Council Candidate O’Malley Hopes to Improve Communication

Council candidate Julie O’Malley has raised three children in Kensington and has been active in town committees since the '80s. In 2001, O'Malley was appointed to the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission and served as a chair from 2004 until 2007. She's been involved with the Woman's Club of Kensington and the Woman's Community Club of Kensington for more than two decades (and has served as president in both), and is currently the president of the Kensington Historical Society.

Patch asked O'Malley questions to learn more about her campaign and plans for Kensington if she's elected.

KP: How long have you been a resident of Kensington? 

JO: I’ve lived in Kensington 33 years, first on Armory Avenue and, for the past 26 years, on Frederick Avenue. 

KP: What inspired you to run for town council?

JO: We have many voices in town and I’m concerned they are not all being heard. I believe communication is one of the most important assets of a small town government. We all have different visions of our town, but in those visions, there is more to unite us than to divide us.

KP: What goals would you like to achieve while on the council? 

JO: My first goal would be to restore civility and respect for all viewpoints in our civic discourse. I feel we need to recapture the strong council form of government that our Charter envisions, with public council debate to flesh out issues, hear opinions and work toward solutions. I would like to return to the format of one business meeting a month with one open worksession a month to allow citizens reasonable time to know what the town government is doing and the reasons behind their decisions. Draft town minutes should be circulated as soon as possible so that residents and businesses can review items which might concern them before the next meeting.

KP: What issues concern you about Kensington? How will you address them? 

JO: I feel that communication is the biggest process issue needing improvement, and I’ve stated above some of the steps the town government should take.

I don’t feel that the residents have been heard regarding their concerns about the Draft Sector Plan. 298 town residents so far and 242 neighbors outside the town have signed a petition for less height and density. There is no mandate for the sector plan as it now exists. Their comments show that they don’t feel the town and county have addressed the infrastructure and connectivity issues that have plagued Kensington for years. If there is a late response in the process, then the process is to blame; another example of a lack of communication. 

I am for new and revitalized development including mixed-use residential units, and will continue to focus on all of these items through the County Council hearings and work sessions on the sector plan to find an acceptable compromise. Despite claims to the contrary, the Historic District is not protected in the current draft of the plan. Having a 75, or even a 45-foot tall building across the street, or adjacent to residential homes and parts of the Historic District, will not protect that neighborhood. The recently built 45-foot high rear of the Safeway, even with its wider sidewalk, caused much consternation in the community. 

I will speak out at the county level to protect our neighborhoods. “Mandatory design guidelines” aren’t mandatory and some specific protections should be in our sector plan. The benefits that the sector plan promises are by no means assured; neither are the timely infrastructure improvements that are needed to maintain livability in our neighborhoods during the life of the plan.

KP: Why should a resident vote for you? 

JO: I have extensive knowledge of and have been active in the town and its government. I have a love for the community, both residential and business. I listen to and consider all sides of a discussion. 

KP: What's your favorite part of being a Kensingtonian? 

JO: Living in Kensington provides unique accessibility to all the benefits of the metro area, while maintaining the small town ambiance, friendliness and values that helped so much in raising my family.

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