The City of Gaithersburg

Mayor and Council Profiles

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.

Election Information

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.

	Mayor Sidney A. Katz skatz@gaithersburgmd.gov Education: University of Maryland, Bachelor’s in Public Administration Occupation: Owner, Wolfson’s Department Store Civic Experience: City of Gaithersburg: Mayor 1998 - present, Council Member 1978 - 1998, Planning Commission 1976 - 1978; Maryland Municipal League: President 2008, First Vice President 2007, Montgomery County Chapter President 2005 - 2007, Inducted into Hall of Fame 1998; National League of Cities Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee 2007; Graduate and Fellow of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance. Family: Married to Sally Katz; two children
	Council Vice President 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: City of Gaithersburg: Council Member 2005 - present, Council Vice President 2013 & 2009; National League of Cities Board of Directors 2013, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee 2007 - present; Alderman, City of Pasadena Hills, MO 1986 - 1988, 1990 - 1992; Trustees of Pasadena Hills, Trustee and Treasurer 1992 - 1994; Diamond Elementary School: PTA 1995 - 2000, Quince Orchard Cluster Representative 1997 - 2000; Quince Orchard High School PTSA, 1995 - 1999; Kingsview Middle School: PTSA President 2001 - 2003, 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
	Council Member Jud Ashman jashman@gaithersburgmd.gov Education: University of Miami - B.A. Communications/Political Science Occupation: President - The Elegant Envelope Civic Experience: City of Gaithersburg: Council Member 2007 - present, Council Vice President 2011; Founder and Chair, Gaithersburg Book Festival 2009 - 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: Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee (Chair), Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, Police Advisory Committee, Gaithersburg Police Foundation Family: Married to Lee Ashman; two children
	Council Member Cathy C. Drzyzgula cdrzyzgula@gaithersburgmd.gov Education: Yale University - B.A. Economics, George Washington University Graduate School Civic Experience: City of Gaithersburg: Council Member 2007 - present, Council Vice President 2010; Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corporation Board: President 2013, Vice President 2012, Chesapeake Bay Water Resources Committee Chair 2009 - present; 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, Multicultural Affairs Family: Married to Robert Drzyzgula; one child
	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 of Gaithersburg: Council Member 1995 -1999 and 2000 - present, Council Vice President 2008 & 2003, Planning Commission 1999 - 2000, Board of Appeals 1993 - 1995; National League of Cities: Board of Directors 2006 - 2008, Community & Economic Development Steering Committee 1998 - present, Chairman 2006, Vice Chair 2005, Appointed to Task Force on Immigration 2005; Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors 2006 - 2008; Gubernatorial Appointment to Maryland Task Force on Eminent Domain 2004; Gubernatorial Appointment to the Maryland Physical Fitness Commission 1985; Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Junior Olympic Track and Field Program, 1980; Past President of West Riding Homeowners Civic Association. Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Economic Development, Gaithersburg Senior Council, Olde Towne Advisory Family: Married to Donna Jean Marraffa; 5 children, 6 grandchildren
	Council Member Ryan Spiegel rspiegel@gaithersburgmd.gov Education: University of Maryland Honors Program - B.A. Journalism, Stanford Law School - J.D. Occupation: Partner - Potomac Law Group PLLC, Washington D.C. Civic Experience: City of Gaithersburg: Council Member 2007 - present, Council Vice President 2012; National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure & Services Policy and Advocacy Committee 2009 - present; Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments: Climate, Energy & Environment Policy Committee 2010 - present, Metropolitan Development Policy Committee Alternate 2008 - present; Maryland Municipal League: Montgomery County Chapter Vice President 2012 - present, Executive Board 2010 - 2011; National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board Alternate 2008 - present; Gaithersburg Education Committee 2006 - 2007; Victim Services Advisory Board of Montgomery County: Chairman 2005 - 2006, Vice Chair 2004 - 2005; Board of Directors of University of Maryland Hillel 2007 - 2009; Board of Directors of Youth Achieve, Inc. 2007- present; Board of Directors of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society 2000 - 2002; Board of Directors of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity 1999 - 2000; Graduate of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance. Gaithersburg Committee Liaison: Community Advisory Family: Married to Rachael Spiegel; two children.

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