Local Races Could Be Interesting in '06

Although much of the political attention in Prince George's will be focused on next year's U.S. Senate and governor's races, a few local campaigns are also getting some notice.

The races are big -- as far as the county goes. And the list of emerging names includes many who are well-versed in campaigning.

Rushern L. Baker III , the former state delegate who lost to County Executive Jack B. Johnson , has already said he's trying to drum up support for another county executive bid.

Mark Spencer , who lost to State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey , said he plans to make a decision within a couple of weeks about another stab at the county prosecutor's job.

The Rev. C. Anthony Muse , who made an unsuccessful bid for the county executive position in 2002, said he is looking at running for state Senate. If he enters the race, he said, he would challenge Sen. Gloria G. Lawlah (D-Hillcrest Heights).

"I'm exploring ways that I can serve," Muse, a former state delegate, said after a recent breakfast fundraiser for Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt.

Miller's Return

Johnson's nomination of Juanita D. Miller to replace Artis Hampshire-Cowan of Mitchellville on the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission will not be taken up before the council breaks for its August recess. Karen Campbell , a spokeswoman for the council, said that Johnson has been asked to resubmit the nomination in the fall, when the council returns.

Fifteen people applied for appointment to the governing board of the agency, which provides water and sewer service to Prince George's and Montgomery counties. Johnson decided to go with Miller, a special education coordinator for the county school system and longtime figure in Prince George's politics. Miller served on the WSSC from 1996 to 2002.

A former member of the House of Delegates, Miller was in the middle of some of the agency's most bitter disputes over minority contracting during her first stint on the board.

In 1997, she led an attempt to reject the low bid of a white-owned company for an $11.5 million sludge hauling contract. The third-lowest bidder, MTI Construction Inc., was a minority-run company whose owner had contributed to her various political campaigns.

Harley Resigning to Run?

James F. Harley , who was appointed to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission by Johnson in 2003, has submitted his resignation.

Harley's term was supposed to expire in 2007.