Candidates Confront Housing Issue

As a measure of that concern, all five county executive candidates -- Leggett, Silverman, Democrat Robert Raymond Fustero, Republican Chuck Floyd and independent Robin Ficker -- shared a stage at a rally Thursday night organized by Action in Montgomery, an interfaith coalition of congregations. Standing before a crowd of more than 500, all but Floyd agreed to try to achieve the coalition's goal of requiring that 25 percent of units in all new developments and condo conversions be priced affordably. Floyd said he would examine the county's existing programs to come up with a more "holistic" approach.

In an interview, Silverman said the county should consider letting developers build taller buildings to provide more affordable homes. He also said he wants to identify public land suitable for housing and work with the private and nonprofit sectors to build affordable units. He has promised to end homelessness in the county over the next four years, partly through rental subsidies. But the key to his plan is more moderately priced units and the workforce housing program, which he sponsored.

Leggett cautioned against allowing taller buildings, arguing that it would reward developers. Silverman responded that he is only looking to add one or two floors. "No one is talking about making it like Manhattan or Rosslyn," he said.

Leggett characterized as inadequate Silverman's workforce housing program, which is expected to yield 2,500 affordable units over 20 to 30 years, and the moderately priced housing program, which produced 400 units last year.

Instead, Leggett proposes increasing the percentage of moderately priced units to between 20 and 25 percent on any county-owned land and raising it on private property as well, although he would not specify how much. He also wants to decrease the number of condominium conversions and quadruple the county's Housing Initiative Fund, a pot of money used for affordable housing programs. It now sits at $20 million.

Silverman has challenged Leggett to explain how he would increase the fund, but Leggett has been vague. Silverman also has attacked Leggett's plan for clusters of middle-class housing, saying it would create economically segregated communities -- an assertion Leggett has rejected. "I just think that's a bad idea," Silverman said. "That's not the policy of economic integration that we have had."

On Friday, Silverman sent out a news release accusing Leggett of making "a completely inaccurate claim" when he said on a NewsChannel 8 debate Thursday that he "initiated and started" the Housing Initiative Fund -- a statement he has made at other events. Reached Friday, former council member Bruce Adams, who has endorsed Leggett, confirmed that he and then-council member William E. Hanna Jr., not Leggett, co-sponsored that bill in 1988. But he said Leggett was a strong supporter.

"You can't get legislation passed with just two sponsors, and Ike was always there, and we could always count on him," he said.

Leggett said a council member does not have to sponsor a bill to lead an effort. "I stand by that. I never wanted credit for that. There's a whole bunch of things I didn't take credit for."

Some housing advocates said they worry that the poorest residents will be forgotten. All the candidates have pledged to support that population, but James, the single mother living in the Rockville shelter, said she is not convinced.

"They can say anything to get elected," she said.