Vice President's Post on Council In Question

By Ann E. Marimow and Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, November 13, 2008

While all eyes were fixed on the national presidential election, another presidential campaign of sorts has been underway in Montgomery County. Council member Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), the current vice president, is slated to take over as County Council president from Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) next month.

But the question of who will become vice president, in line to succeed Andrews in 2010, has been playing out in recent weeks. Vying for the job were council members Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda), Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large).

Council members said privately that Berliner, who began campaigning for the job soon after taking office, has locked up the votes.

"There is a rumor to that effect," he said coyly.

Trachtenberg said that she, Andrews and Berliner had agreed in a series of conversations to an order of succession in which she would become president in 2011. Trachtenberg said the three share an interest in "good government and fiscal accountability."

But some council members do not appear ready to commit to candidates beyond the 2010 election, when the makeup of the council could change.

"Why should our council determine for another council who their leadership should be?" asked council member Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring). "I don't want to go that far."

The job of the council president is largely ceremonial and the power primarily symbolic. But the position quickly gives the elected official a higher profile countywide.

Berliner, an energy lawyer, came to the council in 2006 in the closest of the five geographic council district contests. He ousted the council's only Republican, Howie Denis, with 56 percent of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district.

As a candidate, Berliner said, his party affiliation would allow him to take on a greater leadership role for his constituents, and he said this week that his elevation to vice president would fulfill that campaign pledge.

"I believe I can be an effective leader for our council and have demonstrated that I can pull people together," Berliner said.

Knapp will run two more meetings before turning over the presidential post to Andrews after a formal vote Dec. 2.

At School Board Meeting, Abrams Clashes With Navarro, Brandman

Two of the eight Board of Education members are short-timers, whose long-term relationships with the other six won't matter much after their replacements are sworn in next month.

That might explain why tempers flared Tuesday between exiting board members Stephen Abrams (Rockville-Potomac) and Sharon W. Cox (At Large) and the others. Cox will be replaced Dec. 4 by Phil Kauffman. Challenger Laura Berthiaume has declared victory over Abrams, although absentee and provisional ballots are being counted in that race.

Board members were discussing their legislative platform. The discussion pitted Abrams and Cox against the board leaders, who are strongly supported by teachers. The union does not support Abrams or Cox.

Vice President Shirley Brandman (At Large) proposed some changes to language about collective bargaining. The discussion brought out divisions over labor. Abrams and Cox have voted against the Montgomery County Education Association at times, and school board critics allege that the others do the union's bidding in exchange for its political support. All board members say they are their own bosses.

Abrams was talking. Nancy Navarro (Northeastern County) asked him to yield to Patricia O'Neill (Bethesda-Chevy Chase), who was waiting to speak. He accused her of silencing him.

"I would never silence any board member," Navarro said.

Abrams suggested that Brandman was acting as a mouthpiece for the teachers union. Brandman said his comments offended her. He said he had meant to offend.

"I don't mind if you are in bed with them," he said. "Just god-damn it admit it."

A few exchanges later, Brandman replied to Abrams that "the fact that I might disagree with you does not mean that I have been bought, because I have not been bought."

Van Hollen Will Continue In House Campaign Post

Fresh from a 24-seat Democratic gain in last week's House elections, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has accepted Speaker Nancy Pelosi's request to stay on as head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Van Hollen had showed interest in succeeding Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) as head of the Democratic Caucus, according to a Democratic leadership source who spoke on condition of anonymity, but he pulled out of the running after Pelosi (D-Calif.) offered to expand his leadership role. In addition to chairing the campaign committee, Van Hollen will serve as "assistant to the speaker," giving him a formal policy portfolio. The job is currently held by Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.).

In a statement, Pelosi praised Van Hollen for bringing "intellect, integrity, and great political savvy to his role as DCCC Chairman."

"He was a maestro," she said. "No one could have done a better job to strengthen our Democratic majority in the House and enable us to continue to address the priorities of all Americans."

Van Hollen's plans were first reported by our washingtonpost.com colleague Chris Cillizza, author of the Fix, a blog on national politics.