Failed comptroller candidate wants in on council race

One Montgomery candidate says he is considering dropping out, but hasn’t decided

Friday, Sept. 22, 2006

Stephen N. Abrams’s bid to replace a Republican candidate for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council was on life support on Thursday.

One of the four GOP candidates, county Republican Central Committee Chairman Tom Reinheimer, said he has not ruled out withdrawing but is ‘‘leaning heavily against it.”

‘‘There’s still some consideration,” he said. ‘‘It’s a tough decision to make. I have to talk to a few other advisers and people. ... Most people have advised me not to.”

Abrams, a Montgomery County school board member and a former chairman of the county Republican Central Committee, floated the idea this week and formally approached Shelly Skolnick and Reinheimer about withdrawing.

‘‘One candidate has indicated a willingness [to withdraw] if none of the others are willing to do it,” said Abrams, a Rockville resident who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for comptroller.

Abrams would not name the candidate. The three candidates other than Reinheimer — Skolnick, Amber Gnemi and Adol T. Owen-Williams II — said they will not withdraw.

‘‘I was approached and I declined,” said Skolnick, an attorney from Silver Spring.

‘‘[Abrams] mentioned some interest [in running] but I don’t know where it’s going ...,” said Owen-Williams, a financial adviser from North Potomac. ‘‘I can’t see it happening.”

‘‘I was never asked to resign,” said Gnemi of Silver Spring, an intelligence analyst and political newcomer who entered the race just before the filing deadline.

Reinheimer, an information security analyst from Boyds, received the most votes of the four Republicans in last week’s primary. The Republicans had no primary challengers and advanced to the Nov. 7 general election.

The idea of the central committee appointing Abrams as a replacement was discussed at a committee meeting on Tuesday, said Reinheimer, who added that Abrams asked him directly to drop out.

There is ‘‘some logic” to changing the lineup, Reinheimer said. ‘‘Steve brings quite a bit in name recognition and experience,” he said. ‘‘He’s been elected to office on the Rockville City Council and the school board several times and he brings that experience and the resources to run a strong campaign.”

Reinheimer said he would step aside if it would be for the good of the party and for the county. ‘‘The Democrats, several of them would be a disaster to Montgomery County, and it’s important that they not be elected,” he said.