluster Representative 1997-2000; Quince Orchard High School PTSA, 1995-1999; Kingsview Middle School (KMS) PTSA President, 2001-2003; KMS - Quince Orchard and Northwest Cluster Representative 2000-2001; Gaithersburg Citizens for Smarter Growth, founding member, 2001.
Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Art in Public Places, Communication, Education
Family: Married to Joan Adams Sesma; three children
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Council Member Ryan Spiegel
rspiegel@gaithersburgmd.gov
Education: University of Maryland Honors Program - B.A. Journalism, Stanford Law School - J.D.
Occupation: Attorney - Winston and Strawn LLP, Washington D.C.
Civic Experience: Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee, Member, 2009; Metropolitan Development Policy Committee, Alternate 2009; National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure & Services Policy and Advocacy Committee, Member, 2009; Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Human Services Policy Committee, Member, 2008-present; National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, Alternate Member, 2008-present; Gaithersburg Education Committee, 2006-2007; Victim Services Advisory Board (VSAB) of Montgomery County, Chairman, 2005-2006; VSAB, Vice Chair, 2004-2005; Board of Directors of University of Maryland Hillel, 2007-present; Board of Directors of Youth Achieve, Inc., 2007-present; Fellow of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance.
Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory, Community Advisory, Market Square Advisory
Family: Married to Rachael Spiegel
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