‘‘I think it’s a mandate for change,” Hoffmann later told a Gazette reporter about the new council. ‘‘I think that everyone needs to get on board and be willing to make decisions.”
A few miles away, Powell, her most vocal opponent, said he was proud the campaign he ran.
‘‘We all ran a very good campaign. It was a grassroots campaign, and we certainly didn’t have the type of funding that my main opponent enjoyed,” he said. ‘‘But nonetheless, I believe our message was heard by many citizens, and I think over time, more citizens will hear the message to slow things down in Rockville and have a more citizen-friendly government.”
Powell said he would consider running for office again.
The race to replace Giammo, who chose not to seek a fourth term, has been heated since Powell joined the race in May.
Flanked by Councilwoman Anne M. Robbins during the press conference to announce his candidacy, Powell accused Hoffmann of foisting an ethical conflict upon the city by running for city office while holding a county job as manager of marketing and communications for downtown Silver Spring.
Hoffmann fielded such criticism by questioning if Powell understood the funding process, stating she has no control over county funding decisions.
City Attorney Paul Glasgow has said there is no legal conflict with Hoffmann holding a county job while serving as an elected official in Rockville.
The race stayed contentious throughout, as Powell repeatedly painted Hoffmann as being pro-development and accused Pierzchala of collaborating with Hoffmann as her Election Day stalking horse.
Hoffmann countered, calling Powell a negative mudslinger who fudged on the numbers he used to prove his points.
While his opponents slugged it out in the press, Pierzchala stuck to the policy differences and portrayed himself as the best option for a fair process in upcoming zoning and planning debates.
The political veteran of the group, Hoffmann came to the race with the pedigree to become mayor. A councilwoman for six terms, city planning commissioner for five and legislative analyst for the county in Annapolis before that, she raised more money than her opponents combined.
The well-connected candidate emphasized her endorsements, which included Giammo, U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) and most of the state District 17 delegation.
She touted her accomplishments, such as the redevelopment of Town Square, and called for a greener Rockville.
Powell, executive director of Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, a citizen watchdog group, ran on controlling growth in the city.
Pierzchala, president of the College Gardens Civic Association, called for a budget review and a more conservative financial approach.
Staff Writer Melissa J. Brachman contributed to this story.
