Ana Sol Gutierrez

When Marilyn Praisner (D) passed away on Feb. 1 she left a legacy of service and dedication to the people of Montgomery County. The fourth district councilwoman had served since 1990; the longest serving woman in the council’s history. Her death left a deep hole in the council, one that her husband, Don Praisner (D-Silver Spring), hopes to fill.

“My wife and I shared ideas and had discussions about the important issues facing the district,” Praisner told PolitickerMD.com.

Praisner is one of four Democratic candidates competing in Tuesday’s special primary election to fill the vacant seat. Other candidates include Nancy Navarro (D-Silver Spring), the president of the Montgomery County Board of Education, activist Steve Kanstoroom (D-Ashton), and Patrick Ryan (D-Silver Spring), a lawyer and management consultant.

“I know the council, I know the system,” Praisner said when asked why he should be elected.

“I have experience,” he added.

A resident of Montgomery County since 1947, Praisner served for 30 years as an analyst, manager, and recruiter for the CIA. His civic involvement includes work as the vice president of the Calverton Citizens Association, and time as the Democratic Precinct Chair for Precinct 05-12.

Nancy Navarro (D-Silver Spring), the President of the Montgomery County Board of Education, officially launched her candidacy to fill the open District 4 seat on the Montgomery County Council vacated by the death of Marilyn Praisner, yesterday.

“Today, District 4 residents are calling for real solutions to pressing needs like increasing job opportunities, reducing traffic congestion, preserving green space, finding affordable housing, and securing the best education for our children,” Navarro said in a statement.

“District 4 deserves a representative who will find balanced, thoughtful solutions, not offer false choices between one set of interests or another,” she added. “District 4 needs a representative who is not afraid to bring everyone to the table and who does not take any of our residents for granted.”

Del. Saqib Ali (D-Gaithersburg) acknowledged that he has been “rebuked” by some members of the House Ways and Means Committee in regards to his sponsorship of House Bill 347, The Special Legislative Session Campaign Finance Reform Act. Despite what the delegate called a “bumpy hearing” before the committee on Tuesday, Ali told PolitickerMD.com that he would continue to push for the bill to be voted on.

The delegate did not know when or if a vote would be scheduled. Del. Sheila Hixson (D-Silver Spring), the chair of the committee, could not be reached for comment. Del. Ann Marie Doory (D-Baltimore), the vice-chair, was also unavailable.

Ali’s bill would prohibit elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during special legislative sessions. Currently, they are forbidden to do so only during the regular 90-day session.

Reiterating past comments, Ali said he introduced the legislation to prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest or other improprieties.

“When voting on important legislation we want to focus on the policy, not on the politics,” Ali said.

Del. Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery County) is the lead sponsor of House Bill 347, The Special Legislative Session Campaign Finance Reform Act, which would prohibit elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during special legislative sessions.

Fundraising is banned during the regular 90-day session of the General Assembly, which meets every year beginning in January. This year, session runs through April 7.

During a special session, as the state saw last fall, elected officials are allowed to fundraise, and many did so in late 2007.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

But Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign did just that this afternoon with an endorsement from two-term Montgomery County Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez.