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Montgomery County resident Terry O'Neill was elected president of the nation's largest feminist organization Saturday, defeating a young contender that had the support of the group's outgoing leader.

National Organization for Women delegates elected O'Neill to the four-year term over Latifa Lyles, the organization's membership vice president, at the annual NOW convention in Indianapolis.

O'Neill's victory comes as current NOW President Kim Gandy, who was term-limited, leaves the office she has held for the past eight years. Gandy, also a county resident who lives in Silver Spring, steps down July 20.

O'Neill, 56, who currently serves as chief of staff to Montgomery County Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda, will have to leave her council position.

"NOW is the organization that fights for the rights of all women no matter the circumstances of their birth, their race or sexual orientation, no matter if they live in poverty or are trying to escape violence," O'Neill, a Bethesda resident, said in a statement about her work with the organization and her own history as a domestic violence victim.

"Women are fed up with persistent inequality and are ready for change. I am honored and eager to lead NOW in making that change."

In their campaigns, both Lyles, 33, a New York City native, and O'Neill emphasized the need NOW to practice grass-roots organizing, re-energize members and evolve with the times.