Inaugural Ball to Ring In New Era of County Leadership

The transition from the Duncan era to the Leggett era is officially underway. For the last time in a dozen years, outgoing County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and wife Barbara Duncan will preside over the county's inaugural ball on Dec. 4.

Invitations have gone out for the County Executive's Ball for the Benefit of the Arts and Humanities on inauguration day at the North Bethesda Marriott.

For $125 in advance or $150 at the door, a ticket to the black tie affair will buy you wine and soda and a gourmet buffet, in addition to dancing and valet parking.

The artsy invitation promises the evening will "usher in a new era of leadership for a visionary citizenry that appreciates and champions the arts and humanities."

Those chipping in for the cause include some of the biggest names in the building industry: Linowes and Blocher LLP, engineering firm Loiederman Soltesz Associates Inc. and Peterson Cos., the firm developing National Harbor in Prince George's County.

Among the event's individual donors are former county executive Sidney Kramer, homebuilder Thomas S. Bozzuto and the county's chief administrative officer, Bruce F. Romer.

Council Counts Fewer Lawyers

One thing is certain about the incoming County Council: There will be a lot fewer lawyers making the laws in Montgomery.

The outgoing council had a lawyer-to-non-lawyer majority of 5 to 4. But civilians outnumber attorneys by 7 to 2 in the panel that will be sworn in Dec. 4.

Two lawyers were rejected by voters: Council member Michael L. Subin (D-At Large) lost in the Democratic primary, and council member Howard A. Denis (R-Potomac-Bethesda) lost in the general election. One bright side for the lawyers is that Denis was defeated by lawyer Roger Berliner (D).

Two other lawyers, Tom Perez (D-Silver Spring) and Steven A. Silverman (D-At Large), did not seek reelection as they pursued higher offices. In a very legal turn of events, Perez's run for attorney general was blocked by Maryland's highest court, which ruled that he did not meet a constitutional requirement that candidates for the job have practiced law in Maryland for 10 years. Silverman lost in the Democratic primary for county executive to law professor Isiah "Ike" Leggett.

The only legal constant on the council is lawyer Nancy M. Floreen (D-At Large). "I think we've benefited from the kinds of questions lawyers ask -- there's a certain type of critical thinking there," she said.

"Oftentimes things can be over-analyzed from a legal perspective," countered Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty), who counts himself as the council's "lone business person."

The incoming council's non-lawyer newcomers are teacher Marc Elrich, school board member and former council staff member Valerie Ervin and social worker Duchy Trachtenberg.

Denis said that he valued his legal training as a council member but added that legislatures across the country were seeing a decline in lawyers. "More and more people from diverse professions are serving," he said.

Shifting Spokesmen

David S. Weaver, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's longtime spokesman, had always hoped to follow his boss to Annapolis and the governor's suite on the second floor of the State House. Turns out Weaver is still headed out Route 50, but not with Duncan.

Weaver will become the senior adviser to Del. Peter Franchot (D-Montgomery), the state comptroller-elect. The move is an evolution of the campaign. After Duncan dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor in June, Weaver started advising Franchot's campaign.

Patrick Lacefield, the spokesman for the County Council, will be the voice of County Executive-elect Isiah "Ike" Leggett. Lacefield must receive the blessing of his current bosses on the council.

Perhaps that explains the delicate touch with which he fielded a question about the impact of the council going from five lawyers to two. "You're asking for a one-liner. I'm not sure I can go there," Lacefield said.