Will Jawando walked back into the Montgomery County Council building in Rockville on Tuesday, Sept. 29, nearly a month after a heart attack he called "a wake-up call."

Jawando, the Democratic nominee for county executive, told reporters he is on track for a full recovery after doctors placed a stent in his heart at The George Washington University Hospital. But he said he is still dealing with fatigue and lightheadedness from blood-pressure medication and plans to pace himself through the Nov. 3 general election.

His council colleagues embraced him as he stepped onto the dais. It was his first in-person appearance since the council returned from summer recess Sept. 15.

Jawando, 43, suffered the heart attack Sept. 5 while playing basketball in Georgetown with friends he met while working in the Obama administration. About an hour into the game, he began feeling chest pain and shortness of breath, according to Bethesda Magazine.

He stopped the game and lay down on the gymnasium floor. When that didn't help, he got up and tried to walk it off.

"I was feeling really dizzy at that point, and I told one of my buddies that was there, 'I think you should call the ambulance,'" Jawando said. He added that he doesn't remember much after that.

Doctors placed a stent to restore blood flow after part of his heart stopped working for several hours, Jawando said. He said the heart attack was not linked to any previously known health issues. He reported no history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, and described himself as a former college athlete who is not overweight.

Jawando went home from the hospital Sept. 9 and attended the Sept. 22 council meeting and the Monday, Sept. 28, Planning, Housing and Parks Committee meeting remotely. He had planned a press conference for Sept. 22 but canceled it the night before, saying he "didn't feel ready" because of lingering dizziness from medication.

The Ashton resident said he suspects the grueling primary campaign contributed to his health scare. He cited the stress of negative ads that reached his children at school, according to MyMCMedia.

Jawando won the Democratic primary in June with about 40 percent of the vote, beating Councilmember Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Evan Glass, according to Maryland Matters. He faces Republican nominee Esther Wells, a certified public accountant from Montgomery Village, in the general election.

Jawando said he will not debate Wells before Nov. 3, calling her campaign "not viable" and saying she has raised less than $20,000. Wells has pushed for a debate, telling supporters on Sept. 24 that Jawando should "step up and debate or step aside."

Jawando said he plans to return to the campaign trail the weekend of Oct. 4. His campaign website lists a fundraiser in Council District 1 alongside Friedson and school board member Julie Yang, the Democratic nominee for Friedson's council seat.

He also noted that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and that African Americans face a higher mortality rate. He encouraged residents to schedule check-ups.

No response from Wells to Jawando's Sept. 29 remarks appeared in public reporting as of Tuesday.