The Montgomery County Council officially welcomed four new members Monday as the nine-person, all-Democrat group was sworn in at North Bethesda’s Strathmore Music Hall.
The man who has served as the council president noted the party lock on the group, the first since 1991.
“Voters place their confidence in us,” said George Leventhal, an at-large member of the group. “It was a clear partisan statement. They wanted our party in charge. Let’s not abuse that confidence.”
Leventhal was the only council member to address the several hundred people who gathered for an inauguration that placed him, his fellow council members and new County Executive Ike Leggett into office.
He promised to have Montgomery County pick up where the state left off with regard to such issues as health care and building allegiances within the Washington region. Regarding Leggett, the council wants to work with the new county executive, Leventhal said.
“We won’t always agree with you,” Leventhal said, “but we respect you.”
Later, in his speech, Leggett acknowledged he wants a good relationship with the council.
“We can disagree without being disagreeable, George,” Leggett said.
Leventhal also paid homage to outgoing County Executive Doug Duncan, saying the 12-year veteran leader had “intelligent vision and tenacity,” in taking on projectssuch as the revitalizing of downtown Silver Spring.
“Woodrow Wilson said, ‘If you want to make enemies, try to change something,’ ” Leventhal said. “Doug Duncan was an agent of change.”
