With Teitelbaum out, District 19 race open

Senator to retire; delegates discuss moving up

Friday, Jan. 6, 2006

The Democratic primary for the District 19 Senate seat in Montgomery County went from contentious to wide open Wednesday after incumbent Leonard H. Teitelbaum announced he had changed his decision and would not seek a fourth term.

Citing family obligations, Teitelbaum, 74, who lives at Leisure World in Aspen Hill, plans to close out 20 years in office at the end of the upcoming legislative session.

‘‘My wife has been after me ever since my last open-heart surgery to finish out my last term and do some other things,” he said.

The senator underwent heart valve replacement surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in September 2004. The valve had been repaired nine years earlier.

In November, Teitelbaum had formally declared his intention to seek another term on a slate with fellow Democratic delegates Henry B. Heller, Adrienne A. Mandel and Carol S. Petzold.

While Teitelbaum readies for his last session of the General Assembly, both potential and already declared candidates are scrambling to replace him.

Hours after the retirement announcement, the three incumbent delegates began talks to determine which one would seek the Senate seat.

‘‘We all feel we’re highly qualified and look forward to having a spirited election either as candidates for the House or Senate,” said Mandel, of Layhill.

Petzold, of Aspen Hill, confirmed that she is considering running for the Senate. Heller, of Leisure World, could not be reached for comment.

‘‘District 19 has been a relatively stable district when it comes to protecting incumbent Democrats,” said G. Keith Haller, president of polling company Potomac Inc. ‘‘I would be very, very surprised that it wouldn’t open up a delegate seat. It will create a domino effect throughout District 19.”

Filling the vacated seat may also attract statewide attention, he said.

‘‘It’s possible the Democratic leaders in Annapolis, [Senate President Thomas V.] Mike Miller and [House Speaker Michael E.] Busch, may have a hand in suggesting which delegate should run,” Haller said. ‘‘It’s not just an isolated district. It will have consequences across the board.”

District 19 includes Derwood, Aspen Hill, Leisure World and parts of Laytonsville, Olney, Wheaton and Silver Spring.

Both of the Senate challengers claimed the advantage after learning of Teitelbaum’s withdrawal from the race.

John P. Mahoney, 37, of Laytonsville, the first challenger to announce his candidacy in October, engaged in a war of words with the incumbent throughout the next few weeks.

Mahoney portrayed himself as an ‘‘energetic” and ‘‘fresh, new alternative” to the ‘‘sleeping senator” who he said was awakened by his challenge.

After the senator announced his retirement, Mahoney issued a release applauding Teitelbaum’s years of service.

Mahoney was unavailable at press time. Shawn Rolland, his campaign spokesman, had no comment when asked if the previous comments would hurt Mahoney’s chances.

Michael G. ‘‘Mike” Lenett, 42, of Silver Spring said his recent entry into the race ‘‘may have affected Mr. Teitelbaum’s thinking about running for another term. But I was really looking forward to a spirited debate with him on the issues.”

Teitelbaum denied being scared off by his first primary challengers since he was elected in 1994. He served two terms in the House prior to his Senate win.

The addition of Lenett in the race would have split any dissatisfied voters and increased his chances, the senator said.

Alec J. Stone, a Democrat from Kemp Mill, announced in September that he would seek a House seat.

The names of several other possible candidates had been tossed around even before Teitelbaum announced his retirement. The filing deadline is July 3.

‘‘Of all the legislative districts in Montgomery County, it’s been the most predictable and stable in terms of voting patterns,” Haller said. ‘‘Senator Teitelbaum would have been very difficult to beat, no matter how much rhetoric and barbs got thrown out there early in this process.”