With five months left in office and his gubernatorial bid over, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan must shift his focus from developing statewide initiatives to completing what remains of his county agenda.
County Council members and staff members Tuesday said they were unsure of Duncan’s plans. He was not at the County Council meeting and has taken an unspecified amount of leave, said spokeswoman Donna Bigler.
A Democrat who served in the county’s top elected seat for 12 years, Duncan dropped his gubernatorial bid Thursday, citing a diagnosis of clinical depression. He has said he will not seek election to any office this year.
“I can speculate, but I really don’t know,” Council Member Steve Silverman said of Duncan’s remaining plans for the county.
Silverman, a Democrat, is running for the seat Duncan is vacating. Council Member Howard Denis was reluctant to use the term “lame duck,” instead adding that Duncan is now “liberated” to fulfill his vision for the county.
“I don’t think ‘lame duck’ ever morphed into meaning you’re finishing your term,” Denis said, adding that he was unsure what remains of Duncan’s vision.
With a Council that does not meet in August and a primary planned Sept. 13 that will likely set the table for November’s general election, there are not many loose ends for Duncan to tie up and even less time to do so, said Council spokesman Patrick Lacefield.
One of the most important items before the Council this summer is its upcoming choice of planning board chair — a seat considered the most powerful non-elected county job.
Council members did not expect Duncan, who has veto power, to fight their choice, which is expected to come July 25.
“He didn’t do it four years ago,” Silverman said. “I wouldn’t expect any intrusion now.”
Also unclear is what Duncan might do with the leftover cash in his campaign war chest. Campaign aides have speculated that he has about $700,000 in contributions remaining.
Campaign spokeswoman Jody Couser said nothing has been decided upon.
Under Maryland campaign finance laws, Duncan can transfer up to $6,000 from his account to individual state campaign finance entities, including other campaign committees. Each election cycle is four years. While he can continue to raise funds, Duncan has up to eight years to declare candidacy in another state election or close his account, said Jared DeMarinis, director of candidacy and campaign finance for the Maryland Board of Elections.
