Republican

Candidate name: Shelton ‘‘Shelly” Skolnick

Place of residence: Silver Spring

Date of birth: May 6, 1943

Place of birth: Suffern, N.Y.

Current occupation: Attorney

Education: Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; bachelor of Laws, Boston University School of Law

Community associations, involvement: Commissioner, Montgomery County Charter Review Commission; past president, Norbeck Meadows Civic Association; Greater Olney Civic Association; Montgomery County Recycling Task Force; past director, IBM-WMA Employees Federal Credit Union

Professional associations: Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce

Family: declined to answer

Campaign office and telephone: 1304 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-565-2432

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

First, be ‘‘fiscally responsible” by taxing fairly (e.g., honor the charter limit for real property taxes), spending wisely (e.g., do not spend County funds for State projects), and providing vigorous legislative oversight (e.g., Park and Planning).

Second, fight for creative solutions to traffic congestion such as (a) variable tolls on highways, bridges and tunnels, (b) $1 Hush Hour Metro fares and $1 Hush Hour parking fees, and (c) Park and Ride garages at regional malls and large shopping centers — with express shuttle buses to Metro stations.

Third, obtain substantial new State revenue (from State-owned slots facilities on highways near the borders with West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware) for school construction and school modernization.

How would you rate the performance of the current council: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

Since I am running a ‘‘positive” campaign, I will not engage in rating the performance of the incumbents. However, it is ‘‘positive” and ‘‘factual” to say that the End Gridlock Team incumbents did not end gridlock during the last four years.

Is the rate of growth in Montgomery County too fast, too slow or just right?

It is too fast, in view of the endless gridlock, skyrocketing real property taxes, and overcrowded schools with 17,000 students in portables.

Who should have more control over the planning process, the council or the executive and why?

The council, since the executive usually relies on large campaign contributions from developers and similar special interests. Also, the council has more diversity which provides some checks and balance.

What should have been done to avoid the development problems that happened in Clarksburg?

The prior council should not have appointed a crony (who had little management experience) as Chairman of the Planning Board. The current council should not have been so lax in their oversight of the Planning Board.

What’s your plan to provide more affordable housing in Montgomery County?

First, reduce the real property tax rate to honor the charter limit in the future (and adjust for the past four years). Second, stop mansionization that replaces old small homes with expensive large homes. Third, provide real property tax relief to landlords that is equal to the tax relief provided to home owners. Fourth, provide loans to nonprofit organizations that purchase old apartment buildings and then offer the apartments at affordable rental rates.

Do you think the county is doing enough to meet the needs of its growing diverse population? If not, what do you think the county needs to do?

No. The county should fully fund English classes for adults who speak other languages. We should quickly eliminate the current waiting list — and prevent any waiting list in the future.

Do you support Montgomery County’s day laborer centers?

Yes, but the operation of the centers should be modified to (a) verify the legal status of laborers [as required of all employers], and (b) verify that the laborers are paid by the ‘‘employers”.

What programs would you add to the budget, and how would you pay for them?

I would increase the resources (human, equipment, office space, etc.) for the Inspector General and the Office of Legislative Oversight. These additional resources would be paid from the funds saved by the prevention of fraud, waste and abuse.

Are there any programs, taxes or fees that should be cut? What would you do with the money from the savings?

Whenever there is a budget surplus, the surplus should be either (a) saved for the rainy day fund, (b) placed in reserves, and⁄or (c) used to pay off county debt.

Does council have too much, not enough or the right amount of oversight of the school system?

There has not been enough fiscal oversight of the school system.

Do you think the current system for renovating schools is adequate, or does it need changing?

It needs changing. More oversight is needed to determine why there are so many cost overruns on the construction⁄renovation projects — and to prevent such cost overruns in the future. Also, much more State funding is needed to reduce the backlog of construction⁄renovation projects. To obtain the State funds, I support State-owned slots facilities on highways close to the borders with West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

What is the No. 1 public safety concern for Montgomery County?

Pedestrian fatalities and pedestrian injuries caused by accidents with motor vehicles. What would you do about it? Fences should be installed in the median of roads where many pedestrians do not cross at the designated crosswalks. Also, there should be more police at Metro stations where many pedestrians do not cross at the designated crosswalks.

Do you support an east-west Metro link, and where should it go?

I support the Inner Purple Line as an underground light rail system. Although the Purple Line would initially go between the Bethesda Metro station and the Silver Spring Metro station, it would be extended to the New Carrollton Metro station; and eventually the Purple Line would be a complete circle going over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, through Northern Virginia, and ending in Bethesda. Also, for the last four years, I have proposed a light rail line (‘‘Burgundy Line”) in the median of the Intercounty Connector.

Do you support the Montgomery Cares program, and are adequate audit controls in place for accountability?

Need more data before answering this question.

What should be the county’s role in mental health?

No position at the current time.