Picks for Prince George's

A promising field of candidates for the statehouse

BY RIGHTS, Prince George's County -- a colossus measured by population, electoral clout and economic potential -- should be a major power in Maryland's state legislature. In reality it punches below its weight. It can do better -- and there are signs that it will. The crop of candidates running in Tuesday's Democratic primaries includes some exceptionally promising newcomers in addition to a number of able and standout incumbents. Here are our endorsements in contested races:

DISTRICT 21: Of the three Democratic candidates for state Senate, the best is Jim Rosapepe. Incumbent John Giannetti is a legislative horse trader whose positions on important issues can flip at the drop of a favor from the governor or a legislative colleague. In the House of Delegates contest, the retirement of Pauline H. Menes has yielded a crowded field of would-be replacements. Easily the best is Joseline Peña- Melnyk, a dynamic, razor-sharp lawyer and College Park City Council member with a stellar record of community service. She has the potential to be one of the stars of the Maryland legislature. In addition, two competent incumbents, Barbara A. Frush and Brian R. Moe, merit

reelection.

DISTRICT 22: The three House incumbents include Tawanna P. Gaines, one of the most refreshingly forthright lawmakers in Annapolis, and Justin D. Ross, a first-term delegate who made his mark with a sensible bill to close liquor stores at midnight rather than 2 a.m. We cannot endorse the third incumbent, Anne Healey, who was chief House sponsor of muddle-headed legislation -- since struck down by a federal judge -- that singled out Wal-Mart by forcing it to pay for higher health insurance benefits to employees. A better candidate is Karren Pope-

Onwukwe, a lawyer who has championed public transit.

DISTRICT 23: The retirement of Sen. Leo E. Green has inspired an open-seat battle between two serious Democratic candidates, Bobby G. Henry Jr. and Douglas J.J. Peters. Mr. Peters, a County Council member, is a successful business executive with a good grasp of budget detail and policy, but he is too ready to sacrifice principle for the sake of political advantage. We prefer Mr. Henry, an impassioned former military officer and ordained minister who has bright ideas about education, economic development and, especially, programs to help ex-offenders reenter society and avoid reincarceration. The House races are split between Districts 23A and 23B. The former has one reasonably strong Democratic incumbent, Del. James W. Hubbard, and one weak one, Mary A. Conroy. In addition to the energetic Mr. Hubbard, we endorse Gerron Levi, a labor lobbyist who knows her way around Capitol Hill and Annapolis.

DISTRICT 24: Of the three incumbent delegates, one, Joanne C. Ben son, is a well-respected leader on issues involving health care, disabilities and families . Carolyn J.B. Howard, although she has been only a so-so leader of the county delegation, is a decent lawmaker. The third incumbent, first-termer Michael L. Vaughn, has not yet made a mark in Annapolis but shows promise.

DISTRICT 25: On the House side, Dereck E. Davis, a cool-headed consensus-builder, is one of the most highly regarded members of the county's delegation in Annapolis. His colleague, two-term Del. Melony Ghee Griffith, is a bright, decent lawmaker. For the third seat, vacated by the departure of Anthony G. Brown, who is running for lieutenant governor, we support James L. Walls, a social worker who works with the disabled elderly in the District; he has been a City Council member in District Heights and, since May, the mayor.

DISTRICT 26: Two Democrats, Del. Obie Patterson and C. Anthony Muse, are battling over the Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of Gloria G. Lawlah. Mr. Muse, a minister at one of Prince George's largest churches, is the better bet; he takes a regional perspective and has focused on ways to tackle the county's daunting crime problems. Mr. Patterson, a weak presence in the House of Delegates, is unlikely to do any better in the Senate.

Among the 10 Democrats running for the three House seats there is plenty of talent. The best of the lot is Earl Adams, an energetic young lawyer who has original ideas to spur economic development in the county. Another talented political newcomer in the race is Ollie Anderson, a retired diplomat who has been a key business leader in the southern part of the county. Darryl A. Kelley, a promising if somewhat timid first-term incumbent, also merits reelection.

DISTRICT 27: In the House race for District 27A, two Democratic House stalwarts, James E. Proctor Jr. and Joseph F. Vallario Jr., are seeking reelection. Mr. Proctor, a three-term incumbent, is no leader, but he is able. Mr. Vallario, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is an undisputed heavyweight in Annapolis, but he has too often used his power to block sensible, fair-minded legislation, including bills to toughen penalties on drunk drivers and make judges stick to the sentences they themselves hand down. He should be turned out; a better bet is Tamara Davis Brown, a straight-talking lawyer.

DISTRICT 47: Sen. Gwendolyn Britt, the first-term incumbent, is smart and thoughtful; she has not yet made her mark in the Senate but may in a second term. In the House race, a pair of first-termers, Doyle Niemann and Victor Ramirez, are serious-minded and show promise, but the third incumbent, Rosetta C. Parker, is one of the least respected members of the General Assembly. Voters would do well to replace her with Jolene Ivey, an eager, candid community activist.