Gelman, Esther P., 1931-

Member of the Montgomery County Council from 1974 to 1987 and first female president of the Council.

Active advocate for women's issues, human services, and the establishment of a Comprehensive Community Crisis Center in Montgomery County.

Esther P. Gelman served a member of the Montgomery County Council, representing District No. 2, from 1974 to 1987. Throughout her long political career Gelman was an active advocate for the rights of victims of sexual assault and spousal abuse and helped improve human services available to residents of Montgomery County. Gelman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1931. After receiving a B. A. in English History and Philosophy from the University of Colorado in 1951, she taught school for one year before returning to Maryland to begin her political activities. Following her election to the Montgomery County Council in 1974, Mrs. Gelman began campaigning for legislation to restrict smoking in public, which resulted in Bill 26-76 "Smoking in Public Places" and in her 1985 co-sponsoring of Bill 27-85 "Smoking in County Government Workplaces and Rail Transit Stations."

In 1982 Mrs. Gelman voiced her concern with the issue of comparable worth by introducing Bill 55-82, "Comparable Worth-Equal Pay for Work of Equal Worth." She continued her advocacy of women's issues in 1984 by sponsoring legislation designed to improve day care facilities and payment methods for county employees.

Gelman's longstanding commitment to expanding Montgomery County human services began as early as 1976. From 1976 until her retirement in 1987, Gelman sponsoring numerous bills and resolutions aimed at establishing and improving and Comprehensive Community Crisis Center. This center was designed to provide care, shelter, and counseling to victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, and drug addiction. The Center was comprised of three primary divisions: the Abused Persons Program, the Crisis Intervention Service, and the Family Shelter. These services, provided at low or no cost, assisted an estimated 10,000 persons a year.

Other legislation supported by Gelman included bills insuring religious leave for County employees, a resolution to boycott grapes to protest pesticide use, and a reform of the County Disability Retirement program.

Along with her council activities, Gelman was active in the Maryland Association of Counties (1979-1985), the Metropolitan-Washington Council of Governments (1979-1985), and the National Association of Counties (1983-1985).

In 1983 Gelman was given a special award from the Maryland State Senate in recognition of "her leadership in helping victims of spouse abuse, sexual assault and other crises."

While remaining active in local religious and political groups, Gelman retired from the Montgomery County Council in 1987.