For Silverman, Issues Consultants Become an Issue in Themselves

Raskin said he "respects" Ruben but thinks it's time for a change.

Ruben said she's ready for the challenge.

"It's a democratic state. Democracy is in full force, and if he wants to run, he can run," Ruben said. "I am running on my record of 31 years."

Frosh's Probability Puzzle

There continues to be buzz that state Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D) is thinking about running for attorney general if incumbent J. Joseph Curran Jr. (D) decides not to seek reelection.

But in an interview this week, Frosh said his running "is probably less probable than more probable."

Even if Curran decides not to seek another term, Frosh said he would be leery of running against some of his friends, most notably Council President Tom Perez (D-Silver Spring) and Prince George's County Del. Anthony G. Brown (D), who are also considering running for attorney general if Curran doesn't.

A New Voice of Conservatism

A Silver Spring Republican is joining Robin Ficker , a GOP candidate for county executive, in running for local office to give voters a fiscally conservative alternative in next year's election.

Mark Fennel announced last week that he is running for a seat on the County Council. Fennel plans to team with Ficker, who so far is the only announced Republican candidate for county executive. Fennel said he will run either at large or for the council's 4th District, which includes the northeastern part of the county.

Fennel is the manager of membership services at Citizens Against Government Waste, a District-based organization that scrutinizes government spending.

Along with Ficker, Fennel decries the rapid growth in county spending since Duncan took office in 1994.

In 1998, Montgomery had a $2 billion annual budget. Earlier this year, the County Council passed a $3.6 billion spending plan.

"The Montgomery County Council's record on spending is just as horrendous as the Republicans' record on spending in Congress," said Fennel, 40.

Ficker and Fennel are pledging to ferret out wasteful spending.

Ficker has gathered 14,000 signatures to put a referendum on next year's ballot asking voters to create a Commission on Fiscal Waste and Duplication.

If approved, the six-member commission would scour the budget for savings.

Keeping the Lines Open at 911

Montgomery County recently launched a nationwide search for a new director for its 911 Emergency Communications Center.

After working for the county for roughly four years, former director Steve Souder retired on Nov. 1. Operations Manager Mary Beth Nolan-Taylor, who joined the police department in 1985, is overseeing the communications center while the search is underway for a director.

Staff writer Ernesto Londoo contributed to this report.