Team Duncan Turns Up Heat On Planning Board Chief

High-Schooler Blasts Duncan

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Duncan might have spent the last decade in office promoting the investment of tens of millions of dollars in the county's public schools, but that didn't stop Montgomery Blair High School's award-winning student newspaper from publishing a scathing opinion column against his campaign for governor last week.

Jordan Fein , a junior and a page editor for the Silver Chips newspaper, wrote an opinion piece headlined "Maryland deserves better than Duncan."

In the column, Fein accuses Duncan of working "harder for real estate developers than for the county's citizens."

The piece tries to draw links among Duncan's campaign contributions, his growth policies and his initial opposition to a smoking ban in bars and restaurants.

Fein also criticizes Duncan's support for exceeding the county's charter limit on property taxes and accuses Duncan of "flagrant dirty politics" for his recent attacks on Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley , his opponent for the Democratic nomination.

"Duncan's record has made one thing clear for next fall's democratic gubernatorial primary: A vote for him is a vote wasted on a man who has failed his constituents as county executive," the last sentence of the column says.

Jody Couser , a Duncan campaign spokeswoman, said she suspects the O'Malley campaign had a role in the supplying Fein with information in the article.

"We're glad to see that Mayor O'Malley's opposition research shop is committed to communicating and going negative with all members of the media, even high school reporters," Couser said.