Teitelbaum pulls out of District 19 race

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Teitelbaum

Citing family obligations, Teitelbaum, 74, of Leisure World in Aspen Hill plans to close out 20 years of elected service at the end of the upcoming legislative session.

‘‘My wife has been after me ever since my last open-heart surgery to finish out my last term and do some other things,” he said.

Teitelbaum underwent heart valve replacement surgery in September 2004 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The valve had been repaired nine years earlier.

In November, Teitelbaum formally declared his intention to seek another term on a slate with delegates Henry B. ‘‘Hank” Heller, Adrienne A. Mandel and Carol S. Petzold.

While Teitelbaum readies for his last session of the General Assembly, both potential and already declared candidates are scrambling to replace him.

Hours after the retirement announcement, the three incumbent delegates began talks to determine which one would seek the Senate seat.

‘‘We all feel we’re highly qualified and look forward to having a spirited election either as candidates for the House or Senate,” said Mandel (D), a Layhill resident.

Petzold (D), an Aspen Hill resident, confirmed that she is considering running for the Senate. Heller (D), a Leisure World resident, could not be reached for comment by press time.

‘‘District 19 has been a relatively stable district when it comes to protecting incumbent Democrats,” said G. Keith Haller, president of polling company Potomac Inc. ‘‘I would be very, very surprised that it wouldn’t open up a delegate seat. It will create a domino effect throughout District 19.”

Filling the vacated seat may also attract statewide attention, he said.

‘‘It’s possible the Democratic leaders in Annapolis, [State Senate President Thomas V.] Mike Miller and [House Speaker Michael E.] Busch, may have a hand in suggesting which delegate should run [for the Senate seat],” Haller said. ‘‘It’s not just an isolated district. It will have consequences across the board.”

District 19 includes Derwood, Aspen Hill, Leisure World and parts of Laytonsville, Olney, Wheaton and Silver Spring.

Both of the announced Senate challengers claimed the advantage after learning of Teitelbaum’s withdrawal from the race.

John P. Mahoney, 37, of Laytonsville, the first challenger to announce his candidacy in October, engaged in a war of words with the incumbent.

Mahoney portrayed himself as an ‘‘energetic” and ‘‘fresh, new alternative” to the ‘‘sleeping senator” who he said was awakened by his challenge.

After Teitelbaum announced his retirement, Mahoney issued a release applauding the senator’s years of service.

Mahoney was unavailable for comment.

Michael G. ‘‘Mike” Lenett, 42, of Silver Spring said his recent entry into the race ‘‘may have affected Mr. Teitelbaum’s thinking about running for another term. But I was really looking forward to a spirited debate with him on the issues.”

Teitelbaum denied being scared off by the first primary challengers to face him for the Senate seat since he was elected to the office in 1994. He served two terms in the House prior to his Senate win.

The addition of Lenett in the race would have split any dissatisfied voters and increased his chances, Teitelbaum said.

Alec J. Stone, a Democrat from Kemp Mill, announced in September that he would seek a House seat.

The names of several other possible candidates had been tossed around even before Teitelbaum announced his retirement. The filing deadline is July 3.

‘‘Of all the legislative districts in Montgomery County, it’s been the most predictable and stable in terms of voting patterns,” Haller said.

‘‘Senator Teitelbaum would have been very difficult to beat, no matter how much rhetoric and barbs got thrown out there early in this process.”