2026 Candidate Questionnaire
County Council At-Large
Prabu Selvam (D)
Website: prabuselvam.com
Find all candidate questionnaires here.
Housing Leadership
In your view, why are many Montgomery County residents struggling to afford housing?
We do not have enough housing supply, and this has led to increasing prices. As outlined in the Maryland Housing Needs Assessment published in 2025, we have an excess of zoning for single family homes on over 1 acre of land but a shortage of land zoned for higher density housing. We also have not fully utilized land that is already zoned for higher density, so we must make it more streamlined for developers to meet our standards and receive approvals quickly when they are in fact playing by the rules. We must partner with developers where they are able to meet our county's needs without price gouging our residents. Construction close to transit should be the first priority before expanding to other parts of the county.
What is one housing initiative you would plan to spearhead, if elected?
I would hold "Build MoCo" summits to bring developers together with county staff and community leaders to highlight development opportunities, creating excitement and a welcome atmosphere that encourages investment in our community. In my view any strip mall that exists in the county should be evaluated for high density housing and mixed use commercial with industrial park construction possible to bring jobs and housing close together.
Zoning, Supply, and Housing Prices
In your view, how does current zoning policy in Montgomery County affect the supply and price of housing?
Please see above. Our zoning policies restrict housing supply and thus drive up prices. Our zoning is backwards from where it should be, with low density zoned land in excess with higher density opportunities scarce. We can still preserve the green, beautiful county we have while allowing for higher density housing in select areas where the infrastructure including roads and schools can be more readily adapted to the population growth.
What changes would you support to Montgomery County’s zoning policies to support greater housing affordability?
I am endorsed by the Sierra Club and I believe in protecting our environment by setting limits on impermeable surfaces and setting tree cover requirements, but we are too restrictive when it comes to the bureaucracy and delays developers face when starting new projects. We can do both, these are not mutually exclusive goals. I support collaborating with developers to better use the higher density zoned land we have, but we will need to also identify areas where higher density zoning conversion can take place. I also support eliminating the owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs to allow for more options for seniors and working families to down-size and safe on cost.
Affordable & Market-Rate Housing
Please explain what you see as the role that each of these types of housing play in the housing landscape in Montgomery County, and the needs they fill for Montgomery County residents:
a. Affordable (subsidized) housing
Subsidized housing is critical for the most vulnerable families and should always play a role in contributing to the housing supply, but if we have more housing supply and bring down the cost of housing in general, the county will be able to spend less on acquiring and maintaining subsidized housing.
b. Market-rate (unsubsidized) housing
Market rate housing will always make up the greatest proportion of housing supply and so our policies should be geared toward promoting it's growth rapidly, while maintaining and expanding programs like MPDU that allow for new housing that is within reach of working families.
What is one policy change in each area that you would pursue, if elected?
a. Affordable (subsidized) housing
There is a significant waiting list for subsidized housing, it is critical for us to ensure that the most vulnerable families have access to these units while enabling families in those homes to move on to private housing when possible with job and educational opportunities that allow for economic advancement.
b. Market-rate (unsubsidized) housing
Modify MPDU program to trigger below market rate homes with development of 10 homes or more.
Transportation & Smart Growth
What would you do to prioritize transit frequency and access if elected?
On the most utilized routes we must increase transit frequency and hours while closely monitoring for ridership so that the most needed routes across the county receive the most resources.
What would you do to ensure safe walking and biking access to transit, stores, schools and services for residents of existing and new housing?
As a cyclist I strongly believe that we must have protected bike lanes whenever possible and safe, well-mantained sidewalks with adequate lighting are critical. I also would prioritize adding solar lights to every bus stop to increase the safety of using transit.
Community Input & Stakeholder Engagement
What organizations, stakeholders, datasets, or other sources of information would you turn to to understand the nuts and bolts of housing policy implementation, and how to craft effective policies that meet Montgomery County’s housing needs?
Coalition for Smarter Growth and Montgomery for All would be seen as advisers if I were elected in addition to listening to communities on the ground to understand their challenges. Organizations advocating for seniors, persons with disabilities and housing justice would also be critical as partners in this work.