Oaths Resound Across The State
Leggett Pledges Balanced Growth

By Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Isiah "Ike" Leggett was sworn in yesterday as Montgomery County's first new chief executive in 12 years, promising to be a bridge to the region's leaders, to end "gotcha politics" and to balance voters' desire to slow the pace of development with the need to keep the economy humming in Maryland's largest jurisdiction.

"I want to assure you that we have no intention of stopping progress. Properly planned growth is essential for our future," Leggett (D) said in a 25-minute address delivered before nearly 1,400 people at the Strathmore Music Center in Rockville.

It was inauguration day throughout the state as Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) was sworn in to a second term. New county executives took office in Howard, which welcomed the youngest county leader in Maryland in recent memory, and in Anne Arundel County, which elected a Republican maverick. New council members and commissioners were sworn in during ceremonies in St. Mary's as well.

Standing on stage in Montgomery's grand concert hall, Leggett used his speech to set a tone for his four-year tenure without listing policy initiatives. Some of the loudest applause came as he spoke of his intention to answer voters' "crystal-clear" desire to slow growth in the wake of revelations of lax planning oversight at the Clarksburg Town Center.

Voters "want proper procedures to fairly address their land-use concerns, but they want growth," he said. "And they certainly do not want any more Clarksburgs to happen ever again, but they want growth."

Last night, incoming council President Marilyn Praisner (D-Eastern County) confirmed that she plans to introduce today a bill that would establish a moratorium of about six months on many new large developments while the council revisits growth policies.

The outgoing executive, Douglas M. Duncan (D), who ran for governor rather than for reelection, watched with his arms crossed from a row of box seats with his wife, Barbara. He was recognized three times during the program with standing ovations.

In taking over yesterday, Leggett becomes Montgomery's first African American county executive. A Howard University law professor, former council member and former state Democratic Party chairman, he presented himself as a consensus builder who would end an era of name-calling and polarization.

"For too long, the shouters have dominated the conversation," Leggett said. "It's time for us to banish from our lexicon shorthand words and phrases such as 'greedy developers' and 'NIMBYs.' "

Leggett took the oath of office with nine County Council members, including four newcomers: Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda), Marc Elrich (D-At Large), Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring) and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large).

Outgoing council President George L. Leventhal (D-At-Large), who is expected to pass the leadership job to Marilyn Praisner pledged to work with Leggett. "We won't always agree with you, Ike. But we respect you, and we believe that we share with you a dedication to the public interest."

In Anne Arundel, John R. Leopold (R) -- who won the county executive race by less than 4,000 votes -- tried to eschew tradition by holding his inauguration with weekend festivities in the northern end of the county, where he lives. County law, however, crimped his nonconformist style. Because the county charter didn't allow him to officially take office until yesterday, he settled for a party up north Sunday and a swearing-in at the council chambers yesterday.

Since the election, Leopold has moved quickly to set a tone of budget belt-tightening. He has eliminated several positions, including chief of staff, opting instead to have his new chief administrative officer do the work of both positions.

The County Council sworn in yesterday is a mix of old and new. It remains a four-to-three Republican majority, with four Republicans incumbents and three new Democratic members.

In Howard County, 32-year-old Ken Ulman, a lawyer and County Council member, was sworn in last night as county executive, replacing fellow Democrat James N. Robey, who was barred by term limits from running again. Ulman will be the first Howard county executive born after the founding of Columbia, the county's largest community.

The County Council will undergo a significant change as four new members were sworn in to the five-member council: Courtney Watson (D), a former school board chairman; lawyer Jen Terrasa (D); school board member Mary Kay Sigaty (D); and Greg Fox (R), a former county public works board member.

In Prince George's, Johnson took the oath of office for the second time yesterday, along with seven council members. Two new members, Ingrid M. Turner (D-Bowie) and Eric C. Olson (D-College Park), were also sworn in.

At the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Johnson told a crowd of several hundred that he would spend the next four years focusing on public safety, economic development and education. He said the county needs to pay special attention to its youth. "Let it be said of this generation that we eliminated barriers to our children's success by eliminating opportunities for them to fail," he said.

Johnson defeated former delegate Rushern L. Baker III in a close race for the Democratic nomination in September but was unopposed in November's general election. He said the county must now be unified to solve its many challenges.

In St. Mary's County, 13 officials were sworn in last night, including a new president of the Board of County Commissioners, Jack Russell (D-At Large), a charter boat captain who won in his first foray into politics. Four incumbent commissioners also were sworn in, as was new sheriff Tim Cameron (R), who defeated incumbent David D. Zylak (D) in the county's hardest fought and most closely watched race.

In Charles County, three new commissioners and a new sheriff are to be sworn in today. Democrats will assume all five seats on the Board of Commissioners, led by President Wayne Cooper. Democrat Rex Coffey will become the county's top law enforcement officer, replacing Frederick E. Davis (R), who lost after 12 years as sheriff.

Calvert County commissioners are to be sworn in this month. With four of the five members of the board returning, voters didn't appear to want big change. The only member not reelected, David F. Hale (R-Owings), chose not to run, instead seeking unsuccessfully to be elected to the General Assembly.

Staff writers Megan Greenwell, Rosalind S. Helderman, Dan Morse, Philip Rucker, Miranda S. Spivack, William Wan and Joshua Zumbrun contributed to this report.