Adam Van Grack

Rockville and Montgomery County can succeed together, and Shady Grove Metro is an ideal opportunity for shared growth and investment. By annexing the Shady Grove Metro station area and pursuing a State Transit-Oriented Development designation, @Rockville411 can help advance more housing, better transportation connections, new businesses and jobs, better pedestrian access, Metro expansion, and an expanded tax base that supports both City and County services. Today’s @bethesda_today coverage of the County Planning Board’s discussion includes my comments about why I strongly support this opportunity. Last month, I moved adoption of Rockville’s annexation plan because I believe our City can help deliver benefits that extend well beyond our municipal boundaries and throughout upper Montgomery County. bethesdamagazine.com/2026/10… Annexation should be followed by pursuing a TOD designation for Shady Grove, building on the designation Rockville Metro received earlier this year. Pursuing that designation could help attract state support and private investment to advance housing, infrastructure and economic development goals that Rockville and Montgomery County share. Our vision should include safer pedestrian and bicycle connections, better bus access, and improved station circulation for everyone who relies on Shady Grove, including our neighbors in Derwood, Gaithersburg, and communities farther upcounty. Accordingly, I value my collaboration with Jeffrey Reznick, a member of Montgomery Planning’s Shady Grove Sector Plan Implementation Advisory Committee, on shared goals for Shady Grove and the surrounding communities. I see annexation and pursuing TOD designation as opportunities for Rockville to advance those goals in partnership with the County, WMATA and the State. Protecting Metro operations and planning for schools, roads, utilities and other public facilities must remain central to that effort. Rockville’s public hearing is November 16 at 6:30 pm. I encourage residents and our neighbors to participate as we work toward a stronger Shady Grove for the entire region.

Rockville’s schools are giving us plenty to celebrate! Congratulations to the 13 @Rockville411 @MCPS schools that earned four- or five-star ratings on the 2026 Maryland School Report Card! FIVE-STAR SCHOOLS Beall, Fallsmead, Lakewood, and Ritchie Park elementary schools. FOUR-STAR SCHOOLS Bayard Rustin, College Gardens, Maryvale, Meadow Hall, and Twinbrook elementary schools; Robert Frost Middle School; and Richard Montgomery, Rockville, and Thomas S. Wootton high schools. As a proud graduate of Ritchie Park, Robert Frost, and Richard Montgomery, and now a Wootton parent, I know how much our neighborhood schools mean to our families and our community. These amazing achievements belong to our hardworking students and the teachers, administrators, support staff, families, and PTA and PTSA volunteers who encourage and support them every day! Thank you for everything you do to help our students learn, grow, and thrive! As we celebrate this success, I will keep advocating for the safe, well-maintained buildings, educational opportunities, and resources that every Rockville school community deserves!

Reporting for Halloween duty tonight at @RockvilleCityPD's Boo-vie Night! Having a fantastic time at Welsh Park (dressed as a firefighter) handing out candy alongside Mayor @Monique4RKV and our amazing Rockville City Police Department officers! It's wonderful seeing so many families enjoying the Trunk-or-Treat festivities, creative costumes, and a special outdoor showing of Monsters, Inc.! A huge thank you to RCPD for organizing another incredible community event! The fun continues until 9 pm at Welsh Park, so come join us!

A huge night of volleyball at Richard Montgomery High School! Tonight was Senior Night for the @RocketsVBALL Team, and we celebrated our outstanding seniors during their final regular-season home match! In an incredible battle between two undefeated teams in Montgomery County, the Rockets came up just short in the fifth and deciding set. An amazing effort by both teams and a match that truly could have gone either way! The good news? There will a rematch next week for the County Championship! Congratulations to all our RMHS seniors on a fantastic season, and best of luck to the entire team next week! Go @RocketsSportsRM!

Halloween has officially gone to the dogs! I'm having a fantastic time tonight at 4 On the Floor's 4th Annual Doggie Halloween Extravaganza, in partnership with @Rockville411! This is one of my favorite annual Halloween traditions, and the costumes never disappoint! Dressed as an Orioles player this year, I had a blast meeting so many adorable pups and pup parents! Thank you to 4 on the Floor for organizing another wonderful event and also to @k_9lifesavers who are always helping to find loving homes for abandoned dogs throughout the area...like my new friend in the first picture below!

I just voted in @Rockville411 and I hope everyone makes their voice heard in this important election! Early Voting: Today (Wednesday, October 28) and tomorrow (Thursday, October 29) are the FINAL two days of early voting in Maryland. Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Election Day: Tuesday, November 3. Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Every vote matters! Make a plan, cast your ballot, and encourage your friends and neighbors to vote! – at Rockville, MD

Congratulations to Sergeant Jessica Rogers and Sergeant Ali Zeighani on their well-deserved promotions in the @RockvilleCityPD! Sergeant Jessica Rogers will assume responsibility for overseeing the RCPD Evidence and Crime Scene Unit, playing a vital role in ensuring the proper collection, preservation, and management of evidence that supports criminal investigations and the pursuit of justice. Sergeant Ali Zeighani will assume responsibility for overseeing the RCPD K-9 Unit, providing leadership and guidance to our K-9 teams as they continue their important work in protecting our community, locating missing persons, and supporting law enforcement operations. We all look forward to their continued contributions and success in these important leadership roles. Congratulations to you both! – at Rockville, MD

Earlier this evening, I testified before the The Montgomery County Board of Education about regional school capacity, deteriorating buildings, and Wootton High School’s permanent future on Wootton Parkway. My testimony focused on three main issues: 1. MCPS’s own data reinforce concerns I raised before the March Wootton decision: Our Central Region high schools are projected to grow by 3% in just 4 years and MCPS's own Central Region Summary shows a 101% capacity by 2030-31. Richard Montgomery already relies on 9 portable classrooms! 2. School conditions deserve serious attention. Of the five worst-conditioned elementary schools and five worst-conditioned secondary schools, 70% are in or serve the greater Rockville-Gaithersburg area. Our area also accounts for 54% of the 26 worst-conditioned schools overall. MCPS should establish a transparent, funded investment plan prioritizing the most deteriorating schools. 3. Our region needs a permanent Wootton High School on Wootton Parkway, operating separately from Crown and Churchill. With Central Region high schools projected to be virtually full or over capacity, we should be preserving the capacity our communities will need, not permanently giving it up. I am calling for a funded plan to rebuild or comprehensively renovate Wootton at its Rockville campus. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting today to testify and show support! Plan for the growth. Fund the repairs. And rebuild Wootton on Wootton Parkway. @fox5dc DC Coverage: fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-c… @ModeratelyMoco Publication of Full Testimony: moderatelymoco.com/van-grack… – at Rockville, MD

A gorgeous sunny afternoon celebrating our Wootton Community at the Wootton Cluster PTSA @woottonhs_ptsa Fall Festival! From the Chili Cook-Off to fantastic performances by the Wootton Acatonics, cheer, and band there's plenty of school spirit and community fun here at Wootton! The festivities continue until 4 PM today, so come on out, enjoy the performances, and celebrate the incredible students, families, and schools that make our Wootton Cluster so special! – at Rockville, MD

Thrilled to be at Wootton High School tonight for Senior Night as the Patriots take on their longtime rivals, Churchill! Truly great to see so many students, alumni, families. Wootton Booster Club members, and @RockvilleCityPD officers out cheering on the Patriots! Congratulations to all our @TSWAthletics Seniors! Let's keep fighting and give Churchill a reason to worry!

The Force is strong at Lakewood Elementary School tonight! Having a great time at Lakewood’s Trunk or Treat with @PrincipalLES5, our amazing @RockvilleCityPD officers, and so many families enjoying the Halloween festivities! Even a Sith Lord knows the importance of community engagement, although I promise to use the Force responsibly tonight! Thanks to the Lakewood PTSA, RCPD, and everyone who helped make this such a fun evening for our students and families!

Thank you to the @RockvilleCityPD, @mcpnews, and @MCSAONEWS for their work to secure accountability for the October 2024 shooting at Rockville's Welsh Park. This week, Kenneth Oates was sentenced to 100 years in prison, with all but 35 years suspended, following his conviction for attempted second-degree murder and related offenses. He fired 14 gunshots while targeting a woman and her friend during a flag football game, sending people fleeing through a park crowded with families. A father shielded his son with his own body, and a 9-year-old boy hid in the playground. Although no one was physically injured, the terror experienced by the victims and witnesses should never be minimized. I’m incredibly proud of Rockville City Police Department’s commitment to ensuring that violent crimes like this do not go unresolved, and grateful that the person responsible has been brought to justice. Thank you to our officers and investigators, our partners at MCPD, and prosecutors Jodie Mount and Daniel Saad for their dedication to the victims and our community’s safety.

There’s still time to join the fun at the King Farm Fall Festival! I’m enjoying a beautiful afternoon with neighbors.... and the festivities continue until 4 pm today! Be sure to visit the @RockvilleREDI, King Farm Screamin' Geese Swim Team, and @BarryJacksonCM tables, where you’ll find great giveaways and items for sale! Great to see @judashman and @RySpiegel here too! Come say hello and enjoy this wonderful autumn tradition! – at Rockville, MD

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Horizon Hill Park for a Community Ice Cream Social yesterday! I loved connecting with neighbors from across West Rockville over ice cream, snacks, and conversations about our neighborhoods and our city. A special thank you to the @RockvilleVFD and @RockvilleCityPD for joining us and for their outstanding community engagement! We’re fortunate to have public safety personnel who put so much care into building relationships with the people they serve. Bringing our neighborhoods together helps us share information, hear different perspectives, and work together on common concerns. I look forward to keeping these conversations going! – at Rockville, MD

Long before Davey Hearn became a national news story, he was my coach, my mentor, and someone I regularly turned to for advice when I served as Chair of USA Canoe/Kayak, the national governing body for Olympic canoe and kayak sports. This morning, @CNN published an excellent profile today of Davey, his extraordinary life, and the federal prosecution that thankfully ended with a dismissal with prejudice. As I told CNN, “There was not a whitewater canoer or kayaker in the DC region or nationally or internationally that didn’t know or revere Davey Hearn.” Davey represented our country in three Olympic Games, won multiple world championships, mentored generations of athletes, and devoted countless hours to protecting our rivers, National Park property, serving our community, and volunteering at community races. That is why I was so troubled when the federal government sought to portray Davey as a malicious destroyer of public property. And it also is why I am proud that so many of us stood up for him. Together with Rep. Jamie Raskin, fellow athletes, friends, and community members, we organized rallies, attended court hearings, and insisted that this prosecution be judged on the facts and the law, not political pressure. Standing up for someone facing an unjust prosecution is not about friendship or politics. It is about recognizing that the government's immense power must be challenged when it is used unfairly. If we remain silent when someone else is treated unjustly, we weaken the very principles of fairness and due process that protect us all. Judge Todd Edelman ultimately dismissed Davey's case with prejudice, bringing this prosecution to a permanent end. I am grateful for the judicial independence that made that outcome possible. I am honored to call Davey Hearn a friend and mentor. His legacy should never be defined by this prosecution, but by the extraordinary life of service, sportsmanship, and generosity that CNN so powerfully documents. cnn.com/2026/10/18/politics/… – at Rockville, MD

Rockville rolled out the classics today! Truly a fantastic time at the City of @Rockville411 Antique and Classic Car Show! I was also thrilled to help present the Mayor and Council Award for Best in Show to Shane Sonneveldt of Kensington for his beautiful 1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Derby! Thank you to the owners who shared their amazing cars, and to the City staff and volunteers who keep this great annual Rockville tradition running strong! – at Rockville, MD

I was delighted to join fellow officials and community members today to present a certificate at the @chamberrock ribbon-cutting celebrating @sunflower_bkry's new name: Sunflower Bakery Kitchen Cafe! Sunflower pairs incrediblly delicious food with an extraordinary mission, providing job training and pathways to employment for teens and young adults with learning differences. Their programs help participants build skills, confidence, and careers while strengthening our community. Dasha and I love Sunflower’s food so much that we chose them to make our wedding cake! It was wonderful to celebrate this next chapter for such an amazing organization. Congratulations to the entire Sunflower team! – at Rockville, MD

Tonight, I was honored to join neighbors, city staff, and the @Rockville411 Pedestrian Advocacy Committee for our Walktober Walk-n-Roll through Twinbrook and a Candlelight Vigil remembering those whose lives have been lost to traffic violence. Walking together was an opportunity to discuss safer streets, while the vigil reminded us of the people and families behind every tragedy. Everyone deserves to walk, bike, and roll safely through Rockville. I remain committed to improving crossings, lighting, sidewalks, and traffic calming to help prevent these heartbreaking losses. Thank you to the committee, @RockvilleCityPD, and everyone who came together tonight to honor the victims and work toward a safer community. – at Aspen Hill, MD

The forecast was clear, but the competition was snow joke! Thrilled to attend this morning’s @Rockville411 vs. @GburgMD "Snow Rodeo"... where our cities’ snow plow drivers tackled an obstacle course testing the skills that keep our streets safe during winter storms. Congratulations to Rockville Public Works employee Travis for earning the title of Best Skilled Snow Plow Driver in Rockville and Gaithersburg! Join me in thanking the amazing city crews we count on when the snow starts falling! Rockville is ready for the Winter! – at Rockville, MD