Rebuilding Together Montgomery County receives $10,000 Donation from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation

MILWAUKEE, WI (July 7, 2010) – Rebuilding Together Montgomery County is receiving a $10,000 grant from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation in recognition of financial representative Robert P. Quinn, CLU, CLTC’s outstanding volunteer involvement as part of the company’s 16th annual national Community Service Award program. A Kensington resident, Quinn is a representative with The Washington Group in Rockville, MD. Quinn is one of 25 financial representatives being recognized as top volunteers. Through the program funded by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, more than $275,000 will be donated this year to various nonprofit organizations nationwide.

“In Rockville and around the country, nonprofit organizations are hungry for exceptional volunteers like Robert to help others reach their full potential,” said Kimberley Goode, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Robert’s passion for volunteerism and commitment to strengthening the community is making a difference now and for future generations.”

Quinn will be presented with the Community Service Award during Northwestern Mutual’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at the company’s headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“I am extremely passionate about Rebuilding Together Montgomery County, a nonprofit volunteer organization that is dedicated to helping low-income homeowners in Montgomery County through home renovations and repairs,” said Quinn. “The money from this award will go a long way toward buying critical supplies to fix up peoples’ homes.”

The Community Service Award program is open to more than 9,000 Northwestern Mutual financial representatives and assistant financial representatives, recognizing their individual dedication to charitable organizations and philanthropic projects. Since the program’s inception, over $3 million has been contributed to more than 300 non-profit organizations throughout the country.

About the Northwestern Mutual Foundation The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to build strong, vibrant communities that serve as a legacy to future generations. The Foundation’s giving is designed to create an impact on the communities where the company’s employees and financial representatives live and work. In fiscal year 2009, the Foundation contributed more than $15 million to nonprofit organizations across the country.

About Northwestern Mutual The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company – Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) – the industry leader in total individual life insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance dividends paid to participating policyowners – has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 150 years. Though dividends are not guaranteed, are reviewed annually and are subject to change, the company has paid life insurance dividends every year since 1872. As a mutual company with over $1.2 trillion of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual seeks to share its gains with policyowners and deliver consistent and dependable value to clients over time. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

Leggett drops drug testing for fire fighters, offers more time off & tuition assistance

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has agreed to give government employees more paid time off in exchange for forgoing pay raises and other items included their contracts. The renegotiated contracts, which still need approval by the County Council, include other provisions such as the elimination of random drug testing for firefighters and $135,000 in tuition assistance for police, the agreements show. Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda said eliminating random drug and alcohol testing is "not appropriate" — especially for public safety employees.

"And I'm not likely to change my mind about that," she said.

Eliminating the drug testing would save the county about $35,000 annually. Leggett (D) has signed off on the renegotiated provisions. Leggett and the unions had to renegotiate terms after the council struck down pay raises and other items included in union contracts. A council committee will take up the new contracts Monday. Members of the county's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 35 would receive an additional 26 hours of paid leave under the agreement. The leave only would be used when it would not require the county to pay other employees overtime.

The police agreement, which had not yet been ratified by union members as of Tuesday, also calls for tuition assistance money beginning in fiscal 2012, according to Joseph Adler, the head of the county's Office of Human Resources. The program, which pays for county government employees to enroll in college courses and approved training programs for free, was discontinued in fiscal 2011 after it was revealed that some police officers were using tuition assistance money to pay for a program that offered deeply discounted weapons to those who enrolled.

The preliminary agreement caps tuition assistance spending among police at $135,000. Police previously had no limit on the amount of tuition assistance money they could receive.

"I think there's a real question of equity there," Trachtenberg said.

Renegotiated contracts for police officers are the only ones that provide for tuition assistance funding. FOP President Marc Zifcak said $135,000 is about the amount that members typically use to attend the courses they should be taking. Spending on the program only grew because the county's Office of Human Resources was approving courses that should have been denied. The FOP's preliminary agreement includes clarifying language specifying that the training courses must be taken at accredited colleges or universities or be chosen from an approved list of courses.

Zifcak said the FOP was under the impression since the program's start that only college courses were to be approved. Under Leggett's new agreement with members of the Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Association, IAFF, Local 1664, AFL-CIO, some employees who did not receive step increases or cost-of-living pay increases will be given 48 hours of paid leave, and others will get a prorated number of hours of compensatory leave based on how many hours employees work in a year, the agreement states.

The agreement also abolishes random alcohol and drug testing that was to begin in fiscal 2011, which began July 1. The agreement states that firefighters will not be randomly tested in either fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2012. Adler said firefighters were granted more paid leave because their work days are typically 24 hours. Firefighters and emergency services personnel still could be tested for drugs and alcohol if they were suspected of being under the influence, he said. The provision only bans random testing. IAFF President John Sparks did not return a call for comment Tuesday. SOURCE: Gazette

Lawmakers want long-distance flights at Reagan National

Montgomery County Democrats with either no primary or general election opponents

Here are the incumbents in MoCo who either face no Democratic opponent or no opponent at all. NOTE: There are no elected Republicans in Montgomery County.

No Democratic Opponent

County Executive Ike Leggett (NOTE: Daniel Vovak is running against him)
Council Member Phil Andrews (D-3)
Council Member Nancy Navarro (D-4)
Council Member Valerie Ervin (D-5)
Senator Brian Frosh (D-16)
Delegate Kumar Barve (D-17)
Delegate Jim Gilchrist (D-17)
Delegate Luiz Simmons (D-17)

No Opponent at All

State’s Attorney John McCarthy
Clerk of the Circuit Court Loretta Knight
Senator Rob Garagiola (D-15)
Senator Jamie Raskin (D-20)

THANKS: Maryland Politics Watch

OBVIOUS: RNC confirms Michael Steele will remain chairman

Despite numerous calls for his resignation over comments made criticizing the war effort in Afghanistan, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele will not step down, RNC spokesman Doug Heye confirmed Tuesday. Steele will stay on as the head of the committee amid criticism from Senate Republicans who took to the airwaves over the weekend to condemn his comments that the war in Afghanistan could not be won. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina appeared on the Sunday talk shows to discuss the chairman’s fate as leader of the Republican Party. Appearing on ABC’s This Week on a live feed from Kabul, McCain called Steele’s comments “wildly inaccurate” but stopped short of saying he should resign.

“[Steele] is going to have to assess as to whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee and make an appropriate decision,” McCain said.

While traveling with McCain in Afghanistan, Graham called Steele’s remarks an “uninformed, unnecessary, unwise, untimely comment” during an interview with Face the Nation on CBS.

“This is not President Obama’s war; this is America’s war,” he said.

On Fox News Sunday, DeMint echoed Graham’s comments about the war not being the sole responsibility of President Obama, and said Steele must apologize and get back to focusing on his job: getting Republicans elected.

“He needs to refocus on electing candidates who can stop this rampage of spending and debt in Washington — whether or not he resigns is up to other people than me, but I need to see him focus on this November election,” he said.

Although a number of influential conservatives have called for the chairman to step down, including Weekly Standard editor William Kristol and former deputy assistant secretary of state Elizabeth Cheney, only one member of Congress has taken that step. Rep. Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican, called Steele’s remarks “totally unacceptable” and called on the RNC chairman to “apologize and resign.”

“He undercut American forces fighting in the field, politicized further a war that two presidents of different parties have deemed in the national interest and embarrassed the party he purports to lead,” he said in a statement Monday. “It is time for him to go — quickly.”

But one elected member of Congress, however, took the weekend to defend Steele and his comments about Afghanistan. Texas Republican Ron Paul, former presidential candidate and fierce critic of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said Steele “should not resign” and that his assessment of the situation was correct.

“He is absolutely right — Afghanistan is now Obama’s war,” Paul said in a written statement Sunday. “During the 2008 campaign, Obama was out in front in insisting that more troops be sent to Afghanistan. Obama called for expanding the war even as he pretended to be a peace candidate.” SOURCE: Daily Caller

Corn field is scene of end of bank robbery chase

A Montgomery County police officer shot and critically wounded a bank robbery suspect Tuesday morning in a Damascus cornfield as the suspect drove his car at the officer at the end of a chase, authorities said. Officers were sent to the PNC bank branch in the 26200 block of Ridge Road about 10:30 a.m. to investigate a reported robbery, said Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman. Starks said witnesses saw the suspect jump the counter at the bank, grab some cash and flee. Those witnesses, he said, pointed officers in the suspect's direction, and one even followed the suspect briefly in his own vehicle.

Officers spotted the car, a red Toyota Corolla, and chased it. The suspect turned down Bowman Acres Lane, a small street of large, single-family homes that dead-ends at a cornfield, Starks said. The suspect, having no obvious way out, drove up a gravel road and into the cornfield, Starks said. As officers worked amid a cloud of dust to set up a perimeter, the suspect drove at one of them, Starks said, and the officer, who was outside his patrol car, opened fire.

"Officers were trying to set up a perimeter using a good amount of caution," Starks said, remarking that the officers' visibility was obscured by all the dust. "He was trying to run the officer over, allegedly."

Police declined to name the officer or the wounded suspect. It is unclear how many times the suspect was hit. The Corolla traveled out of the cornfield and into a yard across the street, where it came to rest. Starks said the officer fired "multiple" shots, but he wouldn't say how many. The suspect was flown to a nearby hospital in "extremely grave" condition, authorities said. Officers on the scene had to administer CPR, Starks said. The officer who fired, he said, was not struck or injured.

Investigators were searching the car and cornfield Tuesday afternoon. The rear bumper of the Corolla was damaged, and Starks said officers made contact with the bumper during the chase. The aftermath of the chase created an odd scene in the quiet Damascus subdivision. Neighbors said the suspect could not have been from the area or he would have known that there was no escape once he turned down Bowman Acres Lane. One neighbor said it was lucky Tuesday was so hot because children who normally play outside were indoors.

"I think he went down the wrong street, that's for sure," said Dorothy Seder, a resident. "It just dead-ends into the corn." SOURCE: Washington Post

Weather report in DC

Neil Cohen enters U.S. Senate race against Barbara Mikulski

Neil Cohen, A New Voice for Maryland, Announces His Campaign for U.S. Senate Dr. Neil Cohen, a moderate Republican who believes the people of Maryland deserve someone who puts them ahead of the party system, declares his candidacy for U.S. Senate and will be on the ballot in the September primary.

Rockville, Md – July 7, 2010-- Dr. Neil Cohen is a candidate for U. S. Senate in the September primary. A moderate Republican, Dr. Cohen is fired up and ready to go to work on behalf of the people of Maryland to help fix the fiscal and social challenges that confront this nation. A couple days ago, he filed his papers for the September 14th primary.

Why I'm Running

In the 2010 Senate campaign, I will be a real choice for the state's voters who are ready for a positive change. With the deficit exploding and our public debt running into TRILLIONS of dollars, with millions of our fellow citizens unemployed, with the prospect of schools, hospitals and many local public services forced to close or go bankrupt, I believe our current officials spend too much time defending their positions rather than looking for solutions. Unlike my primary opponents, I'm a MODERATE Republican who believes the American people deserve someone who puts their collective interests ahead of the party system.

To get Maryland and the country moving again will take political leadership and cooperation. We will not end partisan bickering if hard-line conservatives continue to argue that the only way forward is to cut out government from our lives, repeal all healthcare legislation and disagree with Democrats on every issue as a matter of principle.

I'm running as a moderate Republican to work with both parties to find the solutions we desperately need. I may not be popular with some of the political hacks in Washington, but they won't be the ones who elect me as their voice in the Senate.

I am Neil Cohen, D.D.S., and I've been practicing dentistry nearly 30 years in Maryland. I live in Rockville with my wife Arlene. We have a son, Sander, a Maryland Deputy Fire Marshall. I'm a graduate of Temple University and a 1977 graduate of Howard University as a Doctor of Dental Surgery.

Contact: Georgio F. Comninos, Public Information Manager
Phone (240)-506-6969
Website: Cohenforsenate.com
Email: neil@cohenforsenate.com

Silver Spring lawyer helping Gulf fisherman

Child rescued by lifeguard in Germantown

GERMANTOWN, Md. - It is the time of year when the temperature is hot and the pool is one of the best options for cooling down.

"We decided to come to the pool most of the days, enjoying the water and it’s nice," said one Germantown swimmer.

"It's hot, it's cooling us and it's the best place to be," said another swimmer.

The pool can also be a dangerous place if you are not careful. Kelly Chikes has been a lifeguard at the Williamsburg Square pool in Germantown for two years. On Monday, she noticed a young visitor playing in the water.

"He was playing right over here by the three feet [area of the pool], tossing a ball back and forth," recalled Chikes.

The ball ended up in the deep water and the child went to get it.

"He was just playing around in the water and he kind of went onto his stomach at one point. As lifeguards, we are used to seeing that,” said Chikes.

Kelly says it is a game kids play called "the dead man's float.” She says all the kids do it even though they are not supposed to. The lifeguards blew the whistle once but got no response from the floating child.

"His friend went over and tapped him and he wasn't responding," said Chikes.

Chikes and the other lifeguards blew the whistle three times, jumped into the water, pulled the child out and called EMS.

"We did have to put him in the emergency position to clear the air passageways. We just tilt the victim's head back and check their mouth, make sure there's nothing obstructing the airways,” said Chikes.

The child was taken to the hospital where he is reported to be fine. But it could have been a lot worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says each day, three children in the U.S. die from drowning and another four receive emergency care for nonfatal injuries.

"It's just something that you really have to be constantly vigilant, always looking around scanning. You can see our lifeguards in the chair have the rescue tubes already in their laps. You are just always ready for a save,” said Chikes. SOURCE: FOX DC

Sources: Police Shoot Bank Robbery Suspect After Pursuit

DAMASCUS, Md. - A Montgomery County (web | news) police officer shot and critically wounded a bank robbery suspect following a pursuit in the Damascus area, police sources tell ABC 7 News. It all began with the robbery of a PNC Bank in the 13000 block of Middlebrook Road in Germantown about 9:30 a.m. About an hour later, a PNC Bank in the 26000 block of Ridge Road in Damascus, Maryland, was held up. That robbery produced a lookout for a red Toyota sedan.

At some point, officers spotted a vehicle matching the description and began to pursue it. The Toyota driver turned down a residential street, Bowman Acres Lane, in Damascus, and drove into a cornfield. A witness, neighborhood resident Chris Betts, says he spotted the Toyota "tearing" through the cornfield at about 60 mph. Believing the suspect was trapped, police began to form a perimeter around the field, officials said. That's when the suspect allegedly drove at an officer, who -- in fear for his life -- opened fire. The driver was wounded and crashed into a row of trees. The suspect was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore, where he was said to be in extremely critical condition. Sources said police did not recover a weapon from the vehicle. The investigation remains ongoing. SOURCE: WJLA

Leggett temporarily stops removal of 135 toilets

There will be a place to answer the call of nature in Montgomery County's parks this holiday weekend. The parks department has scuttled -- for now -- a cost-cutting plan to withdraw more than 100 portable toilets. Last week, the department said it would get rid of toilets in the county's 80 parks to save $150,000 annually. But as the new fiscal year began Thursday, a parks spokeswoman said the department had canceled its request to Don's Johns of Chantilly to start removing the toilets.

The potty reprieve may be only temporary, however. Later this summer, parks users still may need to find other options, because the long-term prospects for portable toilets aren't looking very good. An effort by the parks department to get private donors to pick up the tab for the portable toilets -- about $65 a month, per toilet, including a laminated sign recognizing the donor -- isn't doing well. Kelli Holsendolph, parks spokeswoman, said that the agency has received only one check to cover the cost of a portable toilet in Silver Spring's Nolte Park. About 12 others have expressed interest, she said. The plans to get rid of the toilets were shelved because, Holsendolph said, "We are very encouraged by the community support," she said, despite the low number of firm offers so far.

Holsendolph said the county's parks have about 135 portable toilets, including some designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Some parks have permanent restrooms, which are unaffected by the cost-cutting plan. The potty problem drew attention last month after parks chief Mary Bradford pointed out that the approximately $150,000 line item for portable toilet rentals in her agency's budget had been cut as part of $13 million in reductions from the agency's $82 million budget request. Bradford said she had made all the cuts she could -- shrinking spending on such items as fertilizer and mowing; dropping many outside contracts; proposing a furlough plan with unionized employees -- before cutting the budget for portable toilets. Conrad Harrell, vice president of Don's Johns, said he was surprised that Montgomery had made portable toilets a target.

"Every once in a while, someone looks at temporary restrooms, and says, 'They cost money and are an eyesore and we should get rid of them,' " he said. "Then they find out that eliminating them in parks and recreation areas can be a disaster. There are disease transmissions and all sorts of awkward situations of families going to parks [unable to] find a place to go to the restroom.

"Montgomery County -- they have a little bit of money. They ought to be able to take care of this," he said. "Their parks are beautiful." He said Don's Johns expects to be paid for the continued use of the toilets, however long they are in Montgomery's parks.

The potty plan has set off a furor among elected officials, with Jennifer Hughes, a top aide to County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) warning Bradford that it would be a "terrible misjudgment" to withdraw the portable toilets from the county's heavily used parks. Hughes said their removal could endanger public health, although there is no explicit requirement in county law for portable toilets in the parks. The cuts to the park system's budget are part of an overall $4.7 billion spending plan in which Montgomery, for the first time in 40 years, actually reduced its budget. Until this year, political battles in Montgomery usually have been waged over the size of budget increases.

But as the county and state faced major revenue shortfalls, Montgomery officials this year began layoffs and unpaid leaves or furloughs in nearly every agency. The $2 billion school system had some layoffs but no furloughs. Besides the parks, other highly visible Montgomery departments are beginning to show the effects of cost cutting. The county library system is the only one in Maryland to opt out of a popular youth summer reading program. The libraries also have cut budgets for new books and have reduced hours of operation.SOURCE: Washington Post

Montgomery County water ban lifted

Water restrictions that were extended amid a blistering heat wave have been lifted for 1.8 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission announced Tuesday morning.

“I want to thank our customers who were unavoidably inconvenienced by these water restrictions,” WSSC's general manager, Jerry N. Johnson, said in a statement.

Customers were directed to cut their water use by 30 percent Thursday when a corroded 96-inch water main in Potomac was shut off. The restrictions were expected to be lifted Monday, but they were extended after bacteria were detected in water samples. Tests confirmed the safety of the water Tuesday morning and the pipe was put back into service, WSSC officials said. Johnson said the water limits, imposed as temperatures soared to dangerous highs, were necessary to ensure the safety of the water and to maintain adequate pressure for fighting fires.

“We needed to be proactive to prevent what could have been a very serious situation,” he said. “I know it was a major inconvenience, especially on a holiday weekend.”

Work to restore the site of the pipe replacement will continue for several days, officials said. SOURCE: Washington Post

Roy Hanson, Tribute video

THANKS: Maryland Politics Watch

A tribute to Royce Hanson from M-NCPPC on Vimeo.

Metro has less cars in service, possibly due to baby stroller incident

WASHINGTON - Tuesday morning marked the first rush hour since Metro pulled 100 of its 4,000-series cars out of service, perhaps making things a bit more crowded. Between 60 and 70 4,000-series cars are used on a typical weekday, Metro says. The transit agency warned the cars' removal could impact the rush hours "somewhat", but hopes the shortened workweek will alleviate some of congestion. The transit agency detected problems with the cars' doors and pulled them out of service Friday night. Testing revealed the doors could open while the cars are in motion. [In spite of an incident days earlier when a baby stroller was caught in a door], Metro claims there was no specific incident tied to the cars' removal. Cars will be returned to service as they are repaired. It will take two to three weeks to complete repairs. SOURCE: WJLA

UNBELIEVABLE: Republicans want Michael Steele to resign

Montgomery County water repair to likely end Monday

Officials with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission said the agency is on track to complete repairs to a water main Monday after technicians worked around the clock to install and secure a new section of pipe. The agency does not plan to extend water restrictions past Monday, and officials said that since the time workers noticed the weak point in the pipe, there had been no reported outages or service disruptions.

"We're doing good," said John White, a WSSC spokesman. "Our reserves are up, and we're full."

Workers spent Sunday welding as well as rewiring fiber-optic cables that monitor corrosion damage to the 96-inch pipe, near Tuckerman Lane and Gainsborough Road in Potomac. The next step, White said, is testing water samples to ensure that no bacterial contaminants had grown in the water. The samples will be evaluated at a WSSC lab in Silver Spring and could take up to 16 hours to be processed. The agency doubts it will find bacteria, because contamination occurs mostly when water pressure is low. The conservation goal WSSC imposed for about 1.8 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George's counties Thursday was aimed at preserving water pressure. By Sunday evening, WSSC had issued 233 warnings for unnecessary outdoor water use and imposed $500 fines on two customers after they had received warnings but ignored them. Officials couldn't disclose whether the customers were washing cars, filling pools or watering lawns.

"The good news is that less water has been used," White said. "Still, not the 30 percent we asked for."

WSSC reported a 14 percent drop in usage since Thursday, and officials said that although customers didn't meet the conservation goal, low water pressure has not been a problem. There has been a steady drop in water usage since the restrictions were imposed. Many residents said they had been unaware of the restrictions. Others, including operators of a plant nursery and garden center in Silver Spring, said they did not intend to comply. WSSC warned customers against unnecessary water use and fined customers who ignored an initial warning and violated restrictions that banned watering lawns, washing cars and topping off swimming pools. Officials said some WSSC customers in Prince George's were unaware that they shared the same water lines as WSSC customers in Montgomery, where the portion of the water main was replaced.

"People sometimes are confused about why a break in Potomac would affect so many people around Prince George's County," said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D).

Despite the confusion and inconvenience of water restrictions over the holiday weekend, Leggett said he heard few complaints from county residents. The quick response from WSSC prevented the weakened portion of the water main from escalating into a larger problem for its customers, he said.

"They put a system in place to give us an early warning. It worked," he said. SOURCE: Washington Post

Weather report for Montgomery County

Fireworks in DC

Ehrlich enters campaign, discusses LG pick

OPINION: Is Metro overreacting to baby stroller story?

If you read the post that follows this story, I have to wonder what the cost was to the Metro system for taking so many trains out of service. Is that an overreaction to the stroller incident in this video? It seems like it is since the trains were removed for an alleged problem identical what happened just hours earlier. The train operator should have stopped the train. SOURCE: Montgomery County Daily

Metro removes every car from service for door inspection

WASHINGTON D.C. - As a precaution, Metro officials have removed 100 of its rail cars from service to inspect the operation of the car door motors, make repairs and return them to service. Between 60 and 70 of the 4000 series rail cars are in service on an average weekday and all are expected to return to use within two to three weeks. All 4000 cars were removed from service at the end of Friday, July 2 to allow Metros rail experts to address a possible short in the car door circuitry that could cause the doors to open while the cars are in motion.

The removal of the cars was not prompted by a particular incident, but performance tests and observations conducted by Metro's operations staff. The cars are undergoing a rigorous inspection, repair and testing process. None of the cars were in use today (July 3). "This is a precautionary and proactive action to ensure the highest level of safety for our riders," said Interim General Manager Richard Sarles. Metro has been attempting to simulate an occurrence of the door openings in a controlled environment in a rail yard and were able to do so late this week. At that point the engineers, maintenance experts and quality control officials were able to identify the cause of the concern as well as the needed fix. The problem is within the circuitry of the cylindrical door motors, which are about a foot long and five inches wide. In total, the 100 rail cars have 1,200 motors as each rail car has 12 individual doors. This is a precautionary and proactive effort on our part. There was not any single occurrence that triggered our decision, said Deputy General Manager of Operations Dave J. Kubicek, who recommended that the cars be removed from service as a precautionary measure.

Rail officials expect little impact to service for Independence Day because the service plan calls for 800 rail cars to be in service at the height of the fireworks rush between 6 p.m. and midnight. Service will not be affected on Monday, July 5 because it is a federal holiday, and ridership is expected to be light. Tuesday through Friday service is expected to be impacted somewhat, when typically 850 rail cars are used for the morning and afternoon peak hours. However because the work-week is starting with a federal holiday, ridership is not as likely to be as high as a typical work-week as locals often extend their vacations during 4th of July week. SOURCE: FOX DC

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

DRIP: Water restrictions continue

Man charged with Wheaton mall carjacking

County police have arrested and charged a Seat Pleasant man in connection with the carjacking of a father who was with his two small children in the Westfield Wheaton Shopping Center last month, according to police spokesman Cpl. Dan Friz. Tyrone Collington Jr., 23, of the 6100 block of Addison Road, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of armed carjacking, one count of armed robbery, three counts of first-degree assault and one count of the use of a handgun in a violent crime. He is being held on $75,000 bond in the Montgomery County Detention Center.

Shortly after 8 p.m. June 22 in a parking lot outside the Crisp ‘N' Juicy restaurant in the Westfield Wheaton mall, a father reported that he was buckling his children in their car seats when he was approached by another man who brandished a handgun and demanded the keys to his black Honda Civic. The father handed over the keys and removed his children from the car, and the suspect fled in the vehicle, according to police reports.

Two days later, Fairfax County Police learned of an attempted carjacking at about 11 p.m. near the George Mason University campus. The suspect obtained the keys to a BMW but was unable to start it because the car had a high-end ignition system, Friz said. The suspect then returned to the stolen Honda and fled from the area. The person whose car he allegedly attempted to steal gave chase and eventually flagged down a Virginia State Police Trooper. Friz said the suspect eventually abandoned the Honda and fled on foot. SOURCE: Gazette

Passenger from DC hit-and-run is found

We have new developments on a motorcycle rider who was struck and dragged by a car in Northwest D.C. Thirty-five-year-old Todd Beckett was hit a week ago, and has endured three surgeries since the accident. Now sources tell ABC 7 News police have found the owner of the car, who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Sources also say the car owner is under investigation because he's not cooperating with detectives by revealing all he may know about who was behind the wheel that night. D.C. police are still searching for the hit-and-run driver who struck Beckett, backed up over him, and then dragged the victim for more than a block.

Beckett, was seriously injured. Beckett, who is married, mentors teens and volunteers at church. He is the kind of guy, friends say, who will make a bunch of sandwiches and hand them out to the homeless in his Petworth neighborhood. Beckett was riding his motorcycle on 13th Street, about 10:30 p.m. last Friday when a white sedan on Quincy failed to stop. He was two blocks from home.

"It is pretty gruesome and frankly, one of the most inhumane things I have ever seen," said Christopher Baer, one of Beckett's friends.

Witnesses say Beckett was thrown to the ground. Three teenage girls jumped out of the back of the sedan, and then the driver did the unthinkable.

"We screamed, 'Don't back up! Don't back up!" recalled Sharon Jackson, who witnessed the incident.

The car did back up, trapping Beckett underneath,

"Just to have a body stuck underneath a car and you're dragging him and the guy was wearing shorts so you know he's getting destroyed," said another witness, Isabel Tumblin. "It was just one of the most horrible things I have ever seen."

"The guy was just driving so fast," Jackson added. "I was just running down the street in my bare feet."

The car dragged Beckett nearly a city block before he became dislodged. Almost two dozen neighbors rushed outside -- many stayed with him, while others kept close watch on three girls who had jumped from the car.

"Two of them wanted to leave, but we were not going to let them," Tumblin recalled.

The girls said they had just met the driver through Facebook. Beckett's has undergone three surgeries, with more to come. The driver is still out there.

"Do the right thing," Jackson said. "Because it was an accident, when the person chose to leave the scene of the accident that is when it became a crime."

Investigators have recovered the car involved. SOURCE: WJLA

Ruth Musicante of SEIU 500 discusses MCPS contract

Montgomery County water use still high

September 15 is date for hospital expansion appeal

Montgomery County's zoning appeals board has set Sept. 15 as the day for oral arguments on the proposed expansion plan for Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. The board began its review this week of the plan, which a hearing examiner has recommended be sent back to the hospital for revisions to reduce the impact on the adjoining neighborhood.

Board of Appeals Chairman Catherine Titus on Wednesday rejected an appeal by a neighborhood group that she recuse herself from the case. The Huntington Terrace Citizens' Association asked for Titus to step aside because her husband formerly served as chairman of Suburban's board, and the couple has donated money to the hospital. Titus, the community group said, would have to review her husband's testimony in a previous expansion proposal.

But Titus said that she could be objective in the case, that the testimony of her husband (now a federal judge) was not relevant to the current case and that she lacks bias "in favor of or against any party." SOURCE: Washington Post

I-95 shut down for 2 hours

ELKTON, Md. | Maryland State Police say an accident on Interstate 95 near Elkton shut down southbound traffic temporarily while a medical evacuation helicopter was brought in to transport accident victims. State police say the accident occurred about 5 p.m. Sunday and the highway was expected to be reopened as soon as the patients were transported from the scene of the accident. SOURCE: Washington Times

Mother Teresa's relics in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, Md. - Mother Teresa is being honored in Baltimore this week, one month before what would have been her 100th birthday. Mother Teresa visited Baltimore one year before her death. At St. Wenceslaus Church in Baltimore, a steady stream of the faithful got to see her cherished rosary, worn sandals and other personal items. Pat Allen was moved to tears.

“It has a very special meaning because she was such a holy woman,” said Allen. “Those shoes walked on holy ground. All her work was holy and it’s special to touch them and look at them and even to pray in their presence.”

14 years after her last visit to Baltimore, Mother Teresa's missionaries of charity are still out front and helping the poor. In poverty stricken areas of east Baltimore, a steady stream of people came to be inspired. Many of the faithful were also able to kiss relics of her blood and hair. The personal items are part of a North American tour in honor of the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa's birth. Some never got to see her but these items are an important reminder of her holiness.

“To see this is incredible. Moving and inspiring,” said Jo Anne Sibisky.

Many have no doubt she will be the next saint in the Roman Catholic Church. The miracle of her work and message continues well past her death in 1997.

“Mother Teresa cared for the lowliest of the lowly and saw Christ in all of them and I think she wants us to do that. She's a holy woman and she should be one of his blessed saints,” said Allen. SOURCE: FOX DC

Potomac water main shut down after fiber alarm sounded

About 1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George's counties have been ordered to stop watering their lawns and washing their cars and limit their use of toilets, dishwashers and washing machines through the Fourth of July weekend after officials shut down a huge water main in Potomac on Thursday.

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission issued the temporary order after technicians sensed that there could be weaknesses in the concrete pipe -- at eight feet wide, the largest in the system -- near Tuckerman Lane and Gainsborough Road in Montgomery. Round-the-clock work is being done on the pipe. The utility hopes that the limits will reduce water use by about one-third, officials said. They want to ensure that fire departments in the two counties have adequate water pressure to fight fires. Residents can continue to drink tap water. Car washes that use recycled water are not affected, and the restrictions do not affect people on wells or municipal water systems. If the restrictions fail and water pressure drops, it is possible that bacteria could seep into the water, but that is not an issue now, officials said.

Mark Brady, spokesman for the Prince George's fire and EMS department, said that there is enough water to battle typical house fires but that the weakened main could create difficulties for larger blazes.

"The pressure is not a problem. It's the amount of water pumped into the system," Brady said. WSSC officials have said they can reroute additional water to areas if necessary, he added.

This is not the first time a massive main has caused major problems for the WSSC. In late 2008, a concrete main 66 inches in diameter burst along River Road in Bethesda, stranding cars amid a torrent of frigid water and requiring motorists to be rescued by helicopter and firefighters in boats. Other large water-main breaks in the past several years have led to boil-water advisories for homes, businesses and hospitals as well as the temporary closure of schools and day-care centers.

Although the WSSC implemented an 8 1/2 percent rate increase to pay for system improvements -- a fee plan that took effect Thursday -- officials concede that the pace of repairing and modernizing its infrastructure has been slow. Previously proposed rate increases have been rolled back by politicians in favor of other priorities, and the six-member operating board has often engaged in political infighting. In 2008, about 1,700 pipes leaked or broke. A 90-year record was set in 2007 with 2,129.

"Are we doing enough? Probably not," said Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen (D-At Large). "We've been wrestling with Prince George's for years over the right rate to apply to fund major infrastructure replacement. As a result, we're still in a piecemeal, crisis-response mode."

'Ping' signaled a problem

The Potomac water main was installed in 1969 and was last inspected three years ago, WSSC spokesman Jim Neustadt said. After that inspection, crews left behind fiber-optic equipment to detect the "ping" sounds created when the reinforcing steel wires snap from corrosion after groundwater seeps through the pipe's decaying concrete walls. A flurry of pings -- one on Tuesday afternoon and seven more just after midnight -- triggered an alarm warning that the pipe was in danger of bursting, Neustadt said.

Crews began digging along the shoulder of Tuckerman Lane on Thursday afternoon, and their work could require lane closures. The pipe is about six miles long and links the water filtration plant in Potomac with another pipe east of Interstate 270. Workers must drain a section about three-quarters of a mile long, then cut out the weakened section and replace it. James P. Keary, a Prince George's spokesman, said the government is sending notices out through its e-mail discussion lists, Twitter accounts and other social media to alert residents to the restrictions. Although the fine for violating the water restrictions is $500, officials in both jurisdictions said they will encourage violators to comply with the policy.

"Most people will understand this," Keary said. "There will be some who forgot to reset their sprinklers, and somebody will go out and wash their cars. But I don't think we have to be the water police on this."

'Not where it should be'

The WSSC's attention to fixing its aging pipes has been diverted for decades by tensions between its six politically appointed commissioners -- three from Montgomery, three from Prince George's -- who oversee policy and approve large contracts. The acrimony came to a head last year when the board became deadlocked along county lines over a new general manager, and a Prince George's commissioner accused two Montgomery commissioners of racial bias. The board was so bogged down in debating minority contracting issues that it didn't discuss the massive River Road pipe break for two months.

For years, the WSSC board has generally sought double-digit rate increases, said Keith Levchenko, a senior legislative analyst with the Montgomery council. Montgomery's council had pushed for a 9.9 percent increase for the fiscal year that began Thursday, and Prince George's called for an 8 percent increase. They compromised at 8 1/2 percent. A household that uses 210 gallons a day pays $761 per year in water and sewer charges, according to the WSSC.

"We wanted to go higher, they wanted to go lower and everyone has a fair point," Floreen said. "But at the end of the day, our infrastructure is not where it should be for this very fundamental government function."

Said Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Laurel), chairman of the Prince George's County Council: "I think that an 8 1/2 percent rate hike is very steep in this economy. SOURCE: Washington Post

Montgomery County Democrats thank Daniel Vovak, a Republican

Today Daniel Vovak received a hearty "thank you" from the Montgomery County Democrats. Vovak is running for county executive against Isiah Leggett. Vovak website is here.

Vovak said, "It's a rare Republican to receive a letter of thanks from Montgomery County Democrats. I'm sure many Democrats will vote for a fair Republican for this election cycle and give me a chance. If Leggett didn't run the county into a $1 billion deficit this year, then a Republican couldn't win, but now winning is a possibility. I'm probably the only Republican since Connie Morella whom Democrats can trust."

Large crack found in water pipe

Workers found a 4-foot crack in a major Montgomery County water main Friday morning, but are now struggling with valve problems as they try to drain at least a half million gallons of chlorinated water without damaging the nearby natural environment. Surrounding valves have not shut tightly enough and water continues to poor into the section of pipe where workers want to replace a 16-foot section so mandatory water restrictions can be lifted, according to Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission spokeswoman Lyn Riggins.

“We’re struggling with where we can put this water safety so we can get it out of the pipe as quickly as possible,” Riggins said. “You can’t just open up a fire hydrant and drain this chlorinated water down the street” and into sensitive streams, she added.

They have been sending some water down a much smaller sewer line, and are considering dumping it through de-chlorination pads on fields nearby. They are also “exercising” the valves – basically opening and closing them – in hopes of getting a better seal so more water doesn’t keep coming in, Riggins said.

“We’re not getting a really good shutdown right now,” she said. “It’s a little bit of a battle right there.”

About 1.8 million people in Montgomery and Prince George's counties have been ordered to stop watering their lawns and washing their cars and limit their use of toilets, dishwashers and washing machines through the Fourth of July weekend after officials shut down a huge water main in Potomac on Thursday. Still, Riggins said the commission is estimates the mandatory restrictions will last at least four days.

“We can’t lift the restrictions until we get this main back into service,” she said. “We’d hope to be able to lift them at some point on Monday.” SOURCE: Washington Post

SURGE: $30 billion more for Afghanistan plus pork

Despite pessimism that the war in Afghanistan is turning out to be a quagmire, Democrats controlling the House muscled through a plan Thursday to finance President Barack Obama's troop surge, but only after sweetening the measure with last-ditch moves to salvage their faltering jobs agenda. Long delayed, the approximately $80 billion bill was passed amid building pressure on Democrats to act before their weeklong Fourth of July break begins. But the Senate approved a significantly slimmer measure in May and it'll take additional weeks to reconcile the differences between the two battling chambers.

The crucial vote to advance the measure under unusually convoluted floor rules came on a 215-210 tally to bring up the nearly $60 billion Senate-passed measure for debate. Democrats added more than $20 billion for domestic programs late Thursday, including $10 billion in grants to school districts to avoid teacher layoffs, $5 billion for Pell Grants to low-income college students and $700 million to improve security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Black lawmakers won add-ons of their own, including a $1 billion youth summer jobs initiative and money to pay discrimination claims by black farmers against the Agriculture Department

The White House weighed in with a veto threat over $800 million in cuts to education programs. The cuts would be used to help pay for the additional domestic spending, which was sought by top Democrats such as Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin. The move infuriated Obey, who acidly pointed out that he had drafted legislation last year that contained the money and that even with the $800 billion cut, more than $3 billion would be left over.

The $60 billion Senate-passed measure blends $30 billion for the influx of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan with money for disaster aid accounts, foreign aid and disability benefits for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. The Senate passed it in May, but House leaders spent weeks trying to solve the puzzle of how to pass it over the reservations of an increasing number of anti-war House Democrats. The delays have eroded whatever leverage House Democrats may have in upcoming dealings with the Senate and the White House, which seem to want the war funding bill signed into law as soon as possible.

The House measure will receive a cold reception from Senate Republicans, who would have the votes to filibuster it, according to Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, a senior Republican whose support was central to Senate passage. SOURCE: Huffington Post

Water restrictions in effect for Montgomery County

This 4th of July weekend, there will surely be plenty of fireworks. But when it comes to waterworks, you may not see as much in Prince George's and Montgomery counties. WSSC has issued mandatory water restrictions for 2 million of its customers, after crews discovered a 96-inch water main ready to burst Thursday. As crews continue repairs on the faulty pipe, WSSC spokesperson Lynn Riggins said Friday morning, "We made tremendous progress overnight."

The fiber optic sensors in the 8-foot water pipe actually picked up the sound of reinforcing wires snapping.

"Yesterday, we started digging down on the pipe and we've exposed the wires and confirmed that ... the wires that support the pipe were starting to fail," Riggins said.

Now, crews are working to drain the pipe so they can cut the failing section out and replace it. Meanwhile WSSC is asking customers to cut their water usage by a third.

"Customers we need your full cooperation with these water restrictions, we understand its a holiday weekend and I know its inconvenient," Riggins said.

The repairs will take at least four days and that means no outside or inside water use.

"No water, well, we'll just have to suffer a little bit," one resident said.

WSSC wants all customer to conserve water until the repairs are completed, including no topping off swimming pool, watering lawns and washing cars. Inside the home, customers should limit showering, washing dishes and clothing.

"Cutting back on washing clothes, I'll just probably have a mound," one woman said.

WSSC say the sacrifice is worth it to avoid another disaster like the River Road water main break. After a "failing" pipe was discovered on Tuckerman Lane Thursday, WSSC officials said, "There's been increase activity of wire break in the last 24 hours so that led us to shut the main down."

Officials say sensors have pinpointed the exact week spot on the eight-foot water main. A four-foot pipe is being used as a back up over the next 3 days. WSSC says they're working with local fire departments to ensure that there is plenty of protection this holiday weekend, considering there will likely be many firework displays. SOURCE: WJLA

Another car wreck victim in Montgomery County

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - One person killed in an accident overnight in College Park. It happened when two cars crashed into each other in the 9400 block of Cherry Hill Road around 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning. The car the victim was in burst into flames. Three other people were seriously hurt. Parts of Cherry Hill Road will be closed as investigators remain on the scene.

Landon School and its drama

Everything along the winding drive that leads to the Landon School for boys proclaims privilege: the emerald athletic field to the right, the 11 tennis courts to the left, the steady hiss of sprinklers that keep the 75-acre campus verdant even during the hottest days of summer. But the school, in one of Bethesda's priciest neighborhoods, has been shaken to its core in the past year by an unusual series of events.

Parents complained about the behavior of a coach who allegedly told his players about his sex life and took them to Hooters. Four white students accused an African American honors student of cheating, leading to a disciplinary proceeding that some African American teachers considered unfair. A group of boys was caught devising a game in which they would earn points based on sex acts with girls, and then a top official told an assembly that he knows people who don't want their daughters "hanging out with 'Landon guys.' " And for the first time, the school's trustees decided it was time to investigate a long-standing perception held by some parents and teachers that Landon treats top athletes and wealthy boys more favorably than other students. With all this, officials say what shook them the most was the arrest of one of Landon's former star athletes, George Huguely V, in the death of his former girlfriend at the University of Virginia.

"We are still reeling from it," said Thomas Cunningham, chairman of Landon's board of trustees. "That had a huge emotional impact on this community and this institution. The human reaction would be, 'Could I, should I, would I have done something differently, with a 15- or 16-year-old kid?' And the answer is no."

Now the 81-year-old school is immersed in self-examination. It is also assessing, among other things, whether the school is too accepting of teenage misbehavior and whether it fosters troubling attitudes toward women. Many schools, public and private, face disciplinary issues. Prince George's County authorities, for instance, are investigating the beating of a student in a Bowie High School hallway a few weeks ago that came to light after video of the incident was posted on Facebook. Ballou High School in the District had more than a dozen small fires this year, mostly in stairwells and bathrooms.

But it is rare to find so many challenges in such a short time at a school like Landon. Parents pay nearly $30,000 a year to send their boys there, even though many of them live near some of the best public schools in the nation. Details of the incidents in this report were obtained through interviews with more than a dozen parents and other knowledgeable sources. All asked not to be named, citing fear of retaliation. Cunningham, speaking on behalf of the school, confirmed many of the allegations. Other top school officials declined to be interviewed. Alone, each of the episodes might not have led to the questions Landon's leaders are asking. But the cumulative impact became too powerful to ignore.

"There is a good-old-boy mentality that still exists," one parent of an athlete said. " 'Boys will be boys. They just horse around and then it crosses the line, and then we need to reel them back in.' That just doesn't work in today's society anymore."

Landon was founded just before the stock market crash of 1929 by a young teacher, Paul Landon Banfield, and his wife, Mary Lee. Their descendants still attend. One wore a shirt to graduation that listed all of the Banfield boys who had walked Landon's halls, including the name of a young relative not yet old enough to enroll. CONTINUE READING: Washington Post

Former Governor Ehrlich picks Montgomery County's Mary Kane as LG candidate

Former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) reached into vote-rich Montgomery County on Wednesday night, tapping Mary D. Kane, a former Maryland secretary of state from Potomac, as his running mate for this year's rematch against Gov. Martin O'Malley. Ehrlich's choice of a lieutenant governor candidate, announced in a 10 p.m. posting on Facebook, appeared aimed at improving the Republican's prospects in the state's largest jurisdiction and among women. Polls show Ehrlich trails the Democratic incumbent among female voters. Ehrlich plans to introduce Kane, 48, Thursday morning in Silver Spring, and the newly minted ticket will formally file for office Friday, aides said.

In a statement Wednesday night, Ehrlich, whose campaign has focused largely on jobs and the economy, promoted Kane's business background. He said she has "a great mix of experience in government and the private sector." Kane, well known in Maryland political circles, has worked for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce since January 2008 as director of special projects. The choice carries at least one potentially significant risk: An office moving company owned by Kane's husband, John, has been sued by the federal government for allegedly paying its workers less than required by federal contracts and for submitting "false and fraudulent documents" indicating it was in compliance over several years.

Mary Kane, a lawyer, was a member of the board of directors of the Kane Co. from 1997 to 2003, according to a state-issued biography, when much of the alleged misconduct is said to have taken place. John Kane, a former chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, has denied that any fraud took place and has called the allegations overblown. He has said in news reports that the allegations originated through the complaints of a disgruntled former employee. The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Mary Kane's name has circulated as a possible Ehrlich running mate for weeks, though Ehrlich kept his choice a closely guarded secret until it was announced on the social networking site. In a brief interview Tuesday night, Ehrlich said that "personal compatibility and philosophical compatibility" were the dominant factors in his selection. Ehrlich said gender and geography were "secondary" issues.

Some Republican insiders suggested, however, that both factors played a strong role in the selection. Jeanne Allen, a national charter schools advocate who also lives in Montgomery County, was among other candidates Ehrlich closely considered, sources familiar with the process said.

A Washington Post poll in May found O'Malley led Ehrlich among registered voters by 49 percent to 41 percent -- an eight percentage point gap. Among female voters statewide, the gap was 17 points. Among Montgomery voters, it was 30 points. Ehrlich has acknowledged he will have to run stronger than he did in 2006 in the Washington region -- and in Montgomery in particular -- to beat O'Malley.

Although it tilts Democratic, Montgomery has more registered Republicans -- about 120,000 -- than any Maryland jurisdiction except Baltimore County. Montgomery is also home to nearly 110,000 registered independents -- nearly a quarter of all those in Maryland. Kane ran twice for public office herself, both times unsuccessfully: In 2000, she sought a seat on the Montgomery County Council. In 2002, she fell short in a bid for the state House of Delegates. Kane was named deputy secretary of state in March 2003, shortly after Ehrlich was sworn in as Maryland's first Republican governor in a generation. She ascended to secretary of state in August 2005, a post she held until Ehrlich left office in January 2007.

A Delaware native, Kane previously worked as an aide to then-Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) and in the legislative office of the American Trucking Association. In two previous running mate picks, Ehrlich showed a flair for the bold.

In 2002, he tapped Michael S. Steele, who became the state's first African American lieutenant governor and is now chairman of the Republican National Committee. In his losing effort in 2006, Ehrlich picked Kristen Cox, who is legally blind. She was secretary of his Department of Disabilities. Ehrlich said he gave serious consideration this year to about 10 to 12 possible candidates. SOURCE: Washington Post