Montgomery County has changed a lot in the past 30 years, but the rest of the state doesn't seem to have noticed. Our county is no longer a homogenous bedroom community for middle-class federal workers. Instead, it is a mosaic of different races, cultures, languages and income levels, living and working in diverse neighborhoods and communities. Along with the wonderful vitality such diversity brings come challenges for our schools and other public services.

Because the rest of Maryland has a frozen, distorted image of Montgomery County, the state continues to look to our county as a good place to raise taxes but the last place to invest public funds. Montgomery County's representatives in the legislature have a responsibility to resist this outdated, unjust standard.

Cheryl Kagan, who represented the 17th District in the House of Delegates for eight years and is now running for the State Senate in the same district, has always made it a priority to see that Montgomery County is treated fairly in Annapolis. That's why I urge residents of Rockville, Gaithersburg and Garrett Park to vote for her in the Democratic primary Sept. 14.

Jeanine Gould-Kostka, Rockville

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