Van Hollen Takes a Minimalist Approach

By Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 8, 2008

As chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen is steeped in elections nationwide, raising millions and recruiting candidates in Ohio, New York and California.

Back home in Kensington, there is little evidence of a campaign of his own as Van Hollen seeks a fourth term representing Montgomery County and a sliver of Prince George's County in the heavily Democratic 8th District. He has won with more than 70 percent of the vote in the past two elections.

Less than one week before the Feb. 12 primary, in which he faces two perennial candidates -- Deborah A. Vollmer of Chevy Chase and Lih Young of Rockville -- Van Hollen's campaign Web site did not list a single current endorsement or event or offer an updated platform. He does have two full-time campaign staffers.

Even as Van Hollen seeks to retain the Democratic majority in the House, local elected officials, community activists and federal government workers' unions that represent many of his constituents say his involvement in national politics has not undercut his aggressive approach on district causes.

Between trips to Colorado and Kansas for the campaign committee, Van Hollen has gotten involved in local concerns, such as Glen Echo Park's food service contract, and regional issues, such as governance of the District's Water and Sewer Authority. Van Hollen still gets his hair trimmed at the Kensington Hair Cuttery and attends St. Paul's United Methodist Church most Sundays with his wife, Katherine, and their three children.

If anything, political observers say Van Hollen's ascension in the House Democratic leadership is an asset to the district, enhancing its clout -- and his.

"He's energetic enough to do his job locally and nationally," said Terry Lierman, chief of staff to House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and a former state Democratic Party chairman. "And when he creates friendships with members nationally, that is going to come back to help him locally as they gain seniority and committee assignments."

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett credits Van Hollen with being "extremely attentive and hands-on," securing $2 million to analyze the traffic impact of adding thousands of workers and new patients to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda; $1.5 million for Montgomery College's biotechnology project in Germantown; and more than $500,000 for anti-gang initiatives.

Vollmer, a semi-retired lawyer, is running to the left of Van Hollen on Iraq, saying he has a "mixed record" on war funding. "He can't forget his district. People in this area want us out of Iraq now," she said before a candidates forum this week in Largo.

An early critic of President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, Van Hollen defended his vote to authorize spending on U.S. troops.

"As long as our men and women are in the theater of battle, it seems to me we need to make sure that we provide them with the equipment they need to protect themselves," he said during the forum, which was sponsored by the Prince George's County branch of the NAACP.

Young, who lists her occupation as "reformer, advocate, activist," says she should be elected to "promote freedom, justice, peace."

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."