Jane Lawton

Governor Martin O’Malley has chosen Kensington Councilman Al Carr to serve the remainder of Delegate Jane Lawton’s term.  read more »

Vacancy Replacement Process Opens Up

All eyes were on Marie Wallace.

The assistant secretary of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee, a hushed crowd packed inside their Kensington headquarters to listen as she read aloud the names of each committee member, followed by his or her vote.

Last night, Montgomery’s Democratic leadership overwhelmingly recommended Al Carr to replace the late Del. Jane Lawton in District 18, the fourth time they have voted to fill a vacant legislative seat this term.

But unlike the prior three selections, this time committee members were required to attach their names to their ballots in accordance with new rules meant to impose more transparency and accountability.

Al Carr: Elated to be the MCDCC's pick for District 18 delegate.Kensington Councilman Al Carr has been recommended by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee to fill the open District 18 Delegate seat vacated by the death of the late Del. Jane Lawton.

Carr received 14 of the 22 votes cast from the committee. Former congressional aide Rick Kessler finished second with 6 votes, and community activist Roz Pelles finished a disappointing third with just 2 votes. Fredric Cooper and George English did not receive any votes.

The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee has picked Kensington Councilman Al Carr to fill the District 18 Delegate seat left vacant by the death of Del. Jane Lawton. Carr defeated former congressional aide Rick Kessler by a 14-6 vote, with community activist Roz Pelles finishing third with just two votes.

Dana Beyer, M.D.Dr. Dana Beyer said she decided to drop her bid to replace the late Del. Jane Lawton at the conclusion of a candidate’s forum last night because she knew she wasn’t going to win.

Beyer indicated that she had spoken to members of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee prior to the event, and informed them that she was contemplating withdrawal. She did not make a final decision until the forum was about to begin, and had yet to inform committee members of her decision.

Frederic C. CooperFred Cooper thinks the Montgomery County delegation could benefit from some “geographic diversity.”

In his bid for the vacant District 18 seat in the House of Delegates, he’s making an issue out of where representatives live and how it might affect whose voice is heard in Annapolis.

Cooper’s address in the district is a relatively new one. He first came to Montgomery County in 1981, moving on to Howard County in 1989, where he was twice elected to the Democratic Central Committee. In 2005, he and his wife returned to Silver Spring, their current residence.

Beyer Withdraws

The race to fill the District 18 Delegate seat left vacant on November 29 by the death of Del. Jane Lawton, continued Sunday night, as six candidates participated in a town-hall style forum before a large crowd at the Leland Center in Chevy Chase. And in an unexpected move, Dana Beyer withdrew from the race during her closing remarks.

The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee will recommend a candidate for appointment on Tuesday night. Their recommendation will then be sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley for approval.

Five Democrats remain in the race: Eric “Rick” Kessler, Al Carr, George English; Rosalyn “Roz” Pelles and Fredric Cooper.

Al CarrOscar Ramirez, congressional staffer to Rep. Al Green (D-TX) and early candidate for the vacant District 18 delegate seat, has announced he is withdrawing his candidacy and endorsing Kensington Councilman Alfred Carr.

Ramirez is phoning members of the Montgomey County Democratic Central Committee, who are picking a replacement for the late Del. Jane Lawton on Tuesday evening, to inform them of his decision.

The candidates will meet for a public forum tonight at 7:30 PM in the Leland Center in Chevy Chase.

After unknown Bill Frick emerged out of a large field to become the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee's choice for replacement delegate in District 16 lat September, some are wondering whether it could happen again.

With five in the race to replace Jane Lawton in District 18, a friend of Rick Kessler describes a policy wonk with political instinct - and someone who could break out of Sunday night's candidate forum as the sleeper candidate.

Jeff Carroll, chief of staff to New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, got to know Kessler while working on Pallone's 1998 re-election campaign. That year, Pallone faced a serious challenge from Republican Mike Ferguson (who would go on to win a seat in another district) and Kessler took some time off from work to show Carroll the ropes.

"He taught me how to do GOTV," Carroll told PolitickerMD.com.

Dana Beyer, M.D.The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee has confirmed that Dana Beyer, M. D, of Chevy Chase and George T. English, Jr. of Silver Spring have joined the race for the vacant District 18 seat in the House of Delegates.

Dr. Beyer, an adviser on health matters to Montgomery Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg, waged a strong campaign for delegate in the 2006 primary, spending more than $108,000. The fact that she would have been the first transgender Maryland lawmaker gained wide notoriety, and she finished as the second runner-up with 12.3% of the vote.

George T. EnglishEnglish is a retired NOAA economist and former officer in the U.S. Army. He is a frequent candidate for office, most recently running for U.S. Senate last cycle.

Kensington Councilman Alfred Carr and congressional staffer Oscar Ramirez announced their candidacies earlier in the week.