Ficker is contemplating a run in November for the District 39 Senate seat now held by P.J. Hogan (D) of Montgomery Village. But first he wants to put together a Republican slate that he says will be more diverse and representative of the district and of Montgomery County.

An advertisement in some of The Gazette's community newspapers on Jan. 16 appeared aimed at just that: announcing a call for minority candidates, specifically Latino-American, African-American and Asian-American residents, to run for the three District 39 delegate seats. Those seats are now held by Charles E. Barkley, Paul H. Carlson and Joan F. Stern -- all Democrats and all white.

"I look at the makeup of the delegation, and I do not see diversity, but I do see it in the county," Ficker said. "No one else, it seems to me, is really reaching out to these groups. This is something that should be done in other parts of Montgomery County, as well."

Carlson of Montgomery Village was elected to the District 39 delegation in 1998 and said representing residents in Annapolis is about more than just color and gender.

"At the end of the day, elected officials ... craft state policy and what really matters there is that we do it in such a way that it creates opportunity and access for the growing diverse state that we live in," he said. "It's people's ideas and what they stand for that has the real impact on our community.

"Based on this advertisement, this is a short-sighted way to recruit candidates," he said.

The new boundaries for District 39 as outlined in a new state redistricting plan include parts of Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village, Laytonsville, Germantown, North Potomac and Darnestown.

The population summary of the district, released with the governor's 2002 legislative district plan, includes 66,833 whites, 19,848 blacks, 16,049 Asians and 12,380 Hispanics.

Last week, Ficker had interviewed or set up interviews with a Hispanic man, an African-American man, an African-American woman and Asian-American man, all of whom inquired about the advertisement. Ficker said the Hispanic man, whose name he did not give, has lived in Montgomery County for 20 years and in Montgomery Village for the past three years. He has children in public schools and Ficker described him as an intelligent, community-interested person.

"For him to run by himself, it would be difficult," Ficker said. "This guy seems like he would make just as good a legislator as any of them."

Hogan, Barkley, Carlson and Stern will seek re-election in November and support one another, but would not go so far as to call their bids for re-election a slate.

Ficker is best known for placing questions about county taxes and term limits on the ballot every four years.

A resident of Boyds, Ficker lives in District 15 next to its boundary with District 39, but he said he would move to District 39 if he decides to challenge Hogan. He also is contemplating a bid for county executive and expects to make that decision within the month.

Meanwhile, Hogan said he believes he is very representative of his constituency, which he has found to be largely young families with two working parents.

"That's exactly where I am," he said. "My wife and I work. We have two kids in the public schools."

Hogan pointed to efforts to bring back money for schools and transportation, two issues that have become constants in Montgomery County, and said they are both issues that are colorblind.

Having more diverse representation is something the county should strive to achieve, but not by a shortcut sales pitch, said Keith Haller, president of Potomac Incorporated, a political research and survey company.

"It's almost comical except that it besmirches the whole political process."

Instead, efforts should be focused on leadership, training, discipline and opportunity. It is not something that will happen quickly, but rather something to build in years to come, Haller said.

"If Montgomery has substantial diversity within its ranks, then you would like that legislative delegation to reflect that," he said. "It is not something that's going to happen overnight. You may not see the fruits of your collective efforts in 2002."