Van Hollen Takes a Minimalist Approach

Five newcomers are vying for the Republican nomination: Steven J. Hudson, an ophthalmic surgeon from Silver Spring; Meyer F. Marks, an education policy lobbyist from Bethesda; Brian Mezger, a Potomac lawyer; Jay Roberts, a chief technology officer from Silver Spring; and Bruce Stern, a Gaithersburg lawyer.

Van Hollen was first elected to the House in 2002, defeating Kennedy family scion Mark K. Shriver in a bitter primary battle and then ousting popular eight-term Republican Constance A. Morella. In six years, Van Hollen has established himself as a strong advocate for federal workers, bringing to the Hill a relentless approach honed during 12 years in the Maryland General Assembly.

He has collaborated with other Washington area leaders, including Republican Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, on such issues as obtaining equal pay raises for civilian federal workers and military personnel. Davis, who represents part of Northern Virginia and is a former chief fundraiser for the House GOP, said that even when they have disagreed, Van Hollen "always puts the region first and has never let partisan politics get in the way of legislating."

Van Hollen, 49, opted to sit out the 2006 race to succeed former senator Paul S. Sarbanes, a decision he says he does not regret. He has risen rapidly in the House since then, being tapped as chairman of the DCCC by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and securing a seat on the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy and Social Security.

His face reddened when asked whether his future would include a run for the Senate or for governor.

"I wouldn't shut any doors," Van Hollen said. "But what I'm focused on right now is trying to make sure that we have a majority in the House to work with the new president."

Van Hollen has foreign policy experience from working for the Foreign Relations Committee in the 1980s. His father was a former ambassador and his mother a foreign policy analyst.

He offended some in the local Jewish community two years ago with a letter to the Bush administration that called for a cease-fire in Lebanon, saying "a continuation of the bombing campaign as it is being carried out is against the interests of Israel and the United States."

Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said that "there is a residue of some discomfort that remains among pro-Israel activists." But he said that it is unfair to judge Van Hollen by one letter and that the majority of those concerned "realize that he has been a very strong supporter of the state of Israel."

As a legislator, Van Hollen's mild manner belies his scrappy style. He defied the odds as a freshman lawmaker, winning passage of an amendment that blocked the Bush administration's plans to outsource some federal work to private contractors.

"He didn't eviscerate the contractors, which is a mistake a lot of people made. He focused on what was wrong with the process," said John Threlkeld, a lobbyist for the American Federation of Government Employees. "He's an extraordinarily quick study who takes advantage of his moments in the spotlight and comes across as learned and reasonable."

More recently, Van Hollen overcame opposition within his own party as the sponsor of a successful measure requiring disclosure of contributions "bundled" by lobbyists. And he was a leading sponsor of legislation approved by the House that would end an Internal Revenue Service program that uses private companies to identify delinquent taxpayers, with the companies keeping a portion of the collected taxes.

"He has just been relentless," said Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS workers. "Very often the subjects are arcane, and that does not stop him."