Evening star., 1953-01-02
|Grave|Ie Seen
|ForLdw|or Seat
Vote Expected Soon
On Successor to
| Montgomery Office
By chorles [. Hoffmon


Montgomery Office
By Chorles [. Hoffmon
Louis A. Gravelle, Washington
attorney and a member of the
Montgomery County Board Of
Appeals. appears-as of today-to
be the leading contender for the
County Council seat vacated We'd
nesday by Mrs. Kathryn J. Lawlor.
Mrs. Lawlor resigned to accept
an appointment to the Maryland
House Of Delegates. She was sworn
in yesterday in ceremonies at An
napolis. ~
Although the remaining six
council members have 30 days to
elect her successor. action is ex-
pected soon-possibly Tuesday
on the matter.
Several Are Considered.
The council last Tuesday for
the first time considered qualifica-
tionS of persons suggested for the
vacant seat. Several names have
been proposed but the other two
leading contenders are known to
have been John c. Reid, Bethesda
attorney and Mrs. j. Reed Bradley,
former publisher of the Bethesda
Record now a journalism teacher
at Montgomery Junior College.
Mr.. Reid, who was defeated by
Mrs. Stella B. Werner in 1850 for
a council seat, however, has dis
qualified himself for business
reasons. He feels that at this time
he could not devote the time re-
quired to the post.
Mrs. Lawlor is an attorney and
most councilmen feel an attorney
should be named to replace her.
Although Mrs. Lawlor was
elected at-large she in reality rep
resented the Fourth (Bethesda)
Council District. Most observers
feel her successor will come from
the same section. j. Louis Mon
arch, the other at-large council
man. is from Silver Spring.
Mr.. Gravelle fits both qualiflca-
tions. He was approached about
the post by Councilman Harold F.
Hammond and made known his
willingness to serve if selected.
Mrs. Lawlor also is known to be
supporting Mr.. Gravelle.
Mr.. Gravelle is a Republican. So
are four of the remaining six mem
hers, as was Mrs. Lawlor.
known as Republican.
AS a matter of fact, MIR. Gravelle
is known as a good, strong Re-,
publican. according to Walter w.
Dawson, chairman Of the Repub.
lican State Central Committee.
MIR. Dawson said yesterday he was
pretty positive" that a majority
of the committee favors MIR.
Gravelle for the post. The COM
mittee, however, will make no rec
ommendation unless it is specifi-
cally requested by the council.
Mr.. Gravelle also Is known to
have strong backing on the County
Charter Committee. The commit
tee feels his work from 1947 to
1852 as a member of the board Of
zoning appeals and since last
as a member of the new
super appeals board, qualities him
for the job.
The administrative board of the
Charter Committee met last Fri
day to discuss potential candidates
for the job. There was consider
able feeling among the members
that q lawyer should be named
preferably from the Fourth Dis
trict.
Mrs. Bradley Is Contender.
Mrs. Bradley, however, cannot
be counted out Of the race. Long
a champion of home rule and the
charter government. she threw the
support Of the Record behind the
movement in its infancy.
Mrs. Bradley is known to have
some support on the State Central
Committee and was recommended
by the Zonta Club. a. new pro-
fessional women's service organi-
zation, and the Business and Pro-
fessional Women's Club Of Silver
Spring. Both groups feel a
woman should be named to the
post. She also is believed to have
the support Of Mrs, Leona Rush.
former member Of the House Of
Delegates.
Mrs. Bradley, it is known. was
called several weeks ago by q
leading County Republican off,
cial, concerning her availability
for the job. She is Republican
and worked for Dewitt S. Hyde
in his successful bid last Novenn-
ber for Maryland's Sixth Con-
greSsional seat.
Others whose names have been
mentioned prominently for the
position are Mrs. Cecil M. Roeder.
Silver Spring attorney, who also
was recommended by the Silver
Spring women's group; Mrs. Helen
Derryberry; Mrs. Helen Sharff.
and Mrs. Dorothy S. Himstead.
All three of the latter are Demo-
Gratis, however. and it seems GER
tain a Republican will be named
to the position.
Mrs. Roeder also was recon-
mended by Col. Norman B. Ames,
former president Of the Charter
c Committee. and chairman of the
Charter Board. Mrs. Roeder.
however. appears out Of the pic
ture since she is from the Silver
Spring area.
Home Rule Advocate.
Present council members feel