Abrams Finds Opening to Run for Council

By Nancy Trejos and Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, September 28, 2006

The path has been cleared for Montgomery school board member Stephen N. Abrams , a Republican, to run for one of four at-large County Council seats in the November general election.

Adol T. Owen-Williams II , a North Potomac financial adviser and a Republican, has decided to drop out of the at-large race.

"I gave it some thought and I decided that I would be more effective as far as representing Montgomery County and the state of Maryland by pursuing another position shortly after the election," he said.

He declined to identify that position and stopped short of saying his decision had anything to do with Abrams.

"I made the decision based on a litany of factors," he said. "Again, I looked at where can I be most effective as far as promoting the Republican message."

Tom Reinheimer , the chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee and one of the four Republican nominees in the at-large race, called it a "tough decision."

"Nobody was thrilled about having to have him drop out," said Reinheimer.

But, he added: "He's a team player. He saw the bigger picture and wants us to win in November."

Republicans consider Abrams the party's best hope for taking an at-large seat in the overwhelmingly Democratic county.

Abrams has 10 years on the school board and nine on the Rockville City Council. He also made an unsuccessful bid this month for state comptroller.

Reinheimer said the central committee could meet this week to officially nominate Abrams to fill the vacancy.

Silverman Seeks a Job

Now that he is giving up his seat, County Council member Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large) is looking for something to do.

"I'll explore public- and private-sector options," said Silverman, a lawyer who had his own practice before entering public office.

Silverman lost the Democratic nomination for county executive to former council member Isiah Leggett . In November, he will leave after completing two terms.

Silverman said he has spent much of his time since the Sept. 12 primary thanking supporters. From now until the Nov. 7 election, he intends to help Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) beat Maryland's Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr ., he said.

As for his own future, "I'm not focused on the next stage," he said.

What he is focused on is closing down his campaign headquarters in Rockville.

This week, Silverman offered his office equipment, including computers and printers, for sale at a discount. Any items left over probably will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that builds houses for low-income residents, he said.

What to do with the remainder of the $2.2 million he raised for his campaign is less clear. Much of the money went toward high-profile consultants and television ads.

"I'm not expecting that we'll have much left over," he said.

Hard to Charm

The candidates for county executive faced a tough crowd Monday afternoon at a forum organized by Chapter 260 of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Leggett turned out for the two-hour event. So did independent candidate Robin Ficker . But Republican nominee Chuck Floyd was away on a business trip and sent his treasurer, Rudolph M. Dahl , in his place.

The 50 or so audience members had many questions on a wide range of topics, including property taxes, traffic congestion, free bus rides and street parking fees. And they didn't take too kindly when Dahl expressed his own opinions in response to some of the questions.

"I have a problem with you speaking for him," said Hilda Fishback , 87, a Silver Spring resident who is supporting Leggett.

Dahl told the audience that Floyd would have been present if he did not have important business to conduct. Floyd is a security and federal contract consultant.

"She's a pistol," Dahl said after the forum as he watched Fishback speak with a television reporter.

He was not the only one to elicit groans from the audience.

Ficker, a Boyds lawyer who has run for several local and state offices on an anti-tax platform, was admonished for using much of his opening statement to criticize Leggett. He accused Leggett of doing little to end traffic congestion during his 16 years on the council, taking money from real estate developers and wanting to raise taxes.

"I've got great problems with negative electioneering, negative statements to get votes," Fishback said. ". . . This is not helping you. This is hurting you. We're not stupid."

Several audience members nodded their heads in agreement.

Ficker responded by saying that property taxes will become unaffordable for senior citizens under Leggett -- a charge Leggett denied.

"Is that negative campaigning? No, that's pointing out the facts," Ficker told the audience. "I'm looking out for your pocketbooks."

"You did it again," another woman in the audience said.

Painting the Town GOP Red

The Montgomery County Republican Party will have its fourth annual Grand Old Party from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Smokey Glen Farm. Tickets are $30 for adults ($40 at the door); $15 for children ages 3 to 11; and free for children younger than 3. Smokey Glen Farm is at 16407 Riffleford Rd., Gaithersburg.