Potomac — The Montgomery County Council has selected Marlene Michaelson as the next council administrator, effective Feb. 1, 2018. Michaelson, who has served for 29 years as the council’s senior analyst for planning issues, will succeed retiring Council Administrator Steve Farber, who was appointed in October 1991.
The council administrator, the principal adviser to the council, helps develop and implement the council's policies and work program, oversees the council staff, and represents the council on several county boards, including the investment boards of the county’s retirement plans.
As a senior legislative analyst for the council, Michaelson is responsible for advising the council on land use and park issues, including master plans. She also represents the council on state and regional issues related to land use at organizations including the Council of Governments Region Forward Coalition.
Before coming to the council, Michaelson served from 1982-1988 as a senior financial analyst for Lane and Edson, P.C. in Washington, D.C. She has a Master’s degree in city and regional planning with a concentration in finance from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from State University of New York at Albany. She served for many years as president of the board of directors for Red Wiggler Community Farm.