On historically diverse Montgomery council, tensions over transparency

Following a historic election in Maryland and across much of the nation, the Montgomery County Council welcomed its most diverse group of incoming members ever this month. At the council’s inauguration, speaker after speaker hailed the history-making slate of council members, who have said they are excited to work with one another, especially on issues that affect marginalized communities in the county. But by the next morning at the all-Democratic new council’s opening session, disputes over equitable representation, transparency and who gets to control policymaking discussions had already emerged, inflamed by backroom disagreements about leadership that ultimately left the council’s two Black members with little structural power.