Floreen tabbed over Berliner for Montgomery council president
Bypassing of vice president disrupts long-standing tradition
Traditionally, the council vice president has been elected president, but, in a 5-4 vote, council members bypassed Vice President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac for Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park.
Berliner criticized the decision as "bad politics."
Besides voting for herself, Floreen got the support of council members Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring; Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown; George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, and Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring.
The remaining four council members voted for Berliner.
Floreen succeeds Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Germantown as president.
Ervin was elected council vice president in a unanimous vote.
Floreen and Ervin will serve one-year terms.
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