Hogan, Barkley to lead Montgomery Democratic delegations in Annapolis

New committee assignments up in the air for now

Friday, Nov. 17, 2006

by Douglas Tallman

Staff Writer

Sen. Patrick J. Hogan and Del. Charles E. Barkley will lead Montgomery County’s Democrat-heavy delegations to Annapolis as the lawmakers return to a state capital once again governed by a Democrat in the governor’s mansion.

‘‘In all my discussions with Governor-elect O’Malley, I think he’s willing to work with us, and I think we’ll get a lot more done,” Hogan said. ‘‘We’re never going to agree 100 percent of the time. I think that partisan tone and gotcha politics will be gone.”

In the election’s aftermath, the survivors have begun a shuffle for committee assignments. Sen.-elect Richard S. Madaleno Jr. is considered a shoo-in for the influential Budget and Taxation Committee. And Sen. Robert J. Garagiola is pondering a switch to the Finance Committee.

In the House of Delegates, Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Sheila Ellis Hixson said her panel would be considering any of the eight freshman delegates from Montgomery County to replace Del. Michael R. Gordon, who retired. Republicans would be replacing Del. Jean B. Cryor (D-Dist. 15) of Potomac if she fails to win re-election. So far, her race is too close to call, but there are still about 1,300 provisional ballots and 438 overseas absentee ballots in her district to be counted. The count begins today.

As Senate delegation chairman, Hogan (D-Dist. 39) of Germantown replaces Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D-Dist. 20) of Silver Spring. Ruben lost the Sept. 12 primary to Sen.-elect Jamin B. Raskin of Takoma Park.

Sen. Rona E. Kramer (D-Dist. 15) of Olney will become vice chairwoman, a position previously held by Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville. Forehand just wanted a break from the position, Hogan said Monday.

‘‘I envision Senator Kramer and I being very active and working to help the new members as well as keeping everybody up to speed and working together as a group of eight for the betterment of the county,” he said.

Ruben held the Senate chairmanship since 1989. Hogan said he does not envision staying nearly as long.

‘‘It should rotate every so often,” he said.

Barkley, who has been chairman of the House delegation since 2002, retained his seat, although several delegates had considered electing a new chairman.

‘‘It fizzled in the beginning,” said Del. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village.

Other delegates, King said, want to make sure the county has the most effective representation, but in the end Barkley was elected unanimously.

In other years, the House delegation selects its chairman in the spring. Because of the election, the delegation voted last week. Delegates will revisit the chairmanship after the 90-day General Assembly, which begins Jan. 10.

Del. Susan C. Lee (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda will take over as vice chairwoman from Del. Carol S. Petzold, who gave up her District 19 seat to run for the Maryland Senate.

The county is sending 10 new legislators to Annapolis. Eight are headed to the House of Delegates, and two are headed to the Senate. One lawmaker — Madaleno (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington — is switching chambers to the Senate.

House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. have not released committee assignments yet, but Barkley (D-Dist. 39) of Germantown said he hoped Montgomery picked up a seat on the House Appropriations Committee. The 24-member House delegation has three seats on the influential panel, which determines state expenditures.

Hogan said Madaleno’s résumé — which includes four years on the House Appropriations Committee and six years as a state budget analyst — makes him a perfect fit for the Budget and Taxation Committee. Hogan and Kramer already serve on the panel. Madaleno would be filling a seat vacated by Ruben.

Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown is interested in the Finance Committee seat once held by Sen. Leonard H. Teitelbaum (D-Dist. 19) of Leisure World, who is retiring.

‘‘I suppose there will be a good chance I will be moving to Finance. ... I do have interest in the Finance Committee and I’m willing to do the work of my district, my county and my state regardless of which committee I’m on,” Garagiola said.

Garagiola now serves on the Judicial Proceedings Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda.

Frosh said either of Montgomery’s other freshman senators — Raskin or Mike Lenett (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring — could fill Garagiola’s seat.

Del. William A. Bronrott (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda said he might want to continue serving on the Environmental Matters Committee.

‘‘With a new governor and a new improved legislature and a new Congress, maybe the environment might indeed matter. It might not be a punishment staying where I’ve been,” Bronrott said.