Reporter’s Notebook: He’s the new kid on the block

Friday, June 13, 2008

Reporter’s Notebook: He’s the new kid on the block

Janel Davis |

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Don Praisner is quickly making his way on MoCo’s County Council.

The county’s newest officer got to work this week in his first council meeting on Tuesday. During the debate on whether parking should be free at libraries, a council contingent wanting to implement a charge almost had enough votes.

Until Praisner thought about it a little. At first siding with the pro-chargers (and with his late wife, Marilyn, who wanted the same thing), Praisner changed his mind and decided to go with an amended proposal for a two-hour grace period.

After expressing his change of heart, fellow Councilman George Leventhal — heading up the anti-free-pass proposal — laid down the wife smack, telling Praisner that his new decision was not in keeping with a vote his wife took years ago.

After a slight pause and audience mumblings, Praisner replied, ‘‘Well, it is my first day.”