Press Releases - County Council

Former County Executive, Councilmember Neal Potter Passes Away at 93.  He Served Unprecedented 6 Terms on County Council, Including 1 Term After Serving as County Executive

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 29, 2008

Former County Executive, Councilmember Neal Potter Passes Away at 93
He Served Unprecedented 6 Terms on County Council, Including 1 Term After Serving as County Executive

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 29, 2008—Neal Potter, who served as the fourth County Executive for Montgomery County from 1990-94 and served for 24 years on the County Council, passed away on Tuesday, May 27. He was 93.

Mr. Potter began his unprecedented 24-year career on the County Council in 1970. He was reelected in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986, serving three times as Council President. He was elected as County Executive on Nov. 6, 1990, and served through 1994. He then was re-elected to the County Council for a sixth term, serving from 1994-98.

Born on March 22, 1915, in Arlington, he was raised on a farm in Chevy Chase. On a visit to the County Council in February, Mr. Potter recalled for numerous current Council staff members that one of the reasons he became involved in politics was that land that was part of his family farm was taken to become part of the Beltway (I-495) that was constructed in the 1960s.

“Neal Potter was a giant in the civic and governmental life of Montgomery County. His integrity and work ethic, and his unwavering commitment to good government, made an indelible mark on the County he served so well,” said County Council President Mike Knapp. “As an economist and civic activist, Mr. Potter contributed greatly to the County before his first election to the Council in 1970 at age 55. In 1990, after five terms, he became County Executive. Working closely with the Council, he steered the County through some of its most difficult fiscal challenges before returning to the Council for a final term in 1994. What mattered to him were the merits – not the politics – of even the most controversial issues. It was fitting that in 1998, the Council proclaimed him Councilmember Emeritus, calling him ‘a man of his times, a man for all times.’”

Mr. Potter is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marion; one daughter, JoAnn; and one grandson. Memorial services will be held at the Chevy Chase United Methodist Church, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Citizens for Global Solutions of Washington, D.C., or the Chevy Chase United Methodist Church.

Prior to his election to the Montgomery County Council in 1970, Mr. Potter was active in a wide variety of civic activities.

In 1960, he was the principal organizer of the Citizens Committee for Fair Taxation. He served as president of the Montgomery County Citizens Planning Association from 1965-67 and as editor from 1968-69. Mr. Potter also served as co-chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Coalition for Clean Air.

During his tenure on the Council, Mr. Potter played a leading role in Council actions on controlling development, fiscal affairs, tax legislation, sewage and transportation issues, and assessment inequities.

While on the Council, Mr. Potter sponsored bills to establish the Office of Public Advocate for Assessments and Taxation and the Montgomery County Conservation Corps. In addition, he authored Council-proposed State legislation on taxation, farmland preservation and farmland assessment. Mr. Potter was also instrumental in the formation of the Home Purchase Cost Investigation Committee.

“Mr. Potter championed causes ranging from farmland preservation and agricultural tax assessment reform to creation of the County property tax “circuit breaker” to ease the burden on low and moderate income homeowners,” said Council President Knapp. “His mastery of the arcane details of fiscal and land use policy was unmatched. He was legendary for his thoroughness in reading lengthy Council packets (no missing comma escaped his attention) and his vigor (he always took the stairs, climbed two at a time, not the elevator). He brought to his other great passions – peace, human rights, and world federalism – the same dedication he brought to his work on the Council.

“Our condolences go to Neal’s beloved wife Marion and daughter JoAnn, and to Neal’s countless friends and admirers. All of us are the better for the long and productive life he led.”

Mr. Potter served as president of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and as chair of several committees for both the National Association of Counties and the Maryland Association of Counties. His various group memberships include the Americans for Democratic Action, the Audubon Society, the Chevy Chase United Methodist Church and Common Cause. Mr. Potter was a member of the NAACP, SANE/FREEZE, the United Nations Association and the World Federalist Association.

Honors he received for public service included the Governor's Citation, the Council of Government's Metropolitan Public Service Award and the Sentinel Newspaper's Citizen of the Year. He was a recipient of the National Association of Counties' Distinguished Service Award, the Audubon Naturalist Society's Legislator of the Year Award and the Montgomery County Civic Federation's Citation for Distinguished Public Service.

A graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Mr. Potter attended Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota, where he received B.A. and M.A. degrees in economics and political science. He also performed graduate work in economics at the University of Chicago.

An economist with the Office of Price Administration from 1941-46, he went on to teach economics at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon) in Pittsburgh from 1946-47 and at Washington State College in Pullman, Wash., from 1947-51. Mr. Potter served as Western Field Director for the World Federalists organization from 1952-54 before taking a research associate post with Resources for the Future, Inc., where he worked from 1955-74.

Statements from current members of the Montgomery County Council on the passing of Neal Potter:

Council Vice President Phil Andrews: "Throughout his historic career serving the people of Montgomery County, Neal Potter continually exhibited integrity, independence and civility as he led the way for well-planned growth, land conservation, fiscal responsibility, and more accountable government. He was a public servant to his core, and a leader of the first rank. Generations of county residents will benefit from the Agricultural Reserve, parks and open space that his advocacy helped establish and forever protect."

Councilmember Marc Elrich: “Neal stood as a quiet giant in the life of our county. He was a long-time friend to me and a source of great knowledge and insight. He had a sharp analytical mind, he made decisions based on the facts and he cared deeply about this community. Neal's reputation for impeccable integrity and for his independence from powerful special interests made him a true champion of our County's residents. Neal's passing is a great loss to me and to our community. We are all going to miss him.”

Councilmember Nancy Floreen: “Neal was ever steadfast in his commitment to serve the people of Montgomery County. Kind and self effacing, with thoughtful dedication to pure public policy, he was a prime example of a selfless public servant. Montgomery County was lucky to have him.”

Councilmember George Leventhal: “Neal Potter served longer than any member in the history of the Montgomery County Council and was the only individual ever to return to the County Council after serving as County Executive. He loved Montgomery County and played a role in its history that few others will ever equal. He exemplified local democracy at its best.”

Councilmember Don Praisner: “Mr. Potter was a true gentleman and statesman. His quiet, deliberate style, along with his encyclopedic knowledge of the County—so instrumental in shaping this wonderful place we call home—will be sorely missed.”

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg: “Neal Potter had a long and distinguished career that touched the lives of all the citizens of Montgomery County. His stewardship of the County as Executive through difficult economic times in the early 90’s, with unwavering integrity and forthrightness, has been widely and deservedly praised. He will be greatly missed.”

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Release ID: 08-085
Media Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939