For Board, Council Candidates, Pledge of Unity on Student Issues

Five Democratic candidates for the Board of Education and County Council banded together this week, pledging better "cooperation and collaboration" between the two entities if they are successful in the November election.

The all-female signatories to the compact are County Council member Marilyn Praisner (Eastern County), who is seeking a fifth term; at-large council candidate Duchy Trachtenberg ; school board member Valerie Ervin , who is seeking Silver Spring's District 5 County Council seat; Board of Education member Nancy Navarro (Northeastern County), who is seeking reelection; and school board candidate Judy Docca , who is running in Gaithersburg District 1.

The group promises regular meetings, shared legislative agendas in Annapolis and a commitment to issues such as quality child care, programs for at-risk children, better resources for students whose first language is not English and earlier identification of students with learning disabilities.

Even as they signed the document, the group acknowledged its diverse leadership styles and said "we are not committing to agree on everything."

The compact is not a joint endorsement or a slate, such as the "End Gridlock" team of County Council candidates that County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) backed in 2002.

"It is a pledge to the voters of this county and to its children that five candidates for public office want greater collaboration for better governance," according to the document.

In fact, the group invites all candidates for school board and council -- including men -- to sign, Trachtenberg said.

Rocking the Vote For County Council

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Hans Riemer , a 33-year-old political director for Rock the Vote, is running for a Montgomery County Council seat against a political heavyweight who has the backing of the county teachers union.

But Riemer has his own support, albeit not from a group that typically influences county politics. This week, Riemer announced he has received an endorsement from a national political action committee called 21st Century Democrats that supports progressive and populist candidates.

"I think it's an honor to have the recognition," said Riemer, an East Silver Spring resident. "I think the way social change is made is through incredible risks taken by real leaders, and I hope to offer that kind of vision for Montgomery County."

Riemer faces a formidable challenger in Ervin, who was also an aide to council President George L. Leventhal (D-At Large). The two are seeking to replace Tom Perez as the District 5 representative on the council. Perez is running for state attorney general.

Ervin's decision last week to seek a seat on the council forced other candidates to alter their plans. Takoma Park City Council member Joy Austin-Lane of Ward 1 dropped out of the race, and Takoma Park City Council member Marc Elrich of Ward 5 decided to run for an at-large seat.