The Rockville Mayor and Council convened on September 8, 2025, for Meeting No. 21-25, where community members voiced their concerns and proposals regarding local governance and electoral reform. The meeting featured a series of public testimonies, highlighting the need for increased community engagement and the implementation of ranked choice voting (RCV).

The session began with a call for a more proactive government that prioritizes healing over harm. A resident, Norma Brailsford, expressed her concerns about the lack of activities for seniors in Rockville, advocating for the establishment of Bocce ball courts to foster community engagement among older residents. She emphasized the importance of providing activities for seniors to prevent isolation.

Following her, Nancy Wallace, a representative of the Montgomery County Green Party and a congressional candidate, urged the council to consider ranked choice voting for the 2027 elections. She criticized the current electoral system, which often leads to candidates winning without majority support, and highlighted the Green Party's willingness to assist in the implementation process. Wallace pointed out that the Democratic leadership in Maryland has repeatedly stalled RCV initiatives, suggesting that local action could influence state-level reforms.

Ashley Hawtin, from FairVote, echoed these sentiments, advocating for RCV as a means to enhance democratic representation and reduce negative campaigning. She noted the lack of Asian American representation in Rockville's city council and called for the city to lead by example in improving electoral processes.

Adam Wise, representing the Maryland Ford party, also supported RCV, arguing that it would empower voters by allowing them to express preferences for multiple candidates rather than being limited to a single choice. He stressed that RCV could help mitigate divisive politics and improve the overall democratic process.

Ellen Bach concluded the public testimonies by reinforcing the call for RCV, emphasizing the need for local elections to focus on substantive policy debates rather than negative campaigning driven by corporate funding.

The meeting underscored a collective desire among residents for a more inclusive and representative electoral system, with several speakers advocating for immediate action on ranked choice voting. The council's next steps regarding these proposals remain to be seen, but the discussions reflect a growing momentum for electoral reform in Rockville.