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At-large race centers on planning, taxes, growth

Nine candidates will vie for four seats elected countywide

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006

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Although four Republicans and four Democrats moved on following the September primary, it was the Democratic primary that was most notable, with two new candidates chosen to replace incumbents Steven A. Silverman (D) of Silver Spring, who ran unsuccessfully for county executive, and Michael L. Subin (D) of Gaithersburg, who lost his bid for re-election. More importantly, the results signaled an end to voters’ desire for rapid growth and development experienced under the present past councils.

Still in the race are Democratic incumbents George L. Leventhal of Takoma Park and Nancy M. Floreen of Garrett Park. North Bethesda resident Duchy Trachtenberg and Takoma Park City Councilman and teacher Marc Elrich join them on the party ticket. Republican candidates include county party chairman Tom Reinheimer of Boyds, Silver Spring attorney Shelton ‘‘Shelly” Skolnick, newcomer Amber Gnemi of Silver Spring and school board member Stephen N. Abrams of Rockville. Independent Janice Norman of Rockville, who declined to be interviewed, is also seeking a seat.

The Nov. 7 election pits slow-growth Democrats, Elrich and Trachtenberg, against Republicans viewed as moderate growth advocates, such as Abrams and Gnemi.

The county’s growth rate is sufficient, Abrams said, but infrastructure has not kept pace. For Gnemi, the growth rate is a direct result of the county’s proximity to Washington and is on target with the thriving federal economy. Leventhal and Floreen both view the growth rate as adequate.

If the conservative Democrats are successful, they could join other like-minded district council members for a slow-growth-majority council.

‘‘It was clear after the primary that folks are looking for a balanced approach when it comes to land use decision making. It was clear people wanted a change,” Trachtenberg said.

Still at the forefront are planning reforms following problems uncovered last year in Clarksburg. Almost all of the candidates have proposed some type of change within the Department of Park and Planning, including additional training for agency employees, hiring more people and instituting a more thorough system of checks and balances for each project.

‘‘Clarksburg revealed a management problem. Permit enforcement is what failed in Clarksburg,” said Abrams, who was selected by the Republican central committee to replace Adol Owen-Williams II, who withdrew from the race. Abrams applauds the council’s appointment of Royce Hanson to replace Derick P. Berlage as Planning Board chairman. Berlage resigned this summer after four years on the job. ‘‘Hanson will need much stronger Park and Planning commissioners to turn the agency around,” Abrams said.

In addition to growth and planning, transportation is a third topic universally addressed by the at-large candidates.

Floreen and Leventhal, members of 2002’s ‘‘End Gridlock” slate, have been criticized for not ending traffic congestion within the county. Since being elected, Floreen has co-sponsored legislation, with Silverman, to have the county pay for parts of long-delayed Montgomery road projects awaiting state funding. Both she and Leventhal also support the Purple Line, a 14-mile light-rail or bus line between Bethesda and New Carrollton.

Skolnick, a member of the county’s Charter Review Commission, has perhaps the most detailed traffic plan, which includes park-and-ride garages at malls with shuttles to Metro stations, tolls on highways and bridges and a $1 fee for designated times on Metro and in parking garages. ‘‘The ‘End Gridlock’ slate was a joke,” Skolnick said. ‘‘We’re still in the same gridlock that existed four years ago. It’s time for new ideas.”

Also noteworthy is that the at-large candidates of both parties are not only advocating for reforms in several county agencies, but they are also supporting additional council oversight to ensure the changes are implemented.

Elrich and Skolnick support strong legislative oversight of the school system, particularly its budget. Reinheimer supports additional council oversight of some park and planning divisions.

Individually, some at-large candidates have pet projects they will promote if elected.

Trachtenberg, a social worker and president of the Maryland chapter of the National Organization of Women, wants to reform the county’s public health system to provide better services for the mentally ill and senior citizens. Leventhal, chairman of the council’s Health and Human Services Committee, is proposing additional services for the homeless and low-income families.

‘‘I look forward to serving on the council and anticipate a collegial environment,” Trachtenberg said. ‘‘I know many of the current council members, and feel [the newly elected council] will be a diverse and civic-minded and earnest group of folks.”