Hanson, 78, may run for Dist 2 open seat

The suspense is almost over in Montgomery County's race for the open County Council seat being vacated by Mike Knapp (D). Royce Hanson, formerly chairman of the county's planning board, who has been highly critical of what he said is political interference in the planning process, is expected to announce his candidacy Tuesday, the filing deadline in Maryland. Hanson, 78, won't confirm he is running, but has been making plans for a formal announcement at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Germantown. He has been meeting privately with potential supporters and nailing down pledges for campaign donations. He will enter a potentially crowded field for the nomination in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary. So far, Charles Kirchman of Germantown, Craig Rice, a delegate to the General Assembly, and Sharon Dooley, a local activist who ran against Knapp in 2006, are eyeing the race. On the Republican side, activist and attorney Robin Ficker of Boyds, is planning a run. SOURCE: Washington Post