The potential field for the County Council’s at-large seats in next June’s Democratic primary continues to expand, notwithstanding that all four incumbent at-large members have indicated they plan to seek another term.
Beth Daly, a Dickerson resident who is a member of the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board, confirmed she is “exploring” a run for an at-large council seat, and plans to make a decision this fall.
At-large Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal, and Hans Riemer intend to seek re-election.; Floreen is a Garrett Park resident, while the other three incumbents live in Takoma Park. Vivian Malloy of Olney, a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, previously filed to run for an at-large seat.
Also continuing to look at the race is Evan Glass, chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board. Glass has indicated he may run either at-large or for the Silver Spring-based District 5 seat, contingent on what current District 5 Councilmember Valerie Ervin decides to do.
Malloy has sought to make an issue of the geographic makeup of the council’s at-large membership, given its current tilt to residents of the Silver Spring/Takoma Park area. While the current absence of an at-large member from the county’s northern section could benefit Daly, 50, if she runs, she downplayed her potential status as an “upcounty” candidate.
“I do think the upcounty needs more representation, but I also feel I have a base of knowledge that gives me a vision for the entire county,” said Daly, who lived in Bethesda for a decade before moving to Dickerson 13 years ago. Daly, director of political sales for D.C.-based Telemundo, noted that—with a sister in Potomac and a mother-in-law who is a resident of Leisure World, located just north of Aspen Hill—she has ties to several areas of the county.
Daly, also a board member of the Sugarloaf Citizens Association, in June was among five Montgomery County residents in the first graduating class of Emerge Maryland. The latter is a political training program started last fall in an effort to increase the number of women seeking public office in the state.
Another graduate of that program, Bernice North of Takoma Park – currently executive vice chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board – has yet to announce political plans of her own. But she is listed as the treasurer of a political committee set up on behalf of her husband, management consultant Terrill North.
Like Glass, Terrill North appears to be in something of a holding pattern on a County Council run while awaiting Ervin’s announcement on her political future. Meanwhile, North is seeking to raise funds, albeit his Web site – simply headlined “Terrill North for Montgomery” – provides no hint of what office he is seeking.
In a Facebook posting Tuesday afternoon, North announced a Sept. 8 fundraiser seeking donations ranging from $50 to $500. The posting lists the event as “Afternoon Reception With Terrill J. North For Montgomery County Council.”
It brought a query from Marjorie Goldman, a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. “What are you running for – at large or District 5?” Goldman asked on North’s Facebook page.
North, who is vice chairman of the board of the Maryland ACLU, did not respond to requests via phone and email seeking comment on his plans.
