No Shortage Of Potential Planners In County

¿ Marye Wells-Harley, former Prince George's County director of parks and recreation.

Leggett Up to New Task

Last week, Rockville-based Manna Food Center challenged residents to "Stuff a Bus" with donated non-perishables as part of a food drive held in cooperation with Whole Foods Market and the county government.

As an added attraction, Manna recruited several celebrity baggers, including County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), to work inside one of four Whole Foods stores. The chain contributed 5 percent of gross sales for the day to Manna, and offered up its parking lots for the event.

Arriving for his shift at the Rockville Whole Foods at 12:30 p.m. last Wednesday, Leggett shed his suit jacket and slipped a Manna "Stuff A Bus" T-shirt over his white dress shirt.

"Heavies on the bottom, eggs and bread on top, right?" Leggett asked, before taking up his post at the end of checkout lane No. 8. Leggett proved pretty nimble at the job -- even taking the extra step of double-bagging for one woman who bought four glass bottles of lemonade.

Some constituents recognized him, but other shoppers were unaware it was the county's chief executive who was bagging their eggs and organic produce.

"I heard the announcement, but I had no idea I was in the Ike line," said Meg Perella of Kensington.

With all eyes on Leggett, Patrick Lacefield, Leggett's chief spokesman, stole away to do some grocery shopping of his own. Rather than have his boss do the bagging, he opted for another checkout line.

But why?

Well, Lacefield explained, it could be a mite awkward having one's boss bag up one's groceries -- even if it was for a good cause.

Praisner's Committee Duties

Don Praisner, who was elected last week to fill the County Council vacancy left by the death of his wife, Marilyn, will be sworn in Tuesday, and will join the council's Management and Fiscal Policy Committee and the Public Safety Committee, council President Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) said this week.

Praisner defeated Republican Mark D. Fennel with 66 percent of the vote in District 4, where Democrats hold a registration edge of more than 2 to 1.

Voter participation was about 8.5 percent.

Marilyn Praisner, who served 17 years on the council, died in February after heart surgery. Don Praisner, a retired CIA analyst, campaigned to protect his wife's legacy as a fiscal watchdog and advocate for slowing development.

Staff writer Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report.