Oscar Ramirez

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.

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.

More Candidates Expected

Montgomery County Democrats Oscar Ramirez and Alfred Carr have announced that they are running for the District 18 Delegate seat of the late Jane Lawton, according to Milt Minneman Communications Director of the County Democratic Central Committee.

"Several other Democrats are considering running, but have not announced their intention yet," Minneman said.

Ramirez is legislative director for Rep. Al Green of Texas and a member of the District 18 Central Committee. Carr is a councilman in Kensington and also serves as a District 18 precinct Vice Chair.

Members of the committee seeking office are not permitted to vote.

Due to a conflict, the committee's December 11 meeting to decide the successor will now be held at their headquarters in Kensington, located at 3720 Farragut Avenue.