Leggett Heads a Democratic Charge

Montgomery County Democrats asserted their political dominance yesterday, as voters chose former Maryland Democratic Party chairman Isiah "Ike" Leggett as their first new executive in 12 years and ousted the County Council's sole Republican, Howard A. Denis.

Leggett, a former council member, will become the county's first African American executive and one of the few black politicians elected to lead a large, majority-white suburban county. With all precincts reporting early today, Leggett had captured 68 percent of the vote.

In a county where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, Leggett easily defeated his two challengers: Republican Chuck Floyd and independent Robin Ficker. His promise to slow the pace of growth will be a dramatic shift from the pro-growth, pro-business agenda of outgoing executive Douglas M. Duncan (D).

"I'm delighted with the overwhelming show of support," Leggett said. "I'm grateful the citizens have given me this awesome responsibility of being the new leader of Montgomery County."

Harder fought was the race for the District 1 council seat representing the Potomac-Bethesda area. Denis, who has been on the council since 2000, lost to Democrat Roger Berliner, capturing 43 percent of the vote to Berliner's nearly 57 percent. His defeat gives the county its first fully Democratic council in 16 years.

The other five council incumbents seeking reelection beat back spirited competition. In addition to Berliner, the council will have three newcomers: school board member Valerie Ervin, Takoma City Council member Marc Elrich and Maryland National Organization for Women President Duchy Trachtenberg.

Voters also were poised to reject the county's only Republican representative in Annapolis. Jean B. Cryor, who was first elected to the House in 1995, was trailing Democrat Craig L. Rice by fewer than 1,000 votes with all but one precinct reporting in District 15. Rice, a sales manager, has never held office.

"The voters after a while grow anxious for some change in direction," said former County Council member Bruce Adams.

Democrats were also sweeping the county's eight Senate seats and the remaining 23 seats in the House of Delegates with almost all precincts reporting.

In the race for the four available school board seats, incumbent Nancy Navarro (Northeastern County) won by a wide margin, and Patricia O'Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase) was unopposed. Newcomers Shirley Brandman, a special-education lawyer, and Judy Docca, a retired school principal, handily won the two vacant at-large seats.

Democrat John McCarthy, a veteran county prosecutor, defeated Republican defense lawyer James F. Shalleck for the state's attorney post held by Douglas F. Gansler.

Democrats also took the four at-large council seats. Incumbent Democrats Nancy Floreen and George L. Leventhal held on to their seats, while Elrich and Trachtenberg nabbed the two remaining spots.