Talisha Searcy
MD · Mayor of Takoma Park
Talisha Searcy has been mayor of Takoma Park since 2022, after five years on the city council, and works for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her priorities are more affordable and mixed-income housing and holding the line on city taxes.
Where Talisha Searcy stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (3 records), Housing Affordability (3 records), Social Programs and Welfare (2 records),
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 11 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 11 oppose
Voted for a council budget plan that kept the property tax rate at 55.2 cents per $100 for the next budget, which raises tax bills as home values rise; it passed 5-0 with two abstentions.
December 11, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomarecord.com
Voted to give $50,000 from city reserves to outside groups that help immigrant residents affected by federal immigration enforcement; it passed 7-0.
November 19, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for Takoma Park's fiscal year 2026 city budget, which passed 5-2 in her second term as mayor.
May 14, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for Takoma Park's fiscal year 2024 city budget as mayor; it passed 6-1.
May 17, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for the council's request for state bond money to build the new Takoma Park library; it passed 6-1.
January 25, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted to lift a city hiring freeze and return to the staffing budget the council had approved; the motion passed 6-1.
January 18, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted to hire a contractor to run the city's $2.3 million direct cash assistance program, paid for with federal pandemic relief (ARPA) money; it passed 7-0.
July 27, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Moved and voted for Takoma Park's fiscal year 2023 city budget, which passed 5-2.
May 18, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted against buying an electric street sweeper for the city; the purchase passed 4-3.
September 22, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Moved a measure to spend up to $270,000 from the city housing fund to renovate a Holton Lane house and its backyard unit as 'missing middle' housing for a family; it passed 7-0.
June 23, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for Takoma Park's fiscal year 2020 city budget, which passed 6-1.
May 15, 2019Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted to buy in-car and body-worn cameras for Takoma Park police; it passed 7-0.
October 24, 2018Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 3 support
Voted to contract with a company to run cameras that ticket drivers who run stop signs; it passed 7-0.
October 15, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for a new contract to run the city's speed cameras; it passed with all four members present in favor.
October 23, 2019Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted to buy in-car and body-worn cameras for Takoma Park police; it passed 7-0.
October 24, 2018Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 3 support
Voted to create a city property tax credit for new apartment projects that add 10 or more rental units; it passed 6-1.
October 30, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Moved a measure to spend up to $270,000 from the city housing fund to renovate a Holton Lane house and its backyard unit as 'missing middle' housing for a family; it passed 7-0.
June 23, 2021Supports Housing Affordability
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted to adopt the city's Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan, which passed 6-1.
October 16, 2019Supports Housing Affordability
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
Voted to give $50,000 from city reserves to outside groups that help immigrant residents affected by federal immigration enforcement; it passed 7-0.
November 19, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted to hire a contractor to run the city's $2.3 million direct cash assistance program, paid for with federal pandemic relief (ARPA) money; it passed 7-0.
July 27, 2022Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Voted for the council's request for state bond money to build the new Takoma Park library; it passed 6-1.
January 25, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for the construction contract for the Takoma Park library rebuild; it passed 6-1.
July 20, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Voted for a council resolution committing to respectful and dignified discourse at public meetings; it passed 5-0 with one abstention.
July 29, 2026
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Voted against directing the rent stabilization consultant to study effects on racial equity, an addition two councilmembers proposed and the council rejected.
July 8, 2026
Source: takomarecord.com
Argued against a 2-cent property tax rate cut, saying it risked higher taxes later; the council cut the rate by 1 cent instead and raised the utility tax.
May 1, 2026
Source: takomarecord.com
Proposed putting off any change to four-year council terms until 2027 and asking the city Board of Elections for input; the council adopted her proposal.
March 18, 2026
Source: takomarecord.com
As presiding officer, banned audience clapping at city council meetings and warned that people who kept clapping could be removed.
February 11, 2026
Source: takomarecord.com
Voted to hire a consultant to review the city's rent stabilization law; the contract passed 4-3.
November 19, 2025
Source: takomaparkmd.gov
Received the endorsement of AFSCME Local 3399, the union of Takoma Park city employees, for mayor in the 2024 city election.
April 2, 2025
Source: web.archive.org
Won election as mayor of Takoma Park with 52 percent of the vote in a three-way race.
November 8, 2022
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Voted for a council resolution urging the county Planning Board to reject the Takoma Junction development site plan; it passed 7-0.
June 23, 2021
Source: documents.takomaparkmd.gov
Past race Talisha Searcy ran in:
- Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Takoma Park city, Maryland · incumbent