A Shake-Up Attempt Roils Democrats' Inner Circle

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 23, 2006

Some Montgomery County legislators in Annapolis are locked in a nasty power struggle with Democratic activists over the composition of the local Democratic Central Committee.

The debate over whether the committee's current makeup should be scrapped in favor of a district-based system highlights growing tension within the party in the run-up to this year's Democratic primary.

Last week, the delegation held a hearing on a proposal to eliminate at-large seats on the central committee so all members are elected from districts. If the proposal is approved, the committee would have 24 voting members, three from each of the county's eight legislative districts.

The central committee is currently made up of 23 members, including seven serving at large and 16 chosen by district.

State Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D) authored the proposed change, even though the entire delegation is officially listed as sponsoring it.

Ruben, who chairs the county's Senate delegation, is facing an aggressive challenge in this year's District 20 primary from Jamin "Jamie" Raskin , an American University law professor. The district includes Takoma Park and parts of Silver Spring.

Unlike in past elections, some Democratic committee members and party activists are supporting challengers instead of incumbents this year. The dissension has angered some elected officials, who last month organized a private meeting to explore ways to keep the Democratic establishment unified in its support for incumbents.

In an interview last week, Ruben said the change in committee makeup is needed because the committee has not been consulting with elected officials before making decisions, including which candidates the party is endorsing for seats on the committee.

"A lot of legislators were concerned they were not brought into the process," said Ruben. "The idea was to assure you have equal representation in the districts."

But some Democrats said Ruben and other legislators are just trying to tighten their grip on the central committee. Critics of the change said the committee will be more beholden to state legislators if all its members are elected from districts.

"In my 40 years in politics, I have never seen anything as sneaky and underhanded as this bill," said Esther Gelman , a longtime Democratic activist who dislikes Ruben. "It was nothing but a ploy to gain control."

Some candidates are using the proposal, which appears unlikely to pass the General Assembly, to boost their campaigns.

"It was a naked power grab that is being defeated," Raskin said. "Most Democrats are appalled by this kind of backroom machine politics."

Mike Lenett , a lawyer running for state Senate in District 19, released a statement Monday accusing one of his opponents, Del. Adrienne A. Mandel (D), of supporting the bill. "Rather than promote tolerance, this bill represents intolerance of those on the central committee who support challengers rather than incumbents in the upcoming election," Lenett said.

Mandel countered in an interview that she never stated her position on the bill. "The inflammatory remarks by Mr. Lenett are certainly inappropriate, and I would think if he is campaigning in that mode, that tells us a lot about Mr. Lenett," Mandel said. District 19 includes parts of Colesville, Aspen Hill and Laytonsville.

Republicans Warm Up to Run

During the past decade, Montgomery County voters haven't been too kind to most Republican candidates.

When County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) was elected in 1994, the county's delegation to the General Assembly included 11 Republicans. There were also two GOP members on the County Council.

Now, the county has only one GOP state legislator, Del. Jean B. Cryor , who represents parts of Potomac and the rural western part of the county. Council member Howard A. Denis (Potomac-Bethesda) is the only Republican on the council.

On the campaign trail, Duncan, a candidate for governor, has been taking credit for the county's lack of elected Republican officials. When he goes before partisan Democratic audiences, Duncan boasts about his effort over the years to expunge the county of GOP officeholders.

But some GOP leaders now believe Duncan's record on spending and taxes could help Republicans make a comeback in Montgomery, where the budget has grown by more than 100 percent in the past 12 years.

Tom Reinheimer , chair of the county Republican Central Committee, said at least five Republicans plan to run for the council on a platform of less government spending and lower taxes. (Denis is also running in District 1, but he often tries to distance himself from traditional Republican views.) According to Reinheimer, the at-large candidates include: French Caldwell , an anti-tax activist and information technology analyst; Jeffrey C. Hooke , chairman of the Maryland Tax Education Foundation; and lawyer Shelly Skolnick , who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to challenge Duncan in 2002.

In the council's District 2, which includes the northern and western part of the county, Scott R. Dyer , an official in the administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. , has filed to run. In District 4, which includes the northeastern part of the county, Mark Fennel has said he plans to run. Fennel is the manager of membership services at Citizens Against Government Waste, a District-based organization that scrutinizes government spending.

"I think we will make inroads," Reinheimer said. "I think they will be talking a lot about tax issues. We have too many on the council too frequently interested in raising taxes instead of finding the waste."

Besides taxes and spending, Reinheimer said he expects the GOP candidates to make an issue of the council's decision to defy the Food and Drug Administration by passing a law allowing county employees to obtain prescription drugs from Canada. The council's decision to enact a local law against predatory lending-- the use of deception, fraud or manipulation to talk consumers into loans they don't need or can't afford -- could also become an issue, Reinheimer said. The law has been challenged in court by the mortgage industry.

Reinheimer concedes it will be tough for Republicans to gain control of the council in a county where Democrats hold a better than 2 to 1 advantage in registered voters.

But if three win, it will mark the first time in 36 years that there have been more than two Republicans on the council.

Planning Board, Anyone?

County Council members are growing anxious in their search for a new Planning Board chairman.

The council, eager to put the controversy over building violations in Clarksburg behind it, has set an April 12 deadline for applicants for the job, which has a four-year term.

So far, only one candidate has expressed an interest: Derick Berlage , the current chairman. And some council members are reluctant to reappoint Berlage because of his handling of Clarksburg and its aftermath.

Earlier this week, Council President George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) sent a letter to the Gazette asking the public for its help in identifying possible candidates.

"Derick is going to apply. He has every right to apply and will be considered seriously, but we would like a competitive field of candidates," Leventhal said in an interview.

So what happens if no one else is interested in the job, which pays between $134,000 and $150,000 a year?

"If it gets to April 13 and only one person has applied, you got to seriously reconsider something," said Council member Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty).

Stay tuned.

'I Like Ike, but . . . '

County Council member Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large) has apparently developed a strategy for overcoming the continued popularity of his opponent for the Democratic nomination for county executive, former council member Isiah Leggett .

Silverman's campaign has printed up "I like Ike, but I'm voting for Steve" bumper stickers.