The Montgomery County Council made a significant change in its leadership today by appointing Craig Howard as the new executive director, a role that involves overseeing a 100-person staff and diving deep into the county's sizable fiscal responsibilities. Howard steps in to manage the Council's $7.1 billion operating budget and a capital spending program that ticks in at $5.9 billion, as reported by the Montgomery County Council.
Speaking on Howard's appointment, Friedson described him as a "collaborative, proven, and trusted leader" whose vast experience within Montgomery County Council legislative branch—spanning over two decades—has honed his expertise in steering complex fiscal and legislative issues. "His depth of knowledge navigating complex fiscal and legislative issues as well as Council and county operations has allowed him to seamlessly move into the executive director role," Friedson stated.
Prior to his latest promotion, Craig Howard was instrumental as the Council's deputy director for five years. In his ascent to the executive director position, Howard boasts a strong background in program evaluation, audits, research, and detailed policy analysis. His track record has consistently displayed an ability to guide the Council on varied, often convoluted issues.
Moreover, Howard's proficiency in budget, fiscal and data analysis has proven invaluable, as he has skillfully pinpointed long-term cost drivers and played a critical role in reducing structural budget deficits. He has also scrutinized programmatic data and outcomes, leading to enhancements in how governmental data is collected and processed, thus improving the overall infrastructure and accountability of public programs.
Howard's educational credentials include a master's of public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a bachelor of science from the University of Michigan. He is a resident of Montgomery County, where he lives with his family. Craig Howard is stepping into big shoes, taking the reins from Caven West, who left the Council on October 25 for family reasons.
