By Adam Pagnucco.
Following is the list of applicants for the open District 14 delegate seat as of 5 PM yesterday. Many of them are known to the county’s political community. Interestingly, no members of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee have applied to fill the vacancy, which is the first time that has happened in more than a decade. The applicants include:
Nathan Aaron Feinberg, Silver Spring
Feinberg is a teacher in MCPS.
Jodi Finkelstein, Olney
The Executive Director of the county’s Commission for Women, Finkelstein finished fourth in the 2010 District 14 delegate primary. The third-place finisher, Eric Luedtke, is the incumbent she is seeking to succeed.
Paul Geller, Olney
Geller is a former president of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. He ran unsuccessfully for county council at-large in 2018, school board at-large in 2020 and Council District 7 this year.
Bernice D. Mireku-North, Silver Spring
Mireku-North is a former prosecutor who worked in Anne Arundel County and ran unsuccessfully for state’s attorney this year. She co-chaired County Executive Marc Elrich’s Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, which recommended cutting the number of police officers in East County in half.
Perry L. Paylor, Silver Spring
Paylor is a prosecutor who works for Prince George’s County and ran unsuccessfully for state’s attorney this year.
Matthew Post, Olney
Post is a former student member of the Board of Education. He runs a non-profit working to increase the number of students who sign up for free and reduced price meals.
Paul K. Schwartz, Brookeville
A retired federal employee with U.S. Customs, Schwartz finished last in a 7-person field in the Council District 7 primary this year.
Tom B. Smith, Burtonsville
Smith ran unsuccessfully for delegate in District 14 this year against a united slate of incumbents. He will no doubt point to the 5,564 votes he earned in the primary to make his case for an appointment.
Doug Terry, Olney
Terry owns Alexis Media Systems, a television production and documentary company. Campaign finance records indicate that Terry contributed $100 to Smith’s campaign for delegate.
Other applicants for whom I do not have preliminary information are Hafizur Rahman of Silver Spring and Raj Rajendran of Silver Spring.
Overall, this is an outstanding list of applicants. MCDCC faces a tough task in picking between them.