By JOE MURCHISON
Democrat Michelle García, chief of staff for county councilmember Tom Dernoga (District 1), kicked off her campaign to succeed her boss on Feb. 2 at the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department station.
Courtesy of Joe Murchison
Former Laurel At-large Councilmember Martin Mitchell, also a Democrat, announced his intention to run, with kickoff event likely in March. The election primary is in June 2026, with the general election the following November.
Courtesy of Martin Mitchell
More than 100 people were present for García’s kickoff, including Dernoga, county councilmember Eric Olson (District 3) and three of the four state legislators from District 21. One of them, Del. Joseline Peña Melnyk, talked about how she gave García her start in government in 2013, while García was a student at the University of Maryland. A friend called her with advice: “I know someone who is a wonderful human being who wants to get into government,” Peña Melnyk recalled her friend saying. She immediately hired García, who, Garcia said, “was eager to learn. From day one, she cared about my constituents.” García served as Peña Melnyk’s chief of staff.
Dernoga, who cannot run again due to term limits, recalled noticing García in 2016 at a campaign office in Laurel when he was volunteering in Peña Melnyk’s unsuccessful campaign for Congress. “I noticed a young lady who seemed very qualified, who made things happen,” Dernoga said. He hired her onto his staff, and she was appointed chief of staff in 2018. Dernoga underscored Garcia’s qualifications for office. If elected, “she’ll have more experience than every other councilmember except Eric [Olson],” Dernoga said.
García, who lives in Beltsville, spoke of her parents — her father hails from Peru and her mother from Puerto Rico. “They came here with a dream, they worked hard, they persevered,” she said. “That’s what they taught me.”
She spoke about her three primary issues: advocating for housing; fighting for volunteer fire departments like Beltsville’s, and working toward “equitable education,” including a new High Point High School and safety in schools.
Del. Mary Lehman (District 21) noted that García is participating in a new county public financing plan for candidates. To be eligible for public matching funds, she cannot receive more than $250 from any donor. Candidates not participating in the plan can receive a maximum of $6,000 per donor.“I did this because I wanted a people-powered campaign,” García said. “I didn’t want to owe anyone.”
Mitchell is a political and public affairs consultant. He was elected to the Laurel City Council in 2021 and served one term before running unsuccessfully for mayor in 2023. During his time on the council, Mitchell led efforts to help apartment tenants facing large rent hikes. He also advocated for the city’s public works employees’ efforts to unionize.
In an interview, Mitchell said he is volunteering with a coalition of organizations that are working with local municipalities to pass rent control legislation. He said he also is doing pro bono lobbying to safeguard the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, an ambitious state funding plan for education at a time when Maryland faces a large budget deficit.
Mitchell said that as a consultant he represents organizations advocating for labor unions and also for the rights of citizens released from incarceration. Martin confirmed that he plans to participate in the new public financing plan.
Asked about Mitchell’s intention to run against her, García said, “I expect many people to jump in. We live in a democracy, still, and that’s a good thing.”
