Evening star., 1949-01-02
Small Vote Seen
In Montgomery
Council Election
Many Factors Cause
Apathy in Plans for
Thursdays Ballot

Montgomery County will elect its
first County Council Thursday
1t appears, however. that only
small percentage of the voters
will 60 to the polls in the special
election to name the most powerful
body in the county's history
The seven-member council will
assume full direction of home rule"
under the council manager govern
ment provided in the new Montgom-
cry charter. The charter plan was
approved in a referendum November
2.
Factors Causing Apathy.
Election apathy is due to num-
ber of factors:
l. Voting will be nonpartisan,
since both Democrats and Repub-
licans refrained from entering cam
didates.
2. Lack of contests. Only three
independent" candidates are run
ming against the slate indorsed by
the Montgomery County Charter
Committee.
3. Widespread conviction that the
entire Charter ticket will win hands
down. Even those opposed to the
new government are willing for the
Charter forces to take full RESPONSE
bility for county affairs at the
outset.
4. Postholiday disinterest in po-
litical matters.
Sample Ballots Distributed.
Despite these adverse conditions,
the Charter Committee hopes to
stimulate belated interest. Col Nor
man B. Ames, president, said yes
terday that his organization is dis
tributing 10000 sample ballots and
hundreds of posters, and plans to
have workers at all 81 precincts in
the county Thursday.
I want to urge the voters to show
their interest in the welfare of the
county by turning out for the cleo
tion," Col. Ames said The seven
citizens who will be chosen for the
council will be making real sacri-
flee to serve. We should certainly
go to the polls to support the best.
Naturally, favor the choice Of
the Charter Committee nominees.
We believe this to be the best in
tegrated group of candidates it is
possible to get There are many
good citizens who would make good
councilmen but the difficulty is get
ting the best distribution of capa-
bilities. We think the Charter nom-
inees represent the best distribu-
ton
Mrs. Vaughan in Charge.
| Mrs. Lawrence E. Vaughan of Be-
thesda, head of the committees
Field Division, has charge of the
precinct workers.
! Ward W. Caddington. clerk to the
Board of Election Supervisors, has
estimated that not more than or
! per cent of the voters would go to
the polls in the special election. This
would mean vote of less than
1000. More than $4,000 are quail
fed.
Two changes have been made in
locations of voting places Both are
in the Wheaton election district.
Voters in the 18th precinct will use
the Four Corners Elementary
School instead of the fire house,
while those in the 22d precinct, like
those in the 9th, will vote in South
Hall, Washington Missionary Col
lege. Carroll and Flower avenues.
Takoma Park. Formerly they voted
at Flower avenue store building.
Candidates Listed.
The council candidates are:
First district (Damascus-Layton
ille-Olney)-P. Garland Ligon Of
Brinklow, Charter nominee, un-
opposed.
Second district GAINESVILLE
Clarksburg -Gaithersburgl - Au-
gustus R. Selby of Germantown,
Charter nominee, and Charles K.
Davies, jr., of Gaithersburg. running
independently as Democrat. Vote
for one.
Third Darnestown-P -Poolesville-
Rockville)-Thomas C. Kelley Of
Darnestown. Charter nominee.
Fourth CBethesda-Po elec-
ton districts)-Mrs. Dorothy S.
Himstead of Chevy Chase, Charter
nominee.
Fifth (Colesville- Wheaton dis
tricts)-J. Douglas Bradshaw Of
Takoma Park, Charter nominee,
and Romeo W. Horad of Silver
Spring, independent Republican.
Vote for one.
Seats at large-Lewis w. Merriam
of Kensington, and Frederic P. Lee
of Bethesda, Charter nominees. and
Mrs Alma T. Opal, Takoma Park.
independent Republican. Vote for
two.
Voters throughout the county may
vote for all seven positions The
law requires that one member of
the council come from each of the
five districts, and that two be chosen
at-large.
Polls will be open 7 am. to 7