Meet Izola Shaw
A lifetime of fighting for working families
and standing up to power
Why Izola Is Running
"Progress isn't handed out. It's won by those who stand up and fight."
Izola Shaw is running for County Council because our community deserves leadership that fights for working families, not powerful interests. She's running because our schools need protection, our neighborhoods need affordable housing, and our county government needs to put people first.
Izola knows how political decisions can turn lives upside down because she's lived it. After nearly twenty years of federal service, she lost her job in a wave of Trump era cuts that hit Montgomery County hard, especially right here in District 3. But Izola's fight for her neighbors started long before that. At NIH, she brought coworkers together to form a union and stood up for fair treatment on the job. Losing her job did not stop her. It made her fight even harder for working families.
Izola understands what is at stake for our community in a way most politicians never will. She is determined to stand up for us because she's been there too. District 3 deserves real change and a leader with the heart and courage to deliver it.
A Record You Can Trust
Izola Shaw has spent decades fighting for working families, safer neighborhoods, and stronger communities. Her proven track record of leadership and advocacy speaks for itself:
- ✓ As a Rockville City Councilmember, Izola has championed safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, and top-notch city services, ensuring Rockville's $176 million budget truly serves its residents.
- ✓ She secured record-setting investments in affordable housing, local schools, and essential city services, delivering real results for Rockville families.
- ✓ With over a decade of service at FEMA, Izola advised county and municipal governments nationwide to prepare for and recover from disasters, bringing critical expertise to communities in need.
- ✓ At NIH, she served as a public health leader, sharing life-saving information during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep families safe.
- ✓ As a Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commissioner, Izola oversees a $377 million budget to develop thousands of affordable homes for families across the county.
- ✓ A leader in the Fight for $15, Izola organized lower-income workers to testify before the County Council, helping secure a minimum wage increase in 2017.
- ✓ A passionate housing justice advocate, she united tenants and homeowners to fight for stable rents and engaged hundreds of residents in shaping local housing policies.
- ✓ Izola helped lead the passage of the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, ensuring every policy is measured by its impact on the county's most vulnerable residents.
- ✓ Appointed to the Montgomery County Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee (RESJAC), Izola was elected as its first female Chair, leading efforts to advance equity across the county.
- ✓ As a member of the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee, she championed wrap-around services for survivors and their children, supporting their journey to safer and healthier lives.
Izola's leadership is rooted in action, and her accomplishments reflect her unwavering commitment to building a Montgomery County where everyone can thrive.
Izola's Core Values
Fighting Spirit
When Izola sees injustice, she doesn't back down. From organizing her union to standing up for working families, she fights for what's right.
Community First
Izola listens to the people she serves. Whether it's saving Wootton High School or freezing rents during a pandemic, she puts community voices at the center.
Accountability
Izola answers to working families and community members, not developers or special interests. Her campaign is funded by grassroots supporters who believe in bold leadership.
Equity &
Justice
From drafting the county's Racial Equity and Social Justice Act to fighting for immigrant rights, Izola ensures no one is left behind.
Economic Justice
Izola knows that economic security—good jobs, affordable housing, living wages—is the foundation of opportunity for every family.
Education Champion
As a Howard and Hopkins graduate who's fighting to save neighborhood schools, Izola knows education is the key to opportunity and upward mobility.
Stand With Izola
Join the movement for bold, accountable leadership in Montgomery County District 3.