By Ann E. Marimow and Nancy Trejos
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, July 20, 2006; GZ02

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr . (R) made a guest appearance Monday at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington's summer lecture series. Participants arrived at the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville to learn the "Secrets of Smart Investing" from James Glassman . But first they were treated to brief opening remarks by Ehrlich, who expressed his support for Israel at a time when the Jewish community is anxiously following news from the Middle East.

Ron Halber , executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said many in the audience were thrilled to see the governor. There was polite applause and people were respectful and appreciative, he said.

But Halber acknowledged there was some dissatisfaction in the audience, including from the man who underwrites the symposium in honor of his parents.

"We hope that he will see past this incident, which obviously caused him some discomfort," Halber said.

A spokeswoman for the JCC declined to share the name of the donor or elaborate on the circumstances.

Not surprisingly, though, word of Ehrlich's participation irritated supporters of Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D). They said the educational venue was inappropriate for a political appearance.

"We in the O'Malley campaign never would have thought of barging into an event like that and certainly not using support for Israel as a cynical strategy for gaining a partisan advantage," said Arnold Gordon , a district coordinator for O'Malley's campaign for governor.

To be clear, Ehrlich did not barge in. He was invited after his aides expressed interest in opportunities to speak to Jewish audiences, Halber said.

"Those who are automatically equating an appearance by the governor with an attempt of cynical political manipulation are just plain wrong, and it's utter nonsense," he said.

It was a Kodak moment on the campaign trail when the two leading Democratic candidates for county executive were speaking with one voice, instead of focusing on their differences.

County Council member Steven A. Silverman (At Large) and former council member Isiah "Ike" Leggett were among the dozens of community leaders who joined a group of Korean Americans this week to condemn recent comments by Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (D).

Earlier this month, Schaefer seemed to suggest there was a link between North Korea's missile test and the large number of South Korean students taking English language classes in Maryland schools. Schaefer's spokesman said he misspoke during a discussion of a state contract to test students for proficiency in English. He meant to convey his frustration with the large costs the state pays in the absence of an effective federal immigration policy, the spokesman said.

But at the Gilchrest Center for Cultural Diversity in Wheaton on Sunday, Silverman and Leggett were surrounded by Asian, Latino, black and women's rights leaders who said they expected better from the comptroller, who is facing his first competitive election in years.

Representatives approached the podium one by one. When it was their turn to speak, Silverman and Leggett stood side by side at the microphone to deliver a joint message.

Leggett, the former chairman of the state Democratic Party, pointed to the people around him and said, "This is a picture of Montgomery County, of Maryland."

Silverman suggested that Schaefer could learn three lessons from the controversy: geography, sensitivity and, he said, "the lesson we're all going to give him on Sept 12. His comments are a disgrace. It's time for Comptroller Schaefer to go."

One person who certainly agrees with that sentiment is Del. Peter Franchot (Montgomery), who is running for the job in the Democratic primary along with Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens.

Franchot made light of the unusual joint appearance as he approached the podium.

"I came out just to get a picture of Leggett and Silverman together," he joked.

U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) gave Leggett a useful present at his birthday party Saturday afternoon at Kensington Town Hall -- an event that drew hundreds of supporters.

"He is a master of the art of finding solutions to problems," Wynn said in endorsing Leggett's candidacy. "He's got great experience, great intellect. He's got the whole package."

Leggett was "delighted" with Wynn's backing, saying "people recognize the contributions I've made to Montgomery County."

Leggett celebrated his birthday a week early. He turns 61 on July 25.

He's picked up numerous endorsements in recent weeks, including from Progressive Maryland, an advocacy group affiliated with labor and civil rights organizations in the state.

"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.

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.