New Councilmember Appointed

Congratulations to Cherri Branson who we have appointed as the new Councilmember for District 5. Ms. Branson will succeed former Councilmember Valerie Ervin, who resigned from the Council on January 3 to become executive director of the Center for Working Families. Ms. Branson will complete the unexpired term, which ends on December 1, 2014.

A graduate of Vassar College (B.A.), Indiana University School of Law (J.D.), and Emory University School of Law (LL.M.), Ms. Branson has held key staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1989. She is now Chief Counsel for Oversight on the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security.  She has been president of the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County. The Council appointed her as a member of the County’s Commission on Redistricting in 2011. She has also served as a member of the Charter Review Commission.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheculed for 4:00 today and will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM--Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). It will also be streamed through the Council Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council and available later on demand.