Incumbents Gather As Competition Grows

Are Montgomery County elected officials getting a little nervous about the influx of candidates challenging them in this year's Democratic primary?

Montgomery's Democratic caucus to the General Assembly has scheduled a meeting of all delegates, senators and council members Sunday at 1 p.m. at the headquarters of the Montgomery County Education Association in Rockville.

"We will be meeting with our senators and council members to discuss the upcoming elections," Del. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery) wrote to county Democrats in the House of Delegates this week.

Madaleno said the elected officials also wanted to talk to Karen Britto , chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, about the party's plans for choosing an endorsed slate of candidates as well "the role of Democratic clubs."

But the buzz among elected officials -- as well as angry challengers -- is that the meeting is actually an attempt to solidify support for all the incumbent Democrats seeking reelection. Madaleno said that's not true.

In several districts, challengers are taking on longtime incumbents. In a few races, some elected officials and party leaders are endorsing challengers, which rarely occurs.

"I was told some delegates and senators seemed to be expressing some concern about people endorsing in other races," said council member Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large), a candidate for county executive who has endorsed Saqib Ali's bid for a District 39 House seat.

Ali, 30, of North Potomac, is challenging three incumbents in the district that includes North Potomac, Germantown and Montgomery Village.

But some other elected officials played down the meeting, saying it's just a routine gathering of Democrats.

"This is nothing new. It's just long overdue," said Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D), who represents parts of Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Ruben is facing a primary challenge from Jamin Raskin , a law professor at American University.

"It is just continuing communication between all the Democrats in the county," Ruben said.

Raskin, however, had this message for the elected Democrats who will attend the meeting: "I'm sure most Montgomery County leaders understand voters are not interested in machine politics."