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During the 2006 race for Montgomery County executive, Steven A. Silverman ran political ads in which he characterized Isiah Leggett as a "good guy with bad ideas."

Leggett, who won that election, responded with ads that noted that much of Silverman's campaign money came from developers.

But on Tuesday, Leggett and Silverman said they had put that campaign and whatever differences they had behind them, as Leggett (D) nominated his former foe as the new director of the Department of Economic Development.

Silverman has the "energy, intellect and experience to take our Department of Economic Development to the next level," Leggett said. He said he was sending his nominee to the County Council on Tuesday and expected the confirmation process to go "relatively quickly."

"He is fully versed on the whole range of issues, problems and opportunities before us," Leggett said. "He knows where we've been, where we are, and, most importantly, where we need to go."

Silverman served on the County Council from 1998 until 2006, including as its president twice. The Silver Spring resident, who has worked in Baltimore in the Maryland Attorney General's Office for the past two years, said at a press conference in Rockville that it was "great to be home."

Silverman, 54, pledged to work closely with county officials and businesses to "protect what we have, take our strengths to the next level and help build the tax base that makes possible our critical county programs in so many areas."

The swift action by Leggett in naming Silverman is positive, said County Councilman Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown.

The choice came about three weeks after county officials said Pradeep Ganguly, who had headed the department for a little more than two years, would not return to the job. Ganguly was placed on administrative leave in early March pending an investigation into a grant the department made to a company where his son works.

"In Steve Silverman, I think you clearly have someone who understands how county government operates and who has chaired the (council's) Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee for four years," Knapp said.

Leggett showed strong leadership in picking a former opponent in the 2006 county executive race for the position, said Keith Haller, president and CEO of Bethesda communications and consulting company Potomac Inc.

"It's a spectacular choice," Haller said. "He could not find someone stronger to lead the county's economic development efforts, especially in terms of the down economy now. Steve understands the economic incentives the county can bring to the table for enticing companies to stay for the long term, that make Montgomery a great choice for a company.

"No one can be more articulate, strategic and aggressive from everything we've seen of him as a business leader."

Silverman noted the "good work" in programs such as the Smart Growth Initiative and Green Economy Task Force. But with the county's unemployment rate rising to 5.1 percent in February from 2.7 percent a year earlier, "many more challenges lie ahead," he said.

The announcement followed a recent letter to Leggett from four County Council members, including Knapp, asking him to replace Ganguly "at the earliest possible date."

They said the new director should be "a leader who has a comprehensive vision for the county's economic future and realistic strategies that will enable the county to navigate these troubled economic waters."

While Knapp complimented Silverman, he said the next economic development head has to have "the county executive's mandate to actually do economic development stuff."

"Because if they are not getting any clear direction from the county executive's administration, they still can't get anything done," Knapp said.

Solomon Graham, president and CEO of Gaithersburg bioscience company Quality Biological, said Silverman's knowledge of the county was a key factor. "With what is going on right now, Ike needs someone to hit the ground running," Graham said.

While the fiscal climate provides "great challenges," there are also "great opportunities" to take advantage of federal stimulus funds, Georgette "Gigi" Godwin, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. She, too, applauded Leggett's choice.

Silverman has been a strong supporter of a strategic vision for economic development, Godwin said.

"This appointment of a new leader comes as Montgomery County tries to position itself for the future," she said.

Staff Writer Janel Davis contributed to this report.

Silverman, most recently director of aging, health care and special projects for the state Attorney General's Office, also headed the Consumer Protection Division there. His experience includes serving as co-chair of the Silver Spring Redevelopment Steering Committee and as a former chairman of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce. He earned a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and a B.A. from American University.