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Tax reform advocate and perennial candidate Robin Ficker has moved across the county to a home in Silver Spring to run for the vacant District 4 County Council seat.

Ficker made the move from his home in Boyds to a house in the Fairland Estates area of the district on the perhaps ironically named Peaceful Lane.

The district seat was left vacant after the death of Don Praisner on Jan. 30 following surgery for colon cancer.

Ficker announced his run for office Saturday at the county Republican Party's annual convention.

"I think homeowners need a champion on the council," Ficker said. "I've looked at the words uttered by the council members over the past few years, and one word that is never mentioned is ‘homeowner,' and that's because they simply use homeowners as an ATM and I expect to be that champion."

Ficker's parents purchased a house in the Fairland area in 1969, and he has lived in the area "off and on" ever since, he said.

Since regaining his temporarily suspended attorney's license from the state in December, Ficker has been back in court arguing traffic and criminal offense cases. In addition to his attorney work, Ficker works as a real estate broker, doing business as Robin Ficker Realty.

One of his main reasons for running is to build on the momentum of the successful passage of his "Ficker amendment" in the November 2008 election. Ficker's amendment passed by 51 percent of the vote despite strident opposition from County Executive Isiah Leggett, the County Council and a coalition of school, union and civic representatives.

The amendment requires all nine members of the council to approve a budget that exceeds the county's charter limit on property tax collections, which ties budget growth to the rate of inflation. Otherwise, seven members are required to approve the budget.

Ficker is seeking the Republican nomination for the district council seat. Thus far, he is opposed in his party by candidate Lou August, an executive with the nonprofit organization Save the Children.

On the Democratic side, perspective candidates include school board member Nancy Navarro, state Del. Ben Kramer, businessman Chris Paladino and civic activists Cary Lamari and Steve Kanstoroom.

The primary for the seat is scheduled for April 21, followed by a general election May 19. Along with Ficker, August, Kramer and Lamari have officially filed as candidates with the county Board of Elections.

District 4 includes about 119,000 registered voters in parts of Silver Spring, Burtonsville, Olney, Derwood, Sandy Spring, Wheaton and Calverton.