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Montgomery County Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg says she is one of the few people in county government that foresaw the country's national recession and tried to curb local spending in response.

"I certainly saw that our tax revenue down the road was problematic. I saw the fact that a national recession was indeed coming, was emerging, and I felt we needed to take a more prudent approach in terms of our spending," said Trachtenberg, a Democrat seeking her second term as an at-large council member.

"Obviously, it wasn't an opinion shared by other colleagues."

Trachtenberg, of North Bethesda, who chairs the council's Management & Fiscal Policy Committee, said she is most proud of her work on that body.

"I was really the first at-large council member to talk about the need for some long-term fiscal planning," she said.

Trachtenberg, 56, has been castigated by county labor unions for her criticism of some of their salary and benefit provisions. She says she has been willing to take on tough, politically unpopular actions.

In a second term, Trachtenberg says fiscal issues would continue to be her focus.

"When I come back for my second term, and I'm very confident that I will come back for a second term, the first thing I want to do is put the county's fiscal house in order," she said.

The council must work to restructure county government to save money. This likely will include changes to pay and benefits for county workers and measuring the performance of county departments and agencies.

Trachtenberg, a former social worker, also is a leading voice on health and social issues.

Trachtenberg was a leader in creating the county's Family Justice Center, which opened in 2009. The center is a one-stop shop for victims of domestic violence to receive the services they need. Previously, victims visited several county offices to get the help they need.

In its first year, the center has served more than 1,500 families from more than 100 countries, Trachtenberg said.

The councilwoman currently is working on a similar effort that will create a centralized site for military veterans and their families to access the services they need, she said. The program likely would be funded through a private-public partnership, she said, adding that she expects to have a formal proposal by the end of the year.

-Residence: North Bethesda

-Age: 56

-Party: Democratic

-Education: Master's of social work, Maryland; bachelor's, New York University

-Work experience: Social worker with clinical practice, specializing in adolescent addiction

-Family: Husband, Dr. Alan Trachtenberg; son, Walter; daughter, Scarlett

-Top three issues: Responsible fiscal management; improved services for mental illness, domestic violence, seniors, veterans; oversight of development

-Campaign funds: $250,000

-Previous political experience: County Council at-large candidate, 2006; County Council District 1 candidate, 2002; participant in Obama for America Campaign, 2008; volunteer for Hillary Clinton campaign 2007-2008; women's adviser for Dean campaign, 2003-2004; co-founder, Women's Leadership Forum, Maryland Democratic Party.

-Other affiliations: Past governing councilor and section chair, American Public Health Association; past mid-Atlantic regional director, national board, NOW; past president, Maryland NOW; past president, MC NOW; past Progressive Maryland board member; National Alliance of the Mentally Ill; Women's Political Caucus; National Jewish Democratic Council; Women's Suburban Democratic Club; Montgomery Women; Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation.

-Website: www.voteduchy.org