Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando had a tradition of playing pickup basketball with his friends for 20 years.
But on Sept. 5, he said he knew something was wrong.
“I started having pain in my chest, and I was short of breath,” he said. “I told one of the buddies that was there, I said, ‘I think you should call the ambulance.’”
Jawando was rushed to George Washington University Hospital, where he learned he’d suffered a heart attack and needed a stent.
Jawando said it was a wakeup call, and he now hopes to spread awareness about heart disease and the importance of health screenings.
“I’m a former college athlete, I’m not overweight, I don’t have diabetes, I don’t have high blood pressure, I didn’t have high cholesterol, I was on medicine for nothing. And I had a heart attack at 43,” he said. “[…] A moment like this changes your perspective. Makes you think about the people you love, the fact that you get to still be here with them.”
Jawando said while he was home, he stayed engaged in council business. He’s currently running for Montgomery County Executive and said he plans to continue his campaign.
During his absence, several fellow councilmembers campaigned for him. Jawando was initially supposed to return to work and hold a press briefing last week but decided to postpone until Tuesday.
“There’s a lot of things I want to do as county executive, there’s things I still want to do as councilmember, as a husband and father, and a grandfather hopefully,” he said. “And so in order to ensure those things happen, I’ve gotta pace myself as we come back.”
News4 asked Jawando if he feels like he’s physically capable of handling the job of county executive should he win in November. He said yes and pointed to how his team has already been working on their transition plans and 100-day agenda for several months.
Jawando was scheduled to debate his Republican opponent Esther Wells in October but said he’s now cancelling that because he’s already debated her at several forums and he feels her campaign isn’t viable.
Wells told News4 she’s glad Jawando is making a smooth recovery but criticized his decision to cancel the debate, saying she feels it’s unfair to voters.
Mail-in ballots have already started being sent out in Montgomery County with just 35 days to go until the election.
