Montgomery County Board of Education at-large candidate Brenda M. Diaz has two state tax liens totaling nearly $10,000, first reported by Capital News Service.
The liens were filed against Diaz regarding a Gaithersburg property. One dates to 2021 for $5,247.46 and the other to 2022 for $4,659.45, according to the investigation published Oct. 27. CNS reporters searched court records for all 138 school board candidates running statewide and found three with state tax liens in the past five years.
Diaz said in an email to CNS that she lived at the Gaithersburg address over 10 years ago and the liens were filed long after she moved. She said she was not aware of them until CNS contacted her and has been in touch with the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland.
"I believe the assessment may be in error, and I am working to resolve it promptly," Diaz said.
She did not respond to a follow-up email about whether she still owns the property, CNS reported.
The at-large seat Diaz is seeking sets policy, hires the superintendent and approves the district budget for Montgomery County Public Schools, according to The Banner's voter guide. If elected, board members make decisions on a system that spends $3.78 billion a year, according to Diaz's own campaign website.
Diaz, a Georgetown University School of Foreign Service graduate and Gaithersburg resident, describes herself as a single mother of three daughters. She spent seven years as an MCPS classroom teacher at Gaithersburg High School, teaching U.S. history, government and social studies, according to her voter guide listing. She served as an elected Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) building representative and coached JV softball at Gaithersburg and Wootton high schools. She is listed as a social studies teacher at Fusion Global Academy and founder of Heart of Joy Learning, an outdoor education program for homeschooled children in Montgomery County.
Whether the liens have been satisfied or remain active is not addressed in the CNS report.
