Ryan runs as the ‘dark horse’ candidate in Montgomery special election

Pat Ryan (D-Silver Spring) admits that he is the “dark horse candidate” in the race to fill the vacant District 4 seat on the Montgomery County Council.

The federal consultant is one of four Democratic candidates competing in Tuesday’s special primary election. The other candidates are Don Praisner (D-Silver Spring), the husband of the deceased councilwoman Marilyn Praisner, Nancy Navarro (D-Silver Spring), the president of the Montgomery County Board of Education, and activist Steve Kanstoroom (D-Ashton).

Navarro and Praisner are considered the favorites at this point.

Ryan, who previously worked on Capitol Hill and with the Department of Veterans Affairs, said he would bring a “combination of political experience and knowledge of the district” to Montgomery County, which “the other candidates don’t have.”

Locally, Ryan said he has been involved with the group "Action in Montgomery" for roughly five years. According to Ryan, the organization travels to community events, such as church services, speaking with residents about the problems they see in the county.

On the issues, Ryan said affordable housing should be a key component to the council’s work. He did however, refer to the importance of having “someone in the county executive’s office who is an advocate” for affordable housing.

Ryan said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) has a current proposal to increase funding for the Housing Initiatives Fund; a proposal that Ryan supports.

The candidate also said non-profit housing developers would have to work with the federal government to increase housing opportunities. Ryan said similar proposals have worked in New York and Los Angeles, and they “can work in Montgomery County.”

“You need someone with the will and the smarts,” Ryan said in regards to housing development.

“There is a lot of money out there,” he added.

Ryan also said a pattern of growth and development had taken place in the county without looking at the effects of that development on traffic and congestion.

This weekend, and on Election Day, Ryan said he would continue to meet voters “at local grocery stores” with the help of family and friends.

On the prospects of winning the primary, Ryan acknowledged that a victory would be a “surprise,” but said he would try to reach out to as many voters as possible.

According to recent campaign finance reports, Ryan has raised the third highest funds, $10,825, among the eight candidates (including Democrats and Republicans) vying for the position.Navarro has raised $34,446, while Praisner has collected $16,000 from individuals and loaned his campaign an additional $5,000. Among his donations, Ryan received a $4,000 contribution from the firefighters union, which he said could potentially be contributed to the fact that his daughter and son-in-law are both firefighters.