February  25,  2018  
Press  Statement  
For  Immediate  Release  
 
Kevin  Harris  Announces  Candidacy  for  District  5  Council  
 
 
Why  I’m  Running    
 
I’m  running  as  a  Democrat  for  District  5  County  Council  because  I  see  a  bright  future  for  our  county.  I  believe  we  can  make  better  
informed,  fiscally  sound,  data-­‐driven  decisions  on  key  challenges  facing  our  County  –  growth  and  development,  traffic  congestion,  
education,  affordable  housing,  and  environmental  protection.  
 
As  evidenced  by  the  recent  vote  on  term  limits,  the  great  majority  of  residents  feel  disconnected  from  the  current  County  
leadership.  Too  many  decisions  in  Rockville  are  made  without  our  leaders  actually  listening  to  residents.    I  will  be  a  responsive  leader  
who  will  truly  listen  to  constituents  and  have  an  inclusive  approach  to  policy-­‐making  that  will  bring  all  stakeholders  into  the  decision-­‐
making  process.    
 
I’m  not  a  career  politician,  I’m  a  citizen  candidate.  I’m  participating  in  the  public  financing  system  and  will  not  accept  contributions  
from  developers  or  political  action  committees.  My  votes  will  be  informed  by  conversations  with  my  constituents  who  I  will  be  
elected  to  represent.  My  doors  will  be  open  to  all.  
 
The  4  main  pillars  of  my  campaign  are:  
 
1.   Rebuilding  trust  between  residents  and  elected  officials.  When  70%  of  voters  say  yes  to  term  limits,  it’s  a  sign  that  there  
has  been  a  loss  of  trust  in  their  elected  leadership.    I  will  do  all  I  can  to  rebuild  trust  by  listening  and  creating  an  inclusive  
policy-­‐making  process.  One  way  of  rebuilding  that  trust  is  to  take  big  money  out  of  politics  to  ensure  that  decision-­‐makers  
are  not  unduly  influenced  by  large  corporate  donors  when  making  policy.    
2.   Building  a  strong  local  economy  that  creates  good  paying  jobs.  Our  County  faces  a  $400  million  budget  shortfall  over  the  
next  6  years.  It’s  imperative  that  we  focus  our  economic  development  efforts  on  building  a  strong  local  economy  by  doing  
all  we  can  to  grow  and  support  the  small  business  sector.  Over  83%  of  jobs  in  Maryland  are  created  by  small  businesses.  
3.   Sustainable  Development  –  Properly  planned,  sustainable  growth  is  essential  to  our  future.  However,  when  it  comes  to  
development  the  pendulum  has  swung  too  far  in  one  direction.  I  will  support  the  appointment  of  planning  board  
commissioners  who  will  bring  a  neighborhood  sensibility  to  the  Board.  I  will  ask  developers  how  their  projects  will  best  
contribute  to  our  communities,  and  how  they  will  pay  their  fair  share  to  provide  the  additional  transportation  and  
education  infrastructure  needed  to  support  their  project.  
4.   Concentrating  on  The  Basics  of  Local  Government  –  We  need  to  refocus  on  delivering  excellent  core  County  services  such  
as  high  quality  schools,  roads  and  public  safety.  I  have  worked  tirelessly  over  the  past  2  years  to  provide  data-­‐driven,  cost-­‐
effective  solutions  to  the  transportation  challenges  we  face  on  Route  29.  If  we  cannot  provide  core  services  at  a  high  level,  
we  will  be  unable  to  retain  and  attract  the  residents  and  employers  who  are  the  fuel  of  the  economy  and  form  the  fabric  of  
our  society.  Overcrowded  classrooms  and  roads  that  have  not  been  paved  for  over  40  years  are  inexcusable  in  one  of  the  
wealthiest  counties  in  the  country.    
 
By  Authority:  Kevin  Harris  for  Council,  Maria  Peralta  Treasurer  
www.kevinharrisforcouncil.org  
 
WHY  ME  
 
My  33-­‐year  professional  career  in  the  nonprofit,  government  and  private  sectors,  characterized  by  the  roles  listed  below,  will  
provide  me  with  a  uniquely  varied  perspective  from  which  to  govern.    
 
COMMUNITY  SERVICE  
Currently  I  serve  in  a  volunteer  capacity  in  the  following  roles:  member  of  the  Route  29  Bus  Rapid  Transit  Corridor  Advisory  
Committee;  Board  Member  of  the  North  Four  Corners  Civic  Association,  Volunteer  for  Silver  Spring  Village,  Treasurer  of  the  United  
States  Student  Association  Foundation,  and  Board  Member  of  Lori’s  Hands  based  in  Delaware.  Lori’s  Hands  transforms  students  
understanding  of  community  health  by  matching  them  with  individuals  living  with  chronic  illness  in  meaningful,  helping  relationships  
to  allow  them  to  age  in  place  without  living  in  isolation.      
 
COMMUNITY  ACTIVIST  
Advocating  for  progressive  change  is  deeply  embedded  in  my  DNA,  and  continues  to  motivate  me  today  as  a  neighborhood  advocate  
and  champion  of  improved  transit  options  across  Montgomery  County.  As  a  lifelong  community  organizer  and  activist,  I’ve  learned  
the  power  of  active  listening,  meeting  people  where  they’re  at,  and  accepting  differences.  I’ve  also  learned  that  a  small  group  of  
dedicated  people  can  together  build  movements  for  social  justice  and  positive  change  way  beyond  their  numbers.  My  roots  as  a  
community  activist  dates  back  to  my  days  organizing  the  largest  civil  disobedience  campaign  at  the  University  of  Colorado,  Boulder  
in  the  1980’s,  to  serving  as  organizing  director  for  the  US  Student  Association,  and  continued  with  leading  successful  referendum  
campaigns  to  oppose  turf  fields  and  development  projects  that  would  have  destroyed  community  landmarks.  I  have  never  been  
afraid  to  stand  up  for  the  causes  I  believe  in  or  been  afraid  to  speak  truth  to  power.  
 
MULTICULTURAL  BRIDGE  BUILDER  
While   working   on   a   community   cooperative   building   homes   in   Nicaragua   during   that   country’s   horrific   civil   war   in   the   1980s,   and   as  
the  founder  of  an  exchange  program  between  American,  Cuban,  and  Canadian  in  the  early  1990’s,  I  gained  an  intimate  understanding  
of,  and  admiration  for  the  peoples  and  cultures  of  Central  American  and  the  Caribbean,  a  part  of  the  world  from  where  a  sizable  
portion  of  Montgomery  County’s  immigrant  population  has  its  roots.    I  not  only  gained  proficiency  in  Spanish  as  a  result  of  these  
experiences,  I  also  learned  first-­‐hand  what  it  is  like  to  have  to  scramble  for  some  of  the  basic  necessities  of  life  which  most  Americans  
take  for  granted.  
 
GOVERNMENT  PLANNER    
As  a  neighborhood  housing  planner  for  the  Metropolitan  Washington  Council  of  Governments,  I  worked  to  build  bridges  of  
understanding  in  communities  characterized  by  conflict  caused  by  changing  demographics.  I  served  community  organizations  such  
as  CASA,  an  immigrants  rights  organization  based  in  Langley  Park,  condominium  associations  on  the  Route  1  corridor  in  Alexandria,  
and  a  neighborhood  coalition  in  Anacostia  working  to  manage  the  displacement  caused  by  a  Hope  VI  development  project.  I  came  to  
understand  the  perspectives  of  both  residents  facing  displacement,  governments  trying  to  do  what  was  best,  and  developers  eager  
to  play  a  constructive  role  in  the  development  of  the  community.    I  also  understood  the  importance  of  implementing  a  data-­‐driven  
approach  to  planning.    
 
NONPROFIT  HUMAN  SERVICES  PROFESSIONAL  
As  the  Director  of  the  bilingual  Youthbuild  program  at  the  Latin  American  Youth  Center  in  Washington,  DC,  I  learned  about  the  
resilience  and  courage  of  young  people  determined  to  fight  all  odds  to  realize  their  dreams.  The  program  provided  construction,  
life  skills,  and  education  training  to  Latino  immigrants  and  young  African  Americans  who  had  dropped  out  of  high  school  or  had  
recently  arrived  to  the  United  States.  Each  faced  discrimination  on  a  daily  basis  and  through  working  together  in  the  program,  they  
became  friends  and  gained  a  deeper  understanding  of  and  appreciation  for  their  cultures.      
 
TECHNOLOGY  STARTUP  ENTREPRENEUR      
As  a  leader  of  a  startup  software  company  dedicated  to  helping  nonprofits  more  effectively  measure  impact,  I  learned  how  to  build  
a  company  from  the  ground  up.  I  started  with  not  much  more  than  a  laptop  and  cell  phone,  and  in  8  years  I  grew  the  company  to  
over  150  staff  and  thousands  of  clients  to  become  the  national  leader  in  outcomes  measurement  software.  This  was  where  I  really  
learned  how  the  business  world  worked,  learned  how  to  use  data  to  inform  decision-­‐making,  and  lead  teams  with  integrity.      
 
SMALL  BUSINESS  OWNER    
Another  surprising  life  changing  experience  came  after  I  grew  tired  of  the  grind  of  the  corporate  world  and  the  toll  it  was  taking  on  
me  and  my  family.  I  knew  that  I  had  to  make  a  change,  and  one  that  would  bring  me  more  happiness  and  make  me  a  better  husband  
and  father.  I  left  my  job  and  pursued  a  personal  passion  for  making  people  happy  through  food.  I  built  a  small  catering  business  
By  Authority:  Kevin  Harris  for  Council,  Maria  Peralta  Treasurer  
www.kevinharrisforcouncil.org  
 
through  which  I  learned  how  damn  hard  it  is  to  begin  and  operate  a  business  on  a  daily  basis.  For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  wasn’t  
receiving  a  guaranteed  paycheck  from  someone  else  –  wow  –  what  an  eye-­‐opening  experience.  I  gained  a  newfound  respect  for  the  
courage  it  takes  to  be  a  small  business  person  and  the  challenges  they  face  on  a  daily  basis  simply  making  payroll  and  keeping  the  
doors  open.  It’s  a  precarious  life  that  one  cannot  understand  until  you  try  it  yourself.    
 
I  live  in  the  North  Four  Corners  neighborhood  of  Silver  Spring  with  my  wife  and  twins.  My  passions  are  my  family,  spending  time  with  
friends  I  hold  dear,  cooking,  soccer,  dancing  salsa,  and  doing  Zumba  with  my  friends  at  the  Silver  Spring  YMCA.      

By  Authority:  Kevin  Harris  for  Council,  Maria  Peralta  Treasurer  

www.kevinharrisforcouncil.org