Ryan Spiegel

Spiegel graduated from Pikesville High School in 1996 and later attended the University of Maryland, College Park, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 2000, and Stanford University, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2003. After graduating, he worked at various law firms, including Winston & Strawn, Potomac Law Group, and Thompson Hine LLP.{{cite news |last1=Pollak |first1=Suzanne |title=Gaithersburg Councilmember Ryan Spiegel Chosen as Delegate in District 17 |url=https://www.mymcmedia.org/gaithersburg-councilmember-ryan-spiegel-chosen-as-delegate-in-district-17/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |work=Montgomery County Media |date=June 14, 2023}}

In August 2005, Spiegel formed an exploratory committee to consider running for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 17.{{cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Tim |title=Younger Democrats Are Primed to Run |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2005/08/25/younger-democrats-are-primed-to-run/e2255a74-8574-49d6-9b73-d2ea81b3ee66/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 25, 2005}} He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing fourth with 13.3 percent of the vote.

Spiegel was elected to the Gaithersburg City Council in 2007,{{cite news |title=Democrats Make Gains In Virginia Senate, House |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21663895 |access-date=June 21, 2023 |work=NBC News |date=November 6, 2007}} and was subsequently re-elected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Five File for Three Council Seats in Gaithersburg |url=https://moco360.media/2019/08/23/five-file-for-three-council-seats-in-gaithersburg/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=August 23, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Three Incumbent City Council Members Reelected in Gaithersburg |url=https://moco360.media/2019/11/05/three-incumbent-city-council-members-reelected-in-gaithersburg/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=November 5, 2019}}

In December 2013, Spiegel announced his candidacy for the Montgomery County Council in District 3, seeking to succeed Councilmember Phillip Andrews.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Jenn |title=Spiegel will roll out campaign in weeks ahead |url=https://issuu.com/thegazette/docs/gaithersburggaz_121113 |access-date=June 14, 2023 |work=The Gazette |date=December 11, 2013 |page=1}} He was defeated in the Democratic primary, placing third with 22 percent of the vote.{{cite news |last1=Metcalf |first1=Andrew |title=Berliner Wins Convincingly; Incumbents Hold in Tight At-Large Race |url=https://moco360.media/2014/06/25/berliner-wins-convincingly-incumbents-hold-in-tight-at-large-race/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=June 25, 2014}}

From 2019 to 2020, Spiegel served as the president of the Maryland Municipal League.{{cite news |last1=Pollak |first1=Suzanne |title=Maryland Municipal League names Gaithersburg's Spiegel as new president |url=https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/montgomery/news/maryland-municipal-league-names-gaithersburg-s-spiegel-as-new-president/article_0e132092-7b0b-5d70-a3ef-a397e1c60f76.html |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=The Montgomery County Sentinel |date=July 5, 2019}} In this position, he criticized efforts to pass legislation making it easier to install 5G cell towers in the state, calling it a "land grab" by the telecommunications industry and saying that he wanted to "avoid any reasonable regulation of this technology".{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Lawmakers Sidestep Push to Speed 5G Towers |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/01/21/lawmakers-sidestep-push-to-speed-5g-towers/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 21, 2020}}

File:Seneca Village Apartments (52832186693).jpg, 2023]]

In May 2023, following the appointment of state delegate Kumar Barve to the Maryland Public Service Commission, Spiegel applied to fill the vacancy left by his resignation in the Maryland House of Delegates.{{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Democratic committee to consider one of its own to fill District 17 delegate vacancy |url=https://moco360.media/2023/06/02/democratic-committee-to-consider-one-of-its-own-to-fill-district-17-delegate-vacancy/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=June 2, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Bixby |first1=Ginny |title=Democratic Central Committee member, others make case for District 17 delegate seat |url=https://moco360.media/2023/06/09/democratic-central-committee-member-others-make-case-for-district-17-delegate-seat/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=June 9, 2023}} On June 12, 2023, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee voted to nominate Spiegel to fill the vacancy.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Central committee nominates Gaithersburg city councilmember to replace Barve in the House |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/06/13/central-committee-nominates-gaithersburg-city-councilmember-to-replace-barve-in-the-house/ |access-date=June 13, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=June 13, 2023}} He was sworn in on July 6, 2023.{{cite web |title=Members - Delegate Ryan Spiegel |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/spiegel01 |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=July 6, 2023 |date=July 6, 2023}}

During his tenure on the Gaithersburg City Council, Spiegel supported smart growth economic development projects, including increased school construction,{{cite news |last1=St. George |first1=Donna |last2=Turque |first2=Bill |title=Montgomery candidates grapple with school concerns |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/montgomery-candidates-grapple-with-school-concerns/2014/05/11/b8a6521e-d6a1-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_story.html |access-date=June 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 11, 2014}} affordable housing, and green development.{{cite news |last1=Turque |first1=Bill |title=Democrats try to stand out from crowd in Montgomery County Council primaries |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/democrats-try-to-stand-out-from-crowd-in-montgomery-county-council-primaries/2014/06/17/86b8e2fc-f579-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html |access-date=June 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 17, 2014}}

In February 2020, Spiegel expressed frustration with but ultimately voted in favor of a bill providing WRS Inc. with a 90-day extension to buy anchor properties at Lakeforest Mall.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg gives developer extension on Lakeforest Mall purchases |url=https://moco360.media/2020/02/24/gaithersburg-gives-developer-extension-on-lakeforest-mall-purchases/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=February 24, 2020}} He later voted to provide WRS Inc. with another 90-day extension in May 2020.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg gives developer 90 more days to acquire Lakeforest Mall anchors |url=https://moco360.media/2020/05/19/gaithersburg-gives-developer-90-more-days-to-acquire-lakeforest-mall-anchors/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=May 19, 2020}} In August 2020, Spiegel voted in favor of a maximum 12-month redevelopment moratorium on Lakeforest Mall, which he said would "prevent development from occurring that is not full-fledged to the best and highest use of the map designation area".{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg imposes moratorium on Lakeforest Mall site |url=https://moco360.media/2020/08/18/gaithersburg-imposes-moratorium-on-lakeforest-mall-site/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=August 18, 2020}}

In July 2020, Spiegel voted against a proposal prohibiting rent increases greater than 2.6 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that he favored prohibiting all rent increases during the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg approves emergency rent relief during COVID-19 pandemic |url=https://moco360.media/2020/07/23/gaithersburg-approves-emergency-rent-relief-during-covid-19-pandemic/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=July 23, 2020}} In January 2022, he voted to extend renter protections until May 15, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg City Council extends emergency rent relief in split vote |url=https://moco360.media/2022/01/05/gaithersburg-city-council-extends-emergency-rent-relief-in-split-vote/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=January 5, 2022}}

In February 2021, Spiegel voted for an amendment to the city's zoning bill that limited where public housing could be built, which was criticized as something that could restrict affordable housing in the city. Spiegel defended the amendment from these criticisms, suggesting that it was "a bit backwards" to say it would undercut the goal of expanding affordable housing in Gaithersburg.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg approves amendment clarifying where public housing may be built |url=https://moco360.media/2021/02/03/gaithersburg-approves-amendment-clarifying-where-public-housing-may-be-built/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=February 3, 2021}}

In 2013, Spiegel voted to allow write-in candidates to participate in city elections. He later voted in 2020 to eliminate write-ins from city elections.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg ends write-in candidates in city elections |url=https://moco360.media/2020/08/06/gaithersburg-ends-write-in-candidates-in-city-elections/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=August 6, 2020}}

In January 2021, Spiegel voted against changes to the city's code of ethics that would require candidates for office to disclose conflict of interests relevant to the city.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg changes its ethics code |url=https://moco360.media/2021/01/07/gaithersburg-changes-its-ethics-code/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=January 7, 2021}} In April 2022, he sought to block a state bill that would require local governments to adopt state-level lobbyist registration standards.{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |last2=Gaskill |first2=Hannah |last3=Leckrone |first3=Bennett |last4=Kurtz |first4=Josh |title=Legislative Roundup: Baltimore Transit, Pay Increases, Women's Caucus Leadership, Political Wrangling and More |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/04/08/legislative-roundup-baltimore-transit-pay-increases-womens-caucus-leadership-political-wrangling-and-more/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 8, 2022}}

In February 2011, Spiegel said he supported legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland, saying it was "the right thing to do from an economic standpoint".{{cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=John |title=Same-sex marriage has good chance of approval, Maryland Senate leader says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/same-sex-marriage-has-good-chance-of-approval-maryland-senate-leader-says/2011/02/08/ABrYMuQ_story.html |access-date=June 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 8, 2011}}

In February 2020, Spiegel embraced criticism of Flatiron Books's rollout of American Dirt, a novel about a Mexican bookseller who is forced to flee as an illegal immigrant to the United States that was later criticized for perpetuating stereotypes about Latino immigrants, after the book was selected as part of Gaithersburg's citywide reading program. However, he warned city residents against "embracing any message of so-called cancel culture".{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Locally, a divide over 'American Dirt' as group read underway in Gaithersburg |url=https://moco360.media/2020/02/13/locally-a-divide-over-american-dirt-as-group-read-underway-in-gaithersburg/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=February 13, 2020}}

In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Spiegel requested a review of the city's monuments to determine and remove any Confederate monuments in the Gaithersburg.{{cite news |last1=Peetz |first1=Caitlynn |title=Council wants to rename streets, buildings that honor Confederate soldiers |url=https://moco360.media/2020/06/16/council-wants-to-rename-streets-buildings-that-honor-confederate-soldiers/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=June 16, 2020}} Spiegel later supported renaming streets named after enslavers, including Benjamin Gaither and Frederick A. Tschiffely, in the city.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Gaithersburg reviewing streets, other memorials named after those with ties to slavery |url=https://moco360.media/2020/07/09/gaithersburg-reviewing-streets-other-memorials-named-after-those-with-ties-to-slavery/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=July 9, 2020}}

In November 2018, Spiegel pushed for a state bill to allow Gaithersburg to levy hotel taxes at a rate of 2 percent.{{cite news |last1=Schere |first1=Dan |title=Montgomery County Delegation Receives Wish List |url=https://moco360.media/2018/11/19/montgomery-county-delegation-receives-wish-list/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=MoCo360 |date=November 19, 2018}}

File:Hanukkah Brunch (54208766340).jpg, 2024]]

Spiegel lives in the Kentlands community of Gaithersburg, Maryland.{{cite news |title=Ryan Spiegel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2006/08/31/kumar-p-barve/851759ed-c481-4b07-87ff-b1b78886c9fa/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 31, 2006}} He is married to his wife, Rachael, who is a photographer specializing in bar and bat mitzvahs. Together, they have two children.{{cite news |last1=Schott |first1=Kristen |title=From Bethesda Magazine: A picture-perfect coming-of-age celebration |url=https://moco360.media/2025/01/02/celebrations-bar-mitzvah/ |access-date=January 3, 2025 |work=MoCo360 |date=January 2, 2025}} He is Jewish.{{cite news |title=G'burg council member asks for briefing on MCPS' Holocaust curriculum |url=https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/montgomery/news/local/g-burg-council-member-asks-for-briefing-on-mcps-holocaust-curriculum/article_9ef615e2-c460-5181-98f5-49c6a88841dc.html |access-date=June 21, 2023 |work=Montgomery County Sentinel |date=April 20, 2017}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 17 Democratic primary election, 2006{{cite web

| title = Official 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Legislative District 17

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2006/results/primary/legislative_district_17.html }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Luiz R. S. Simmons (incumbent)

|votes = 6,744

|percentage = 25.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Kumar P. Barve (incumbent)

|votes = 6,439

|percentage = 23.9

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = James W. Gilchrist

|votes = 4,108

|percentage = 15.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Spiegel

|votes = 3,589

|percentage = 13.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Laura Farthing Berthiaume

|votes = 2,549

|percentage = 9.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Elbridge James

|votes = 2,385

|percentage = 8.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Cory Siansky

|votes = 1,165

|percentage = 4.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change

| title = Gaithersburg City Council election, 2007{{cite news

| title = Gaithersburg City Council Results

| newspaper = The Washington Post

| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2007/results/md/399737/full.html

| date = 2007 }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Cathy C. Drzyzgula

|votes = 2,418

|percentage = 24.2

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Jud Ashman

|votes = 2,241

|percentage = 22.4

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ryan Spiegel

|votes = 2,000

|percentage = 20.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Carlos Solis

|votes = 993

|percentage = 9.9

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Wilson Lee Faris

|votes = 982

|percentage = 9.8

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ahmed Ali

|votes = 917

|percentage = 9.2

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shawn Ali

|votes = 460

|percentage = 4.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change

| title = Gaithersburg City Council election, 2011{{cite web

| title = Certification of Election Results

| work = Gaithersburg, Maryland

| date = November 8, 2011

| url = https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8216/637425153396030000

}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ryan Spiegel (incumbent)

|votes = 2,156

|percentage = 26.6

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Jud Ashman (incumbent)

|votes = 1,969

|percentage = 24.3

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Cathy Drzyzgula (incumbent)

|votes = 1,856

|percentage = 22.9

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Tom Rowse

|votes = 1,134

|percentage = 14.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Paula Ross

|votes = 1,001

|percentage = 12.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Montgomery County Council District 3 Democratic primary election, 2014{{cite web

| title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Montgomery County

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/primary/gen_results_2014_1_by_county_160.html }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Sidney A. Katz

|votes = 6,089

|percentage = 41.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Tom Moore

|votes = 4,920

|percentage = 33.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Spiegel

|votes = 3,341

|percentage = 22.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Guled Kassim

|votes = 494

|percentage = 3.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change

| title = Gaithersburg City Council election, 2015{{cite web

| title = Certification of Election Results

| work = Gaithersburg, Maryland

| date = November 3, 2015

| url = https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8220/637425153404170000

}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ryan Spiegel (incumbent)

|votes = 2,581

|percentage = 26.9

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Robert T. Wu

|votes = 2,511

|percentage = 26.2

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Neil H. Harris

|votes = 2,383

|percentage = 24.9

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Laurie-Anne Sayles

|votes = 2,105

|percentage = 22.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change

| title = Gaithersburg City Council election, 2019{{cite web

| title = Certification of Election Results

| work = Gaithersburg, Maryland

| date = November 5, 2019

| url = https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8224/637425153415270000

}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Robert T. Wu (incumbent)

|votes = 2,021

|percentage = 37.8

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Neil H. Harris (incumbent)

|votes = 1,672

|percentage = 31.2

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ryan Spiegel (incumbent)

|votes = 1,658

|percentage = 31.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category inline}}
• {{cite web |title=Ryan S. Spiegel, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18546.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=November 7, 2024 |access-date=January 4, 2025}}

{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spiegel, Ryan}}

Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates

Category:Jewish state legislators in Maryland

Category:Maryland city council members

Category:Maryland lawyers

Category:People from Gaithersburg, Maryland

Category:Stanford Law School alumni

Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni

Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly