Teachers Union to Endorse Candidates

The Montgomery County Education Association, the county's largest union, is scheduled to announce endorsements today for this year's local contests. Union representatives from each of the county's schools were set to meet Wednesday and were expected to embrace the following recommendations by board members and leaders of MCEA's political action committee:

For County Council, newcomers Marc Elrich , a member of the Takoma Park City Council, and Duchy Trachtenberg , president of the Maryland National Organization of Women (NOW), for at-large positions.

The group is likely to back school board member Valerie Ervin for the District 5 County Council seat being vacated by Tom Perez (D-Silver Spring). Although Ervin has not officially announced she is seeking the seat, union officials said that she has made her intentions clear to them.

The leadership declined to endorse four incumbents: Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), Marilyn Praisner (D-Eastern County), Michael L. Subin (D-At Large) and Nancy Floreen (D-At Large).

That decision, said MCEA president Bonnie Cullison , was based on their support in 2003 for delaying by one year planned cost-of-living adjustments for teachers when county revenue fell short of projections.

"Our members take it very seriously when members of any body make a move to cut a contractual agreement," she said.

For the State House, the MCEA leadership threw its support behind all but three incumbents: Del. Gareth E. Murray of District 20, Del. Joan F. Stern of District 39 and Sen. Rona E. Kramer in District 14.

"We've looked at incumbents with more than just the voting record as the criteria," Cullison said, explaining that communication and a presence at MCEA events were critical to the group's decision.

Among the newcomers, the recommendations include:

· Elbridge James , the former chairman of the state NAACP, in the District 17 Senate race.