Council's New Member Continues Wife's Legacy

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and Council President Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) formally welcomed the council's newest member, Don Praisner (D-Eastern County), in a quiet swearing-in ceremony Tuesday at the Circuit Court in Rockville. Praisner won a special election this month to fill the open seat left after the death of his wife, Marilyn, and there were acknowledgments of the sad circumstances of his election.

Knapp told him, "We may have lost a family member, but we've not lost a family."

Joined by his children and grandchildren, Praisner -- his voice cracking with emotion -- said, "I'll do my best to keep us moving forward."

Praisner then made his first official appearance at the office where his wife worked for nearly 17 years. He intends to keep intact his wife's team, led by chief of staff Joy Nurmi.

But down the hallway, the planned retirement of longtime council aide Merle Steiner next month has set off a series of personnel moves and the return of a familiar face.

Steiner -- chief of staff to Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) -- plans to leave after 24 years, in which she spent 14 with former council member William Hanna and four with council member-turned-executive Leggett, before joining Floreen's office.

At 66, Steiner has had her hand in projects large and small, from the restoration of the Great Falls bridges to finding money "here there and everywhere," she recalled, to helping one resident who was about to be evicted.

"Working in local government, you get a lot of positive reinforcement because you see things you've helped people with come to fruition," she said.

Steiner has a master's degree in international affairs but could not join the U.S. Foreign Service as she had planned in the 1960s, she said, because of its policy then that barred married women. She plans to take the summer off before looking for work in women's issues overseas.

"It's time for Nancy to have somebody with new ideas," she said.

That person will be Rebecca Lord, a legislative aide in the office of council member Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda). Lord, who was an adjunct history professor involved in Democratic politics before joining Berliner's office, said the opening was an opportunity "that I didn't think I could turn down," she said. "Filling Merle's shoes will be a very difficult challenge."

With Lord's move and the earlier departure of chief of staff Reggie Oldak, Berliner is making some other changes in his staff. Education aide Cindy Gibson will be promoted to replace Oldak, who has joined the National Women's Law Center. Taking over Lord's duties will be Miti Figueredo, who has been a constituent services aide to Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).