Subject
2025 Recognition of the City of Rockville’s Winner of the Maryland Municipal League "IF I WERE MAYOR" Essay Contest - Dumini Mehta
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council present the Certificate of Recognition to the essay winner Dumini Mehta.
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 is “Building Community for a New Generation”. 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:
What would you do to make your city/town community better for the future?
How would you make sure that people felt like they were a part of the community?
Mayor Ashton sent a letter to all public and private elementary schools in Rockville encouraging the participation of all fourth-grade students. The letter was followed up by personal visits from the Mayor to the fourth-grade classes.
The essay of Dumini Mehta from College Gardens Elementary was selected by the Mayor as the City of Rockville’s winner in the Maryland Municipal League’s, “If I Were Mayor” contest. Dumini Mehta is from the fourth-grade class of Mrs. Asjid.
Dumini Mehta will begin the official duties as “Mayor, mini-Mayor, of Rockville” on Monday, May 19, 2025. The mini-Mayor will preside over the opening the of Mayor and Council meeting, call the meeting to order, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and read the winning essay.
On Thursday May 22, 2025, Dumini Mehta will report for duty as “Mayor, mini-Mayor, of Rockville”. Dumini Mehta 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. Dumini will conclude “Mayor for the Day” activities with participation in Rockville’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Mayor and Council History
This is the 22nd consecutive year that the “If I Were Mayor” essay contest winners have been recognized by the Mayor and Council.
Public Notification and Engagement
Thursday, May 22, 2025, 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.