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The Montgomery County Education Association has endorsed Del. Craig L. Rice in the County Council's District 2 race.

The only problem: Rice has not yet announced he will be running for the seat.

The union's famed Apple Ballot will not endorse a candidate for his (presumably) vacated House seat in District 15.

For months, Rice and County Councilman Michael J. Knapp, who currently holds the District 2 seat, have said they are considering different elected offices — for Rice, the council, and for Knapp, county executive.

Knapp said he also is considering private-sector employment.

But now that the teachers have announced Rice's run, when will his campaign make it official?

— Erin Cunningham

Better late than never

Governors tend to have their own time zone. They say they'll start at one time, but arrive 15 or 20 or 30 minutes later. Parris Glendening did it. Bob Ehrlich did it. And Martin O'Malley has turned it into an art form.

He's gotten good at covering his tracks, too.

The governor was to speak at the Bisnow conference at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville on Tuesday. The program said 9 a.m., but in O'Malley's customary fashion, he was a bit late, starting his remarks about 30 minutes later.

"They told me to be here at 9 and scheduled me to speak at 9:25. That too is an achievement," O'Malley joked.

— Douglas Tallman

Trying to sway soccer moms?

Soccer moms got their due during the 1996 presidential election when the Clinton and Dole campaigns declared the multitasking, minivan driving, kids' soccer practice toting, suburban super moms to be key swing voters.

Fourteen years later, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith is rumored to be running for the state Senate seat in District 7 but has yet to announce his intentions. But that didn't stop Smith from appealing to soccer moms last week when he announced the Towson Chamber of Commerce and WNST radio will host the Baltimore County World Soccer Festival on June 12 at Towson's Patriot Plaza.

The day starts at 7 a.m. and features food, beer and wine and shopping, as well as appearances by representatives of area pro teams, including the Baltimore Blast, D.C. United, Crystal Palace Baltimore, the Washington Freedom and the Baltimore Bays. World Cup matches will be shown on a 9-by-12-foot screen, including the U.S. national team's opener against England at 2 p.m.

More information is available at www.baltimoresoccerfestival.com.

There's also something for politicos, as Smith will address the crowd prior to kickoff. (No word on whether he'll announce his plans.)

In a news release, Smith acknowledged the "thousands of young boys and girls playing soccer in recreation programs all across Baltimore County," declaring "Towson will be the center of the soccer universe on June 12."

We're betting South Africa might have something to say about that.

— Sean R. Sedam

The Pulse of the Big Cheese

Host Charles Duffy snagged the big guy for the latest edition of the public affairs show "Political Pulse."

Duffy welcomes Gov. Martin O'Malley to the program, which will run at 6 p.m. today through Sunday and at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Montgomery County on Montgomery Municipal Cable Channel 16.

If you miss the first run, the interview will rerun at 9 p.m. June 10, 6 p.m. June 11-13 and 9:30 p.m. June 15.

O'Malley talks about his record and that of his likely Republican opponent, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich. The guv also discusses jobs, teachers' pensions and Montgomery County's technology and biotech industries.

— Sean R. Sedam

Game on in District 47

Victor Ramirez officially kicks off his long-expected Senate campaign against David Harrington Tuesday with a fundraiser that lists three Democratic heavy-hitters as hosts.

They are Martin O'Malley, Glenn Ivey and Dereck Davis.

Does host equal an endorsement?

It does for Ivey (a district resident) and Davis, Ramirez said. But he declined to speak for the guv.

O'Malley campaign spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said the governor is siding with the incumbent.

"Gov. O'Malley has tremendous respect for Del. Ramirez, but has endorsed Sen.Harrington for the 47th Senate District race," Abbruzzese said in an e-mail.

Ramirez expects about 100 people to attend the fundraiser at a Bladensburg pizzeria, but said O'Malley's busy schedule may keep him from hosting.

— Alan Brody

Running from Bush no more

Four years ago, Republican candidates could not run far enough away from anyone connected to George W. Bush. Seems they're back in vogue this year.

Two former White House flacks are headlining GOP events in the coming weeks.

First, Ari Fleischer is listed as the featured guest at a June 23 fundraiser for Bob Ehrlich in Clarksville. He was the first Bush spokesman and served two-and-a-half years before stepping down in July 2003.

Two weeks later, the Baltimore County Lincoln/Reagan dinner will feature Dana Perino as keynote speaker. She was the White House's chief communicator during the final 16 months of Bush's second term.

It's the second time this year Perino will speak to Maryland Republicans. The Fox News commentator came to Annapolis during the legislative session for an informal chat with GOP lawmakers and staff about life at the White House.

— Alan Brody