Henn makes second bid for City Council

‘‘I don’t see the council taking the city in the right direction,” Henn said. ‘‘You see me get up there and flap my gums about peak oil and they nod and laugh and I sit down.”

A quiet man who is not afraid to speak up, Henn is making his second run for City Council at an opportune time for challengers. One of four available spots is undefended.

Entrenched in prolonged battle over refuse collection, the remaining incumbents look vulnerable, Henn said.

‘‘I wouldn’t mind if they fought each other and got a lot done,” Henn said. ‘‘But they’ve fought each other and haven’t even touched the important issues.”

What is important to Henn is the impact of peak oil, the point at which global petroleum production reaches the maximum possible level and begins to decline. With vast populations in India and China using increasing amounts of the commodity, its cost will rise.

‘‘Communities that think about these energy issues and act on them in advance are going to do better than those that just walk into it blind,” he said.

For the candidate who has been knocking on doors for the past several month, that translates into more mass transit programs and less road construction.

Many issues overlap with energy and environmental issues, Henn said. Enhancing pedestrian safety and pedestrian-friendly communities would encourage less vehicle emissions. More bike paths and bike racks are needed, he said.

Like a majority of the environmental commission, Henn opposes twice-weekly refuse collection. He opposes an Interstate 270 interchange at Gude Drive. Over the years, he has suggested a car-sharing company in Rockville, a citywide ordinance requiring businesses to provide more bike parking and tax incentives for both owners and renters to make housing more energy efficient.

The longtime resident of the Hungerford community has served on the city’s Commission on the Environmental, sits on the Bicycle Advisory Committee and has been an active promoter of environmental issues for years. He has a master’s degree in public administration from American University.

An unsuccessful council candidate in 2001, he has served on the Imagine Rockville Transportation Action Team and is a member of the Hungerford Civic Association.

Carl R. Henn

Age: 45

Experience: Former member of the Rockville Commission on the Environment; serves on Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee; founder of the Rockville Community Garden Committee

Top Issues: energy issues, environment, pedestrian safety

For more: www.carlhenn.org or 301-251-0310