At its June 24 meeting, the Montgomery County Council decided to re-appoint Mitra Pedoeemto the Montgomery County Planning Board.Pedoeem, who has been Vice Chair under Planning Board Chair Artie Harris since being appointed in 2023 to cover a partial term, will now serve a four-year term on the Planning Board.
Commissioner Pedoeem stated, “I am honored and appreciative to the County Council for the opportunity to continue serving on the Planning Board.” By boosting housing options, improving pedestrian safety, facilitating greater access to parks, and implementing more inclusive planning procedures, we collectively lay a solid basis for creating a more lively county in which to live, work, and play.As we work to create a more sustainable and fair future for the county, I’m determined to keep up this momentum.
“We are thrilled that Commissioner Pedoeem has been reappointed,” stated Planning Board Chair Artie Harris.Her enthusiasm for Montgomery County’s future and her breadth and depth of public administration expertise from her previous positions as director of the Department of Permitting Services and deputy director of Montgomery Parks are exciting.She has proven her dedication to making sure the Board is a partner in establishing high-quality natural and constructed environments for all Montgomery County citizens.
In March 2023, Commissioner Pedoeem was appointed to the Planning Board.In June 2023 and September 2024, she was elected Vice Chair by the Planning Board.Commissioner Pedoeem has reviewed numerous significant plans and projects during her tenure on the Planning Board, including the University Boulevard Corridor Plan, the Pedestrian Master Plan, the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment, the Fernand and Briggs Chaney Master Plan, and numerous development projects and studies.Watch each candidate’s interview with the County Council on June 10.
This year, the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women honored Commissioner Pedoeem as a woman making history. She was also highlighted in a Third Place Blog post for Women’s History Month.
About Mitra Pedoeem: Mitra Pedoeem has over 40 years of experience in leadership, organization, and public administration at various levels of government.
Before working as a structural engineer at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, she spent five years as a bridge engineer with the State Highway Administration, constructing bridges for the State of Maryland. She increased her understanding of government structure and operations in 2001 when she was hired as a senior budget analyst by the Montgomery County Office of Management and Budget. Mitra started off as Montgomery Parks’ Chief of building in 2004, overseeing every facet of park facility building. In 2009, she was elevated to the position of Chief of the Parks Development Division, where she was in charge of the $200 million Capital Improvement program. From 2014 to 2019, she served as the Parks Department’s Deputy Director of Administration, which was her last role. The Montgomery County Executive appointed Mitra as the Director of the Department of Permitting Services in early 2021, and she retired in 2022.
Mitra has lived in Montgomery County for more than 40 years. She holds a license as an engineer and graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering.
