Hardly a Conservative in the Bunch

"How refreshing it is to have a national party structure that is more than an extended fundraising arm for presidential candidates every four years," she wrote.

Mizeur's message to Dean: "Stay the course."

African Americans Gather

African American Democrats are vowing that this could be the year of the black candidate in Montgomery County.

African Americans make up 15 percent of the county's population, but there are no black members on the County Council and only two representing the county in Annapolis.

However, the recently formed African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County is gearing up to support a record number of black candidates.

On Feb. 25, the club will hold a fundraiser at the Inn at Brookeville Farm to salute "past, present and future" African American elected officials.

Besides U.S. Rep. Al bert R . Wynn (D-Md.), who represents the northern half of Montgomery, former council member Isiah Leggett will probably be the highest profile black candidate this year. Leggett is a Democratic candidate for county executive.

In the council races, three African Americans -- Robert "Bo" Newsome , an educator and community activist, Reginald M. Felton , a former county school board president, and Hugh Bailey , a county government program manager -- are running for at-large seats. The Rev. Donnell Peterman , a minister, is also considering running for the council.

In state House races, Craig Rice , a senior sales manager, is a candidate in District 15, which includes parts of Potomac, Poolesville and Barnesville. Guled Kassim , a title officer, is running in District 19, which includes parts of Colesville, Laytonsville and Aspen Hill.

Del. Herman L. Taylor II (D) is seeking reelection in District 14, which includes parts of Damascus, Laytonsville, Olney and Brookeville. And Gareth E. Murray (D) is running again in District 20.

"I know most of them, and I am excited to have a field of qualified African American candidates in Montgomery County running for office. It's been a long time coming," said Valerie Ervin of Silver Spring, who is one of two African Americans on the school board. "I think we are seeing a dynamic shift in the county in terms of how people look at candidates of color."

Schools Seek More Money

Montgomery County schools Superintendent Jerry D. Weast -- who in December proposed a $1.8 billion budget for fiscal 2007 -- is now asking for a wee bit more money.

Weast wants an additional $697,903 to fund a new magnet program at Poolesville High School and to pay for additional staff to work with non-English speaking students.

The magnet program at Poolesville will be the first such program for high school students, who in past years have had to travel downcounty if they wanted to take advantage of the special programs at Montgomery Blair or Richard Montgomery high school. But with the first group of students graduating from the middle school magnet program at Roberto Clemente, parents were eager to continue the magnet experience minus the horrible commute.

If the additional funding is approved, the Poolesville magnet program will open in the fall of 2006.

Staff writer Lori Aratani contributed to this report.