(ROCKVILLE, September 12, 2010)   Showing unusually strong support among local officeholders for a political challenger, Cheryl Kagan, candidate for Maryland State Senate in Montgomery County’s District 17, today released a list of over a dozen current and former municipal officials who have endorsed her campaign.   Nearly all of the voters in District 17 (Rockville, Gaithersburg and Garrett Park) live in self-governing municipalities. 

“Because the leaders of city and town government are most closely attuned to the opinions of their constituents, I take it as an especially high honor to be endorsed by municipal officials,” said Kagan, a Montgomery County native who represented the same district for eight years in the House of Delegates.  “Cities and towns have distinct strengths and needs, and I would view it as one of my top responsibilities in the State Senate to act as a liaison among state, county and municipal interests.”

With approximately 60,000 residents each, the cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg are the second and third largest cities in the state and make up roughly 12 percent of Montgomery County’s population.  The town of Garrett Park has approximately 1,000 residents.

“The gratifying support I’ve received from our municipal leaders demonstrates that our district is looking for new leadership and more effective advocacy in Annapolis,” said Kagan.  “The voters of municipal Montgomery County can count on me to be their independent voice in the State Senate.”

“From her time in the House of Delegates and as a foundation director distributing funds to local nonprofits, Cheryl has displayed an important awareness of the special characteristics and challenges of municipalities,” said Gaithersburg City Councilmember Jud Ashman. “I know she’ll continue her stellar record on city issues when she represents us in the State Senate.”

Many of the endorsing officials have expressed dismay at the campaign tactics of Kagan’s opponent, Jennie Forehand, who was first elected to the legislature in 1978.  "As an independent, I was going to stay out of the Democratic Primary for State Senator.  But it was Forehand's own campaign mailings that drove me to Kagan's side,” said Rockville Councilmember Mark Pierzchala.

“I was expecting a long list of accomplishments from a 32-year incumbent, but there's been no hint of that.  Then Forehand sent a negative mailing attacking Kagan's ethics in what I felt was an unfair manner,” continued Pierzchala.  “I immediately sent Kagan $100 and now she has my support.  Not just because of her opponent's negativity, but because I know that Cheryl will do a great job and put enormous energy into her State Senate days."

Following are the current and former municipal officials who have endorsed Cheryl Kagan for State Senate:

·         Hon. Jud Ashman (Current Councilmember, Gaithersburg)

·         Hon. John Britton (Current Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Mark Pierzchala (Current Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Jeffrey Slavin (Current Mayor, Town of Somerset)

·         Hon. Jim Coyle (Former Mayor and Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Peter Benjamin (Former Mayor, Garrett Park)

·         Hon. Carol Blum Gordon (Former Councilmember, Town of Chevy Chase

                  …now a longtime D/17 resident)

·         Hon. John Hall (Former Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Glennon Harrison (Former Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Jim Marrinan (Former Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Anne Robbins (Former Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Dave Robbins (Former Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. John Schlichting (Former Councilmember, Gaithersburg)

·         Hon. Ken Schwartz (Former Councilmember, Garrett Park)

·         Hon. Nina Weisbroth (Former Councilmember, Rockville)

·         Hon. Bob Wright  (Former Councilmember, Rockville)