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Shenandoah Mayor John Escoto is up for re-election on May 2, and current council member Ron Raymaker is running against him. The term for the mayor is two years.
What you need to know
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
An asterisk indicates the incumbent.
Retired U.S. Department of Homeland Security supervisory special agent
Why are you running for office?
I am running for re-election to continue helping the city in moving forward as we grow in population and economic stability. I want to ensure that Shenandoah continues to provide the best in public safety to our residents, our commercial partners and all those who visit and conduct business here.
What about your experience makes you stand out as a candidate?
I have served as a member of our Planning and Zoning Commission, a council member and two terms as mayor. I believe I have accomplished many of my initial goals as mayor. I also believe there is more to do.
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
My top priority is public safety. This past year we took action to ensure that our police department is able to compete with other police agency's pay scales. As we were losing officers to other departments due to higher salaries, retention and recruitment affected our department. We were able to…
What is something that you want residents to know?
I would like our residents to know that I will not stop ensuring that their property taxes, and their water and sewage rates remain the lowest in Montgomery County. Additionally, having a 32-year career in law enforcement, I will ensure that our police department is ready to…
How will you pursue sustainable growth for the city and what would that look like to you?
During my tenure as mayor, the city has begun to review our Independent Development Code to determine which amendments need to be made to stimulate responsible residential and commercial growth. Currently we have limited geographic growth. However, some areas can be redeveloped with revisited IDC considerations.
10 years city council, Shenandoah budget expert, IT PM [project manager] AI analytics/data science
Why are you running for office?
Shenandoah faces two inseparable challenges: financial sustainability and a broken policing model. Police costs are rising twice as fast as revenue, creating a structural gap no tax increase can fix. Regional competition has forced a pay race we cannot win. I have a plan to address both. Leadership demands responsibility.
What about your experience makes you stand out as a candidate?
Budget expertise matters. After 10 years with City Council, I understand our budget and where savings can be found. I bring 30 years of agile management experience and serve as MDD [Municipal Development District] president, Audit and Electrical Reliability Committee founder, and Investment Committee member. I’ve already delivered over $5 million in savings.
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
My top priority is changing the structure of policing in Shenandoah while protecting public safety. Creating Sheriff’s District No. 7 with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office delivers $2 million in annual savings, balances the budget, stabilizes long-term finances, and maintains local control while preserving dedicated local coverage and neighborhood presence.
What is something that you want residents to know?
Residents face a choice: raise taxes or fix the problem. Higher taxes don’t solve a broken cost structure; they avoid fixing it. I choose solutions—changing how we operate, finding real efficiencies and making decisions that balance the budget, protect public safety and keep Shenandoah affordable…
How will you pursue sustainable growth for the city and what would that look like to you?
Sustainable growth means fixing structural costs, not raising taxes. For Shenandoah, that means balanced budgets, protected public safety and reliable services. Growth looks like predictable costs, infrastructure we can maintain and a city that stays affordable for residents and attractive to businesses—without shifting the burden onto taxpayers. Long-term stability.
