Karla Silvestre

Karla Silvestre is a Guatemalan immigrant running for Montgomery County Council At-Large in 2026. Her family fled Guatemala in 1981 when she was eight years old, weeks before government agents ransacked their home looking for her father Antonio, an agronomist who had been placed on a government list for teaching farming practices to rural communities during the Guatemalan Civil War. The family was undocumented after their travel visas expired but won political asylum in 1986—notable given only 2% of Guatemalan asylum petitions succeeded during that era. First elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education in 2018, Silvestre was the first Latina on the board in a decade and served as Board President for two consecutive terms (2023-2024), overseeing the system's $3.6 billion budget.

Born in Guatemala. Family fled in 1981 when she was 8, weeks before government agents ransacked their home looking for her father Antonio, an agronomist on a government target list. Initially settled in York, PA, welcomed by Mayan community members and Catholic Church. Five family members shared an apartment with another family. Parents held college degrees from Guatemala but took work picking fruit and in factories. Family granted political asylum in 1986 (only 2% success rate for Guatemalans). Later moved to Indiantown, FL, where father used Mayan language skills as social worker helping displaced refugees. Mother Darkis instilled values of giving back. Moved to Maryland in 2007 when husband joined U.S. Department of State. Married with two daughters who are MCPS graduates. Established Darkis Ester Silvestre Scholarship for undocumented students in honor of her mother.