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

Riemer said he does not intend to back out of the race. "I believe that any race is winnable," he said.

Once Again, Ficker Throws His Hat in the Ring

Robin Ficker , perennial candidate and anti-tax advocate, announced late last week that he has submitted about 7,000 signatures to the Montgomery County Board of Elections to run as an independent for county executive.

Ficker said that was more than enough to get his name on the ballot for the Nov. 7 general election. State law requires that an independent candidate collect signatures from 1 percent of registered voters. In Ficker's case, that would be about 5,500 signatures.

"By some miracle if we don't have enough, they can notify us and we'll get more," he said.

The Board of Elections has 20 days to verify the signatures.

Ficker, a 62-year-old lawyer and Boyds resident, had originally planned to run in the county executive race as a Republican. But he left the party in April after a state party official suggested that he was not a viable candidate.

The Democratic candidates for county executive are former council member Isiah Leggett , council member Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large) and retired grocery store clerk Robert Fustero . The Republican candidate is former State Department employee Charles R. Floyd .

Ficker said he collected most of the signatures by standing in front of shopping centers.

"I think it's good voter contact, which is something I don't see the other guys are doing," he said. "They're just orchestrated by consultants."

Ficker's political career includes a stint as a state delegate and several unsuccessful bids for elected office, such as state senator and Montgomery school board member. Since 1974, he has successfully placed 20 initiatives on the ballot. Most called for lower taxes or term limits. Voters have approved three of his initiatives.

Ficker is collecting signatures to place another question on the ballot, one that would lower the county's income tax or force the county to reduce its property tax revenue.

A Benefit to Companies That Have Telecommuters

In this week of gloomy, wet weather, there was some bright news for employers who encourage their employees to work from home.

The County Council on Tuesday endorsed a new tax credit for companies that buy personal computers for telecommuters. The credit will cover up to 50 percent of the cost of each computer, up to $2,000 a year. The company must show that the computers are being used for work at least 1.5 days a week or 78 days a year.

The measure, sponsored by Praisner and District 1 council member Howard A. Denis (R-Potomac-Bethesda), is meant to ease traffic congestion by promoting telecommuting.