The Montgomery Fix ‘Press Freedom’ Ballot
Underlying image: Constitution of the United States, page 1, National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Candidate images are from campaign websites or social media.
In 2025, the publisher of Montgomery Fix was at the center of a dispute over press access in Montgomery County government. As we challenged policies that restricted our ability to participate alongside other local news organizations, candidates and elected officials were forced to make a choice. Some stood with us. A few stood against us. Most chose to remain silent.
The candidates appearing on this endorsement slate earned our support in one or more ways. Some were exceptionally transparent about what was happening behind-the-scenes in Rockville. Some publicly supported our position through statements, social media posts, or direct advocacy. Others assisted quietly in the background, providing information, guidance, or encouragement when it mattered most. Regardless of the form it took, they demonstrated a commitment to openness and a belief that government should not decide which journalists deserve access.
As a result, this may be the strangest endorsement slate ever assembled in Montgomery County politics. It is unapologetically bipartisan and based entirely on this single issue. We are confident it is the first endorsement slate in county history to simultaneously include Kristin Mink and Robin Ficker. If that combination makes you uncomfortable, confused, or concerned for our judgment, that's understandable. This list is not about ideology. It is about who stood for transparency and free speech when it mattered.
Three candidates actively participated in efforts that undermined press freedom and government transparency. They appear on our list as “opposed.”
Montgomery County Executive
ENDORSED
Andrew Friedson, Democrat
Friedson was transparent and candid in private conversations and made inquiries within the Council at our behest. He is the only Council member to publicly “like” any of our posts about the exclusion. He is the only County Executive candidate to say publicly that he would welcome us to his press events if elected. Friedson stood on principle, putting him at odds with a powerful and vindictive Council President. That’s leadership.
OPPOSED
Evan Glass, Democrat
Glass boasts that a “CNN correspondent” title on his resume makes him the free speech candidate. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is literally the architect of the county’s first and only policy restricting press access. It magically appeared in his first month as Council President; far worse, he absolutely refuses to say why it was needed, who wrote or vetted it, or even how it got approved. We have every reason to think he would do the same thing for the county’s executive branch. His authoritarian press access rules and lack of transparency make him unfit to oversee the county’s public information office, let alone serve as County Executive.
Montgomery County Register of Wills
ENDORSED
Alan Bowser, Democrat
In the midst of our battle for a seat at the Council’s press table, Alan Bowser offered us one at a Montgomery County Executive candidate forum, no questions asked. While that may sound like a small thing, it spoke volumes – especially since our reporter was wearing a satirical Kate Stewart “God Save the Queen” T-shirt. Bowser is an attorney; he knew the right thing to do.
Montgomery County Council At-Large
ENDORSED
Scott Evan Goldberg, Democrat
Goldberg is at the very top of our ballot. No candidate in any race has been more supportive. He offered gentle advice, made behind-the-scenes inquiries and appeals on our behalf, and expressed open support on social media. Goldberg, who is a lawyer, saw the injustice immediately and, despite potential risk to his political aspirations, was all in.
ENDORSED
Steve Solomon, Democrat
Hitting the “like” button on some posts may seem like a small thing, but when you are an underdog planning another run for an elected office in the establishment-controlled county, they notice it. He went out on a limb, and that earned our endorsement.
OPPOSED
Marc Elrich, Democrat
When the Council barred the door, Elrich seized the opportunity to lock the executive office too. We still aren’t permitted to attend his press conferences. His violations of constitutional rights and assault on press freedom are indicative of his arrogance, paranoia, and disrespect for law. He should never hold elected office in Montgomery County, or anywhere else, ever again.
Montgomery County Council District 1
ENDORSED
Reardon Sullivan, Republican
Shortly after the Council made it clear we weren’t welcome, Sullivan, who chairs the Montgomery County Republican Party, invited us to attend and cover the MCGOP Annual Meeting. He personally introduced us to the candidates and party leadership before leading us to the press gallery. Ever since, he’s “liked” and shared our press freedom posts and quietly offered advice.
Montgomery County Council District 3
ENDORSED
Jud Ashman, Democrat
When we felt most embattled, seeing support from the mayor of Gaithersburg kept our spirits high. His public “likes” and private conversations proved the founder of the Gaithersburg Book Festival clearly understands how essential independent journalism and a free press are to democracy.
APPRECIATED
Ricky Fai Mui, Republican
Mui deserves recognition for his public support. While not as demonstrative as Ashman’s, it showed that as a potential Council member, he can be counted on to let the truth come out.
Montgomery County Council District 4
OPPOSED
Kate Stewart, Democrat
Glass created the Council’s restrictive policies; Stewart, to our knowledge, is the only one who actually used them to restrict press access. In a voluminous file that made it all the way to the Office of the Inspector General, her personal bias and vindictiveness against this publisher shone through. Make no mistake: this was all about hurt feelings. She said as much to our face at a cocktail party, and her Council colleagues reiterated it in private conversation. It’s a disqualifying action. Stewart’s opponent, Paula Bienenfeld, didn’t earn our endorsement, but we support her candidacy over Stewart’s without hesitation.
Montgomery County Council District 5
ENDORSED
Kristin Mink, Democrat
Mink looked us in the eye and told us the truth: This isn’t about freedom of the press; it’s about Kate Stewart. And you can’t win. Nobody else was as bluntly honest. And she was right.
Montgomery County Council District 6
ENDORSED
Natali Fani-González, Democrat
Like Mink, Fani-González told us to our face: this is all Kate Stewart, and she won’t back down. Then, for her very first press conference after succeeding Stewart as Council President in January of this year, Fani-González had her chief of staff invite us. She made it clear this publisher was always welcome. The year of press suppression was over. It proved Fani-González understood the injustice and the importance of immediately righting the wrong.
Montgomery County Board of Education At Large
ENDORSED
Brenda Diaz
Nobody has hit the “like” on our press freedom posts more than Brenda Diaz, and her comments in private chats were inspirational. This is a candidate who really understands the importance of free speech and why government must cherish it, not stifle it.
Congressional District 6
ENDORSED
Robin Ficker, Republican
You would think after all the trolling Robin Ficker has suffered at the hands of our satirical side, he wouldn’t have cared about our press freedom fight. That wasn’t the case at all. Ficker, who practiced law for many years and defended free speech rights, recognized the free speech suppression immediately and spoke out in typical bombastic form.
General Assembly House of Delegates District 19
ENDORSED
Sunil Dasgupta, Democrat
We were disappointed that none of the mainstream media was interested in our story. Sunil Dasgupta is one of the few who recognized it had legs. He invited us onto his I Hate Politics Podcast and gave us a platform. His questions were tough, fair, and helped us demonstrate that our position had real merit.
ENDORSED
Vaughn Stewart, Democrat
Attorney Vaughn Stewart proved to us more than once in 2025 that he has real character. He could have easily chosen to stay out of the fray, and after the story we did on him last year we wouldn’t have blamed him. But that’s not his way. He saw the injustice and was willing to put public “likes” on our posts decrying it.
