Nancy Floreen

Nancy M. Floreen (born September 29, 1951) is an American politician who was a member of the Montgomery County Council in Maryland from 2002 to 2018, serving four terms. She previously served two terms on the Montgomery County Planning Board from 1986 to 1994, was mayor of Garrett Park, Maryland from 2000 to 2002, and ran unsuccessfully as an independent for Montgomery County Executive in 2018.

Nancy Floreen
Member of the Montgomery County Council, At Large
In office
2002–2018
Mayor, Town of Garrett Park
In office
2000–2012
Preceded byPeter Benjamin[1]
Succeeded byPeter Benjamin[2]
Montgomery County Planning Board
In office
1986 – 1994[3]
Preceded byMable Granke[4]
Succeeded byArthur Holmes, Jr.[3]
Personal details
Born (1951-09-29) September 29, 1951[5]
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[5]
Political partyDemocratic (until 2018)
Independent (2018–present)[6]
Spouse(s)David O. Stewart[7]
Children3[8]
ResidenceGarrett Park, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materSmith College,[9] Rutgers University School of Law–Newark[10]
ProfessionAttorney[11]

Early years

Floreen was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 29, 1951.[5] She graduated from Smith College with a bachelor of arts degree in American Studies[9] in 1973.[8] She earned a juris doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law–Newark in 1976.[10]

In 1983, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection allowed Permanent Financial Corporation to build an office building at Wayne and Cedar avenues in downtown Silver Spring that was taller, wider, and closer to the street than county code allowed.[11] Floreen represented a group of nine families living nearby who protested the building's violations.[12] Floreen argued that constructing a building prior to the discovery of zoning violations does not excuse the builder from the compliance, nor does it allow them an automatic zoning variance.[12] The Allied Civic Group, a coalition of county civic associations, awarded Floreen its Thomas B. Cook Award for her work representing the families in the case.[13] The Montgomery County Board of Appeals rejected Permanent Financial Corporation's request for after-the-fact building variances, and the Montgomery County Circuit Court subsequently upheld that decision, ruling that the owner must remove the top two floors of the building and make other modifications to the building to comply with zoning codes.[13]

In 1985, the Montgomery County Zoning Board approved construction of a six-story residential building for elders in Silver Spring.[14] The building was to be built on land zoned for single-family homes.[14] Floreen represented the Woodside Civic Association in its appeal of the decision, saying the building would be too dense for the neighborhood, and that the fact that there were already large buildings in nearby downtown Silver Spring was irrelevant.[14]

Political career

Montgomery County Planning Board

Floreen became a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board in 1986.[15] The Montgomery County Council appointed her with a vote of 5 to 2,[4] although the Council later moved to officially record the vote as unanimous.[16] Floreen succeeded Mable Granke after her term expired.[4] Floreen said she would give up her part-time law practice to sit on the board in order to avoid any conflict.[4]

The board considered a $250 million development plan for downtown Silver Spring in 1988.[17] The plan included retail, office, and hotel space.[18] Floreen was opposed to the plan,[19] saying it was too much too soon,[18] and she was particularly to the proposed three-story bridge over Georgia Avenue.[17]

Because members of the Planning Board are limited to two four-year terms,[20] Floreen stepped down from the board in 1994.[3]

Mayor of Garrett Park

Floreen was elected mayor of the town of Garrett Park in 2000.[9] While mayor, she supported a renovation to Penn Place, a 104-year-old Victorian house and one of the oldest buildings in the town.[21] The building's porches were rebuilt, previous alterations were removed, and the building was brought up to building codes, safety standards, and historical preservation requirements.[9]

Montgomery County Council

Floreen ran for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council in 2002.[22] Her campaign focused on reducing traffic, building the Intercounty Connector, expanding all-day kindergarten, reducing class sizes, and increasing funding for health and human services.[23] Her candidacy was endorsed by Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan[24] and the editorial board of the Washington Post.[25][26] She received enough votes in the Democratic Party primary to advance to the general election,[27] and she won a seat on the Council during the general election.[28]

On the subject of transportation, Floreen has supported building the Intercounty Connector,[29] supported building Montrose Parkway,[30] and opposed establishing bus rapid transit between Bethesda and Silver Spring,[31]

On development, Floreen supported increases to the recordation and transfer taxes,[32] supported lifting restrictions on the height of buildings in the southern part of the county,[33] supported lifting residential construction bans in the central part of the county,[34] supported strengthening the county's Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit program,[35] supported requiring ten percent of homes built in new developments near Metro stations be set aside for middle-income families,[36] opposed increasing taxes on developers,[37] opposed closing two MARC train stations with low ridership,[38] and opposed reducing the maximum allowable height of a residential house height from 35 feet to 30 feet.[39]

On environmental issues, she supported removing trash cans from most county parks[40] and supported increasing the fine for deliberately violating the county's forest conservation law.[41]

She also supported banning smoking in restaurants and bars,[42] opposed cutting the Montgomery County Public Libraries' budget,[43] opposed a plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada for county employees and retirees,[44] and supported a law requiring permits for lawn signs displayed for more than 30 days.[45]

Floreen was reelected in 2006,[46] 2010,[47] and 2014.[48]

Montgomery County Executive race

In the 2018 race for Montgomery County Executive, Floreen endorsed Rose Krasnow, who came in third behind businessman David Blair and long-time Montgomery County Council Member Marc Elrich in the Democratic Party primary. Floreen subsequently switched her party affiliation from Democrat to independent (unaffiliated) and filed to enter the race for Montgomery County executive, submitting 20,343 signatures to election officials by the deadline of August 6, 2018. She faced Elrich and Republican Robin Ficker, a local attorney and sports heckler, in the November general election.[6] Floreen positioned herself as a moderate alternative to Elrich and campaigned for support from centrist Republicans, independents, and Democrats dissatisfied with Elrich.[49] On November 6, Floreen was defeated in the general election for County Executive by Marc Elrich, who won the three-way race with 64.4% of the vote.[50]

Personal life

Floreen lives in Garrett Park, Maryland, with her husband, David O. Stewart.[7] She has three adult children and one grandchild.[7]

Electoral history

2002
2002 General Election, Montgomery County Council, At-Large[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Floreen 184,528 20
Democratic Steven Silverman 182,834 20
Democratic Michael L. Subin 181,856 20
Democratic George L. Leventhal 172,631 19
Republican Scott Dyer 95,775 11
Republican Joe Dollar 89,262 10
  Write-in 5,164 1

2006
2006 General Election, Montgomery County Council, At-Large[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Floreen 193,269 18
Democratic George L. Leventhal 191,037 18
Democratic Marc Elrich 185,667 17
Democratic Duchy Trachtenberg 182,998 17
Republican Steve Abrams 96,586 9
Republican Tom Reinheimer 76,452 7
Republican Shelly Skolnick 73,809 7
Republican Amber Gnemi 71,121 7
  Write-in 1,119 0

2010
2010 Democratic Party Primary Election, Montgomery County Council, At-Large[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marc Elrich 47,839 18
Democratic Hans Riemer 40,493 15
Democratic Nancy Floreen 39,500 15
Democratic George L. Leventhal 38,761 14
Democratic Duchy Trachtenberg 34,780 13
Democratic Rebecca R. Wagner 32,213 12
Democratic Jane de Winter 15,171 6
Democratic Fred Evans 10,989 4
Democratic Raj Narayanan 8,751 3
2010 General Election, Montgomery County Council, At-Large[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marc Elrich 179,008 17
Democratic Nancy Floreen 177,572 17
Democratic George L. Leventhal 169,912 16
Democratic Hans Riemer 166,130 16
Republican Robert Dyer 82,773 8
Republican Mark D. Fennel 81,634 8
Republican Brandon Rippeon 80,635 8
Republican Robin N. Uncapher 78,075 8
Green George Gluck 16,359 2
  Write-in 1,065 0

2014
2014 Democratic Party Primary Election, Montgomery County Council, At-Large[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marc Elrich 57,563 21
Democratic Nancy Floreen 53,924 19
Democratic Hans Riemer 49,932 18
Democratic George L. Leventhal 46,286 17
Democratic Beth Daly 39,642 15
Democratic Vivian Malloy 25,599 9
2014 General Election, Montgomery County Council, At-Large[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marc Elrich 160,914 17
Democratic Nancy M. Floreen 159,030 17
Democratic George L. Leventhal 150,902 16
Democratic Hans Riemer 143,048 15
Republican Shelly Skolnick 81,698 9
Republican Robert Dyer 80,991 8
Republican Chris P. Fiotes, Jr. 73,355 8
Republican Adol Woen-Williams 67,034 7
Green Tim Willard 22,274 2

2018
2018 Montgomery County Executive[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marc Elrich 225,900 64.3%
Independent Nancy Floreen 67,402 19.2%
Republican Robin Ficker 57,489 16.4%
Write-ins 356 0.1%
Majority 158,498 45.1%
Total votes 351,150 100.0%

References
  1. "Novices Triumph in Garrett Park". The Washington Post. May 9, 1996. p. M5.
  2. "Metro in Brief". The Washington Post. May 8, 2003. p. B3.
  3. "Around the Region". The Washington Post. July 6, 1994. p. D6.
  4. Sinclair, Molly (September 24, 1986). "Silver Spring Woman to Join Montgomery Planning Board: Silver Spring Woman Named to Board". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  5. "Nancy Floreen: County Council At Large". The Washington Post. June 23, 2005. p. T32.
  6. Barrios, Jennifer (July 2, 2018). "Montgomery Democrat Nancy Floreen may launch independent run for county executive". The Washington Post. p. ME3.
  7. "About Nancy". Official Campaign Web Site of Nancy Floreen. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. "Voters' Guide". The Washington Post. September 5, 2002. p. T26.
  9. "Nancy M. Floreen". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. 2014.
  10. "Voter's Guide: Nancy Floreen". WAMU. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  11. Brady, Jim (June 18, 1983). "Neighbors Seek to Trim an Office Building". The Washington Post. p. F1.
  12. Swallow, Wendy (May 5, 1984). "Appeal Set On Decision on Big Building: Order to Remove 2 Floors Upheld Building's Owners to Appeal Decision That Upheld Order". The Washington Post. p. E1.
  13. "People". The Washington Post. July 5, 1984. p. MD8.
  14. McQueeney Mitric, Joan (November 30, 1985). "Complex for Elderly Advances". The Washington Post. p. E2.
  15. Sinclair, Molly (November 14, 1986). "Planners Finesse E. Gaithersburg Crowding: Montgomery Panel Agrees to Weigh Projects Case-by-Case". The Washington Post. p. B6.
  16. "County Council Actions". The Washington Post. September 26, 1986. p. MDA4.
  17. Armao, Jo-Ann (September 30, 1988). "$250 Million Development Approved for Silver Spring". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  18. "County Council Actions". The Washington Post. July 12, 1990. p. M5.
  19. Arman, Jo-Ann (June 22, 1990). "Montgomery Project Wins Reprieve: Silver Spring Mall Needs 2nd Anchor: Silver Triangle Project". The Washington Post. p. D1.
  20. "Minutes" (PDF). Montgomery County Board of Education. October 1, 1992.
  21. "Montgomery in Brief". The Washington Post. August 1, 2002. p. T2.
  22. "Candidates for Local Offices in Montgomery County". The Washington Post. July 11, 2002. p. T2.
  23. "Campaign 2002". The Washington Post. June 13, 2002. p. T2.
  24. Timberg, Craig; Becker, Jo (September 10, 2002). "Write-Ins, Shoo-Ins: Primary Has It All; D.C., Maryland Races Offer Plenty of Drama". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  25. "Primary Day" (editorial). The Washington Post. September 10, 2002. p. A14.
  26. "For Montgomery Council" (editorial). The Washington Post. October 13, 2002. p. B6.
  27. Cottman, Michael H. (September 11, 2002). "Montgomery's Duncan Renominated in Landslide; Executive Claims Council Majority Favors Intercounty Connector as Some Allies Also Lead=". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  28. "Official Results,November 5, 2002". Montgomery County Board of Elections. November 18, 2002.
  29. Cottman, Michael H. (January 23, 2003). "County Council Members Battle Over ICC on Paper". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  30. Paley, Amit R. (August 19, 2004). "Montrose Parkway Faces Battle: Opponents to Ask Court to Block Roads Project". The Washington Post. p. T3.
  31. Cottman, Michael H. (July 16, 2003). "Montgomery Urges End To Study Of Busway". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  32. Perlstein, Linda; Kunkle, Fredrick (July 17, 2003). "Council Says It Again, With Feeling: Funds Should Go to Schools". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  33. Mosk, Matthew (July 30, 2003). "Montgomery Ponders a Higher Skyline; Council Proposal Would Ease Limits". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  34. Mosk, Matthew (October 29, 2003). "Montgomery Council Raises Tax On Growth; Vote Also Could End Ban in Crowded Areas". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  35. Snyder, David (April 29, 2004). "Housing Solutions Still Hard to Come". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  36. Trejos, Nancy (October 11, 2005). "Affordable Housing Shortage Is Targeted: Montgomery Initiative Aimed at Middle Class". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  37. Mosk, Matthew; Cottman, Michael H. (May 22, 2003). "Defeat of Developer Taxes Draws Criticism". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  38. Trejos, Nancy (December 14, 2005). "Council Opposes Closing MARC Stations". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  39. Craig, Tim; Barr, Cameron (June 30, 2005). "Bill on House Heights Gets Trimmed". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  40. Snyder, David; Perlstein, Linda (March 4, 2004). "Perez Fed Up With 'Carry-In, Carry-Out'". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  41. Craig, Tim (December 8, 2005). "Kagan Takes Shots at Forehand, But Won't Make a Run for Her Seat". The Washington Post. p. T2.
  42. Mosk, Matthew (May 10, 2003). "Montgomery Tries Again To Outlaw Smoking". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  43. Levine, Susan (May 13, 2004). "Library Supporters Seek to Stem Cuts: Vote on Funding Set for Tomorrow". The Washington Post. p. ME3.
  44. Barr, Cameron W. (July 28, 2004). "Montgomery Drug Plan Has the Votes, but Could Rouse the FDA". The Washington Post. p. B5.
  45. Craig, Tim (January 25, 2006). "Montgomery Repeals Lawn Sign Limit: ACLU Threatened to Sue Over 30-Day Restriction on Messages". The Washington Post. p. B4.
  46. "Official Results, November 7, 2006". Montgomery County Board of Elections. November 17, 2006.
  47. "Official Results, November 2, 2010". Montgomery County Board of Elections. November 22, 2010.
  48. "Official Results, November 4, 2014" (PDF). Montgomery County Board of Elections. December 16, 2014.
  49. Barrios, Jennifer (September 2, 2018). "Montgomery prepares for an unusual event: A hotly contested general election". The Washington Post. p. B6.
  50. Moore, Jack (November 7, 2018). "Montgomery Co. executive: Democrat Elrich comes out on top in 3-way race". WTOP. p. B7.
  51. "Official Results, September 14, 2010". Montgomery County Board of Elections. September 23, 2010.
  52. "Official Results, June 24, 2014". Montgomery County Board of Elections. July 22, 2010.
  53. "Montgomery County, Maryland - General Election Returns 2018". Maryland State Archives. December 21, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
Blair G. Ewing		 Montgomery County Council
At Large
2002–2018		 Succeeded by
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