LIVE: 2026 SMOB Nominating Convention

Tracy Espinoza, Editor-in-Chief • February 11, 2026 • 61 Views

10:50 AM — Update

Welcome to the Student Member of the Board nominating convention! This year, eight students from across Montgomery County are running to represent student voice and perspective on the Board of Education. At the end of today, two SMOB finalists will be named.

The candidates are as follows:

Leul Dawit, grade 10, Northwood High School
Anya Desai, grade 11, Clarksburg High School
Reemey Ghermay, grade 11, Walter Johnson High School
Blay Kalaki, grade 11, Paint Branch High School
Arianna Raney, grade 11, Churchill High School
Tallon Robinson, grade 11, Blake High School
Karmaan Saxena, grade 10, Richard Montgomery High School
Jack Uhrich, grade 10, Montgomery Blair High School

11:44 AM — Update

Candidates were given 3 minutes to deliver a speech and presentation to the voting delegates. Throughout these speeches, candidates outlined their policy platform, their motive for campaigning, and their background. Across all candidate speeches, the main issues highlighted on most platforms were mental and physical health support, equitable access to educational resources, and school safety.

11:53 AM — Update

All eight candidates have concluded their speeches, and the first voting round has commenced. Delegates are now completing a voting form, in which they may select one candidate as their first, second, and third picks. Preferential ballot tallies are as follows:

First choice – weight of three
Second choice – weight of two
Third choice – weight of one

The total weighted votes will determine the ranking of the candidates, with the top four advancing to the second round.

12:25 PM — Update

The remaining candidates are Reemey Ghermay, Leul Dawit, Arianna Raney, and Karmaan Saxena. The second round consists of a Q&A session where candidates have 30 seconds to respond to three pre-filed questions from the Special Elections Committee. After the Q&A, candidates were given a minute to deliver a closing statement. Now, delegates will vote for the 2026 SMOB finalists following the same voting system in the initial voting round.

12:58 PM — Update

After a brief lunch, the two SMOB finalists are Leul Dawit and Reemey Ghermay.

On April 22, 2026, students from grades 6-12 will be able to vote for who represents their voice for the 2026-2027 school year.

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About the Contributor

Tracy Espinoza, Opinion Managing Editor

Tracy is an IB Diploma Program junior at Watkins Mill High School. She Chairs the BIPOC MOCO Green New Deal Internship and is the Vice President of the MOCO-based organizations Students F.A.I.R. and Young People for Progress. She’s a 2024 Montgomery County Fitzgerald Scholar and focuses on uplifting student voices and expanding political education. After high school, she plans on attending a 4-year university where she will pursue the legal field.