Builders Fight Height-Restriction Bill

"People who have a potential to build on their homes or renovate their homes, like they originally intended to do when they bought the property, won't be able to do what they thought they could do," Cafritz said. "Because of taking away that potential, my inclination is their value will be affected."

Denis responds that his proposal is a "very, very modest" attempt to control building heights and clarify often vague zoning laws.

As for the mailing, Denis called it a "totally bogus scare tactic" that was sent out in a "very cowardly and gutless way."

Denis said he plans to call for an investigation into whether the builders violated lobbyist disclosure laws.

But veterans in the fight over mansionization say the building industry used similar tactics in 1998, when it killed another council bill that was intended to limit the building of large homes next to smaller ones.

"That is the same line they used to defeat us," said David W. Brown , a land-use and zoning attorney involved the effort. "There are obviously a lot of people who see it as a profit for them to tear down old houses and rebuild again."

Transgender Candidate

The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee could elect the state's first openly transgender legislator when it votes on a successor to District 18 Del. John A. Hurson (D) on Oct. 11.

Dana Beyer , 53, decided two weeks ago to seek the seat that will be vacated by Hurson on Saturday. Beyer, of Chevy Chase, was a man until 2003, when she underwent sexual reassignment surgery.

Beyer is a retired eye surgeon active in Teachthefacts.org, an organization dedicated to promoting a progressive sex education curriculum in Montgomery County schools, including discussion of homosexuality and proper condom use.

While she doesn't want to be known as the transgender candidate in the race, Beyer said she will bring a new perspective to Annapolis. If elected, Beyer said she will promote issues "grounded in science" as well as push for more access to health care and civil rights.

Unlike many candidates in the race, Beyer hasn't been very active in the Democratic Party. But Beyer said she was inspired this summer by Paul Hackett , an Iraq war veteran who ran as the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Ohio's 2nd District.

Despite being in a solidly Republican district, Hackett campaigned against the war and Bush administration policies. The Democrat came within 4,000 votes of upsetting the Republican candidate.