In Gaithersburg, too many families are being pushed out of the neighborhoods they’ve called home for generations. Rents keep rising, yet protections for renters haven’t kept up. While developers get fast-tracked and favored, working families, seniors, and longtime residents are left to navigate a housing market that feels rigged against them.
Right now, renters in Gaithersburg don’t even have the same basic protections that renters in other parts of the county do. There’s no cap on rent hikes—meaning someone can come home to a notice that their rent is doubling, with nowhere else to go. And instead of fixing that, our current leaders have stood in the way.
That’s not just wrong—it’s dangerous.
Tiffany believes that no one should have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table. She’s committed to:
This isn’t just about housing—it’s about fairness, dignity, and belonging. Tiffany is ready to bring bold, compassionate leadership to make sure Gaithersburg stays a place where everyone can afford to call home.
Our kids deserve more than test scores and overcrowded classrooms. They deserve opportunity, investment, and a city that believes in them. Tiffany has spent years training thousands of young people in leadership and civic engagement—because she knows young people aren’t just the future, they are the present.
As a mother with children in our public schools, Tiffany understands the worries and hopes that so many families carry—especially when it feels like the system isn’t built for all kids to thrive. She has spoken out when school leaders failed to listen, and she will keep fighting until every child is seen, valued, and given the support they need.
That means expanding after-school programs and mentorship so no child falls through the cracks, creating safe spaces where young people can lead and belong, and connecting students with real job opportunities in the city. Tiffany will work side by side with Montgomery County schools to close equity gaps and make sure every child—whether Black, Latino, immigrant, or working-class white—has a fair chance to succeed.
There’s a tale of two Gaithersburgs. The one we hear about from the dais sounds polished and prosperous. But the one we see at the doors—where longtime residents feel pushed out, small businesses get overlooked, and whole neighborhoods are left behind—tells a very different story. Tiffany has walked those streets, listened at those doors, and she knows the cracks in our city aren’t just structural—they’re systemic. And if we don’t act with urgency, those cracks will keep widening.
Tiffany isn’t funded by big developers or corporate lobbyists. She’s accountable to the people—full stop. That means she can fight for transparent budgets, fair zoning, and local hiring practices that build wealth right here in Gaithersburg. She believes city government should be in partnership with the community, not operating behind closed doors. Residents shouldn’t have to beg for a seat at the table—they should be building that table alongside city leaders.
As Mayor, Tiffany won’t just manage the status quo—she’ll change the culture. That means empowering neighborhoods like Olde Towne with real investments, not lip service. It means setting clear goals the public can measure, and shifting the city’s mindset from “why we can’t” to “how we will.” And it means putting local businesses first—so the dollars we spend fuel jobs and growth for the people who live and work here. Tiffany is ready to meet this moment—with vision, urgency, and a deep belief that our city works best when it works for everyone.
At a recent community meeting, I asked a simple question: if all 43,000 registered voters in Gaithersburg showed up, could our single polling place handle it? The city’s answer was just as simple—and deeply revealing. They said we shouldn’t worry, because most people won’t vote. Let that sink in. Our system is built around the assumption that you’ll stay home. It’s not designed for full participation—it’s designed for 12% turnout. That’s not just a logistical issue; it’s a failure of vision and values.
Tiffany is running to change that. She believes we should build a city that expects and welcomes everyone’s voice—not just the few already at the table. That means expanding early voting, mail-in options, and multilingual voter education that meets people where they are—especially seniors, new voters, and immigrants. It means creating a culture of civic belonging, where every resident, regardless of immigration status, has a voice in the decisions that shape their lives. Because a government that truly represents us starts by making sure we can all be heard.
Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about showing up, listening, and being accountable. Time and again, Tiffany has stood with families in crisis and demanded action when leaders turned their backs. She knows that when tragedy strikes, like the Potomac Oaks building collapse, residents deserve real support and not just empty promises.
As mayor, Tiffany will hold regular community town halls in every neighborhood, not just downtown. She will launch participatory budgeting so residents directly shape how key funds are spent. She’ll make sure city boards reflect the full diversity of Gaithersburg, and that renters, youth, seniors, LGBTQIA+ residents, and working families are not just heard once, but always.
Because real leadership means putting people first, and building a government that truly belongs to all of us.
Authorized and Paid For By Friends of Tiffany Kelly
Ezra Pine, Treasurer
