Evening star., 1948-11-07
Montgomery Parties
Plan Early Action on
Charter Candidates
By John v. Horner

Ihdrter Candidates
By John V. Horner
Having voted to substitute coun-
cil-manager government for its
commissioner system, Montgomery
County now is faced with equally
serious decisions on the compost
ton of its final council.
The will of the people in this
respect will not be registered until
an election in January. Yet vital
decisions must be reached within
the next five weeks,
These pertain to candidates. for
the seven council positions.
The county charter which brings
the new government into being will
become effective December 2. With
in 10 days after that date, citizens
who aspire to the council seats must
file formal notice of their candi-
dacy for election.
Immediate attention therefore is
being given to the list of persons
available for the powerful legisla-
tive and executive body.
Partisan Policies Involved.
The fact that the charter pro-
posal was fathered by a bipartisan
board and was shepherded through
an election campaign by a nom
partisan committee, does not mean
that the choice of councilmen will
be free of partisan politics.
On the contrary. politics will be
an important factor in the impend-
ing campaign. If anyone had doubts
about this, these were dispelled with
announcements that the Republi-
can State Central Committee for
Montgomery would discuss the coun-
Gil election at meeting this after
noon, and that the Democratic
committee would convene for the
same purpose early this week.
How many candidates the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties nom
mate remains to be seen.
The Charter Committee long has
planned to indorse a full slate of
seven, perhaps cutting across Dem
ocratic and Republican lines, and
conceivably indorsing an independ-
ent.
Sitting Candidates.
Although. its title bears, no politi-
cal connotation, the committee thus
becomes political organization on
the county level as much as the es-
tablished parties. # it continues
on its present course, "liowever, the /
committee viii differ form the other
organizations in that it will be BIZ
partisan.
For weeks the committee mas been
sitting through recommendations
for council candidates. Members
have refused so far to disclose who
is being considered for indorse-
ment. The council members will
be paid on per diem basis, their
maximum compensation being linn
tied to 81 300 a year.
Already, Democratic Chairman j.
Bond Smith has suggested the
names of three persons for the newt
council. They are Frederic P. Lee
OF Bethesda, an attorney; Stephen
James of Silver Spring, an official
OF the Automottive Safety Foun-
dation, and Mrs. Miner Hostetler.
Rockville, housewife and civic lead
er. All were members of the 1912
Charter Board, whose charter draft
was defeated by a small margin in
the 1914 election. They are regis
tered Democrats.
Another Democrat, Charles H.
JamiSon of BarneSville, has an
nounced that he would be willing to
run for the new council. He is one
OF the five commissioners who will
go out of office when the government
Is revamped.
A Republican whose name has
been advanced is Thomas C. Kel-
ley OF Darnestown, a proponent of
the charter proposal. Mr.. Kelley
is assistant attorney to the county
commissioners, job that will be
abolished under the council plan.
Mrs. Stella Werner of Bethesda,
an honorary director of the Charter /
committee, also has been mentioned
Tor one OF the seven seats.
Despite the fact that all of the
present county commissioners op-
posed adoption of the charter. their
names have figured in speculation.
Most outspoken against the change
were President Brooke Johns of Oh
ney, and Wesley I. Sauter of Beth
esda, both Republicans. The other
members, besides Mr.. Jamison, are
Oliver w. Youngblood of Silver
Spring, and George c. "Ace" Es-
worthy of Darnestown. They, too.
are Republicans.
The Charter Committee has re-
ceived approximately 100 suggestions
for council nominees from civic
leaders throughout the county. Al
len H. Gardner, Silver Spring, is
chairman of the groups nominating
committee.
In statement Of policy before
the election, the committee said
1t would indorse seven candidates,
irrespective of party aff1liation, who
nave demonstrated ability and are
OF unquestioned integrity and wide
acquaintance with Montgomery
County affairs.
One reason for the public to be
particularly concerned over the
makeup OF its first council is the
broad appointive power given to the
members. In the councils choice of
the first county manager and heads
OF new departments may lie the
success or failure of the new system.
But beyond that, and even more i'm
portant, is the effect the appoint
ments will have on the welfare of
the people themselves.
The Charter Committee, headed
by Col. Norman D. Ames, proposes
to continue its organization indef-
initely for the dual purpose of in
dorsing candidates in succeeding
elections and keeping the public in
formed of developments under the
council-manager government. 1t has
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