The Mayor of the City of Gaithersburg, along with the City Council, form the legislative body for Gaithersburg. The Mayor serves as a non-voting Council President. Together, the Mayor and City Council approve the annual budget, set the tax rate, and focus on strategic planning, community growth, economic development, land use development, and capital improvements. Gaithersburg Mayors serve four-year terms.
In Gaithersburg, the Mayor is a non-partisan positions, meaning candidates do not declare themselves to any political party.
In 2025, the candidates for Gaithersburg Mayor are Jud Ashman (incumbent) and Tiffany Kelly. Use the tabs in this box to learn more about each candidate.
Jud Ashman has been the Mayor of Gaithersburg since November 2014. He previously served as a member of the Gaithersburg City Council and owns a web design, development, and hosting business. He has a Bachelor's Degree in journalism and political science from the University of Miami and a Master's Degree in accounting and financial management from University of Maryland Global Campus.
Tiffany Kelly is a community planning and development specialist at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. She has served in leadership roles on many local organizations, including the African American/Black Cohort, Montgomery County MD Anti-Hate Task Force, City of Gaithersburg Community Advisory Committee, and Montgomery County Racial Equity Network. She has a Bachelor's Degree in organizational management from Warner Southern University and a Master's Degree in studies in human behavior from Capella University.
The Gaithersburg City Council, along with the Gaithersburg Mayor, forms the legislative body for Gaithersburg. Together, the Mayor and City Council approve the annual budget, set the tax rate, and focus on strategic planning, community growth, economic development, land use development, and capital improvements. The City Council has five members who are elected at-large (i.e., they serve all of Gaithersburg). Each City Council member serves a four-year term.
In Gaithersburg, the City Council are non-partisan positions, meaning candidates do not declare themselves to any political party.
In 2025, two City Council seats are up for election. The candidates for Gaithersburg City Council are: Lisa Henderson (incumbent), Jim McNulty (incumbent), Chris Thoms, and Omodamola Williams. Use the tabs in this box to learn more about each candidate.
Lisa Henderson has been a member of the Gaithersburg City Council since 2021. She also serves as a Program Director for Montgomery County Government. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in computer and information science from Maryland University College and a Master's Degree in technology management from Johns Hopkins University.
Jim McNulty has been a member of the Gaithersburg City Council since 2021. He is also a real estate agent with Jim McNulty Real State/Keller Williams Capital Properties. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in communication from the University of Scranton.
Chris Thoms is a legislative manager with the State of Maryland. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in economics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Omodamola Williams is a freelance contractor. He has also participated on Housing Justice Montgomery, Climate Justice Co-Creation Initiative, Management Board for Children, Youth, and Families, and PTA Ridgeview Middle School. He attended Lincoln College of Technology.
Try these strategies to find information about the non-partisan candidates in the 2025 City of Gaithersburg elections:
Local news stories often provide background information about the candidates' activities and reputations in the community.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) keeps records of individual contributions to political campaigns. Use this database to see which political organizations the candidates have donated to, which may give you an idea of their political leanings.
Local organizations (including news organizations) and public figures often choose candidates to endorse, or publicly support. If there are any organizations or figures you trust and respect, check to see if they've endorsed any candidates and then conduct your own research into those candidates to see if your views align.
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