Neil H. Harris, Gaithersburg City Council

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In November of 2023, I was reelected to a third term on the Gaithersburg City Council.  I will continue to provide steady, strategic leadership to our great city. Look to this site for information on news and events, or use the subscription form to the right to receive occasional updates to your email box.

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    Meet Your Council Member

    Neil H. Harris is an experienced community and business leader. He has served on the council since his appointment in 2014 and election to full terms in 2015, 2019, and 2023. Since joining the council, Neil has focused on issues including fiscal responsibility, regional transportation, school funding, and public safety. He serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board as its vice chair. He held leadership positions in the Kentlands Citizens Assembly for 5 years before joining the council, and served on a number of city and regional committees. He is not related to Neil Patrick Harris, sad to say.

    • Business Experience. 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur. Currently an IT executive with Amazon Web Services.
    • Education. Wharton MBA and UMUC B.Sc. in business management with highest honors. Studies focused on strategic planning, finance, and marketing.
    • Family and Personal. Married to Dr. Michelle New, child psychologist. 3 children. Lives in Kentlands since 2002, moved to Gaithersburg in 1988 and lived in Pheasant Run.
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    Latest News

    • Working on helping to fix transportation in our region!

      I have been elected to serve the Transportation Planning Board of Metropolitan Washington as second vice chairman for the year 2024, which will make me chair by 2026. Looking forward to working with my colleagues from the district and Virginia to make transportation, better for all of us! Press release here

    • Endorsements for 2023

      I am proud to be endorsed by these civic leaders: Jud Ashman, Mayor of Gaithersburg, Sidney Katz, Montgomery County Council for District 3 and former mayor, Cheryl Kagan, State Senator District 17 David Trone, US Congressman Maryland 6th District, Ryan Spiegel, State Delegate District 17 and former city council member, John McCarthy, Montgomery County State’s Attorney, Maxwell Uy, Sheriff, Montgomery County, Gabe Albornoz, Montgomery County Council member at-large, Evan Glass, Montgomery County Council president, Marilyn Balcombe, Montgomery County Council member … read more

    • I believe in the limitless future.

      As a boy in the 1960’s, I was enthralled by the space race and by NASA going from its start and a series of loud failures to landing on the moon inside the decade. Not only was that an inspiration for all mankind – and the moon landing was watched by on live TV by billions of people worldwide – but the work advanced technology and brought us microchips, satellites, and medical advances. There are two stickers on my car … read more

    • Solving Transportation in Suburban Maryland

      This opinion piece was published in the Washington Post on July 28, 2019. The #1 transit problem in Maryland is money Traffic flows along interchanges that link Interstates 495 and 270 in 2018. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) By Neil H. Harris July 26 Neil H. Harris is a member of the Gaithersburg City Council and a voting member of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board. Transportation in Maryland is in dire need of an upgrade. But the ongoing … read more

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