Ehrlich at the JCC: Opportunism Or an Attempt to Reach Out?

"We believe he is an exceptional leader who has successfully fought for living wages, health benefits and a host of related initiatives for workers and their families," said Sean Dobson, acting director of Progressive Maryland, in a written statement.

Other groups include the Sierra Club, the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400. Silverman has also been endorsed by some county groups, including the Service Employees International Union Local 500, the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors and the Montgomery College Democrats.

A Last-Minute GOP Bid

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Montgomery County Republicans didn't want to stand on the sidelines in the race for state's attorney. Last week, they nominated Montgomery Village defense lawyer James F. Shalleck . Political parties can nominate candidates after the July 3 filing deadline if no party candidate has independently filed.

Shalleck, 60, ran unsuccessfully for the office in 1994 and 1998 -- bids he hopes will give him some name recognition.

"Even though, yes, I'm late, in effect, I've been campaigning for this since 1994," said Shalleck, who previously worked as a prosecutor in New York.

Shalleck said he'd like to do away with community prosecution, or the assignment of prosecutors to geographical areas, a system State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler (D) implemented. Instead, he said, prosecutors should be assigned to divisions by the type of crime they prosecute. He also said he would like to reduce plea bargaining.

The two Democrats in the race are Bethesda lawyer Dan Fox and Deputy State's Attorney John McCarthy .

Staff writer Ernesto Londoño contributed to this report.