Subject
2026 Recognition of the City of Rockville’s Winner of the Maryland Municipal League "IF I WERE MAYOR" Essay Contest
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommend the Mayor and Council present the Certificate of Recognition to the essay winner, Kiera Newell.
Discussion
The Maryland Municipal League (MML) and the Maryland Mayors’ Association (MMA) invited
all fourth-grade students to participate in a statewide “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. This year’s contest theme was “90 Years Strong: Where Tradition Meets Innovation”. The contest gives students a chance to creatively use grade-specific language arts skills and civics/social studies knowledge. Students were encouraged to be creative and address the following:
Participants were encouraged to think creatively about leadership, local government, and ways they would improve their community if they were mayor. “Think about your own community, neighbors, and identify a tradition you value. If you were the mayor, imagine this tradition and your own community transported 90 years forward into the future. How has tradition and your community changed? Has it helped your community to work better together? How will innovation impact your community?
The essay of Kiera Newell from Bayard Rustin Elementary was selected by the Mayor as the City of Rockville’s winner in the Maryland Municipal League’s, “If I Were Mayor” contest. Kiera Newell is from the fourth-grade class of Bayard Rustin Elementary.
Kiera will begin the official duties as “Mayor, mini-Mayor, of Rockville” on Monday, May 11, 2026. The mini-Mayor will preside over the opening of the Mayor and Council meeting, call the meeting to order, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and read the winning essay.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Kiera will report for duty as “Mayor, mini-Mayor, of Rockville”. Kiera will start the day at City Hall in the Mayor’s Office, receive a guided tour of the Rockville City Police Department, followed by a Police Ride-Along, and then be escorted to Rockville’s Department of Public Works (DPW) Large Equipment Show at Mattie J. Stepanek Park at 1800 Piccard Drive.
The DPW Large Equipment Show is open to the public, and children will be able to climb on the equipment and machinery. After the show, Dumini Mehta will receive a tour of the Croydon Creek Nature Center and then return to City Hall for lunch with Mayor Ashton. Kiera Newell will conclude “Mayor for the Day” activities with participation in Rockville’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday,
May 25, 2026.
Mayor and Council History
This is the 23rd consecutive year that the “If I Were Mayor” essay contest winners have been recognized by the Mayor and Council.
Public Notification and Engagement
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the DPW Large Equipment Show is open to the public; everyone, including the children, can participate in climbing on the equipment and see how it works.