2014 PRIMARY See more election results inside
The Gazette
NEWS: Adventist opening three walk-in centers in the region by year’s end. A-4
GERMANTOWN
NEWS: First Tee gives young golfers their first taste of the game. A-10
DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
25 cents
Kagan leads over Simmons in District 17 Senate race She drew 55 percent of vote with more than half of precincts reporting n
BY JENN DAVIS AND VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITERS
Former delegate Cheryl Kagan was leading Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons in the Maryland Senate District 17 seat left
open by Sen. Jennie M. Forehand’s retirement, according to incomplete but unofficial results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections. With 25 of 33 precincts reporting, Kagan drew 55 percent of the vote while Simmons drew 45 percent. “I am honored and delighted by the results thus far,” she said. “I think the people of Rockville and Gaithersburg have spoken and clearly want someone as their senator who can build coalitions, work with others and be a pro-
gressive voice in Annapolis.” Kagan represented District 17, which includes Gaithersburg and Rockville, in the House from 1995 to 2003. The Rockville Democrat ran for Senate in 2010 and narrowly lost to incumbent Forehand. She has worked for a variety of nonprofits, most recently as the director of community engagement for BBYO, a Jewish teen leadership and service organization. Simmons, an attorney who lives in Rockville, has served in the House
since 2003 as a Democrat, after serving one term from 1979 to 1983 as a liberal Republican. He considered running for Senate four years ago, but decided against it after Forehand said she would run for re-election. The Simmons’ campaign said Tuesday evening it would not release a statement until the election results are final. If Kagan wins, she will face Steve Zellers, a Gaithersburg Republican, in
MARYLAND SENATE DISTRICT 17 Democrats (top 3 advance):
Cheryl Kagan 2,507 Luiz R.S. Simmons 2,117 27 OF 33 PRECINCTS REPORTING; RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL
See SENATE, Page A-12
Leggett out front Leggett ahead of Duncan, Andrews in bid for third term n
BY
KATE S. ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
County Executive Isiah Leggett looked Tuesday to be on his way to the November elections. Leggett led former County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Councilman Philip M. Andrews for the Democratic nomination for county executive Tuesday with more than half of precincts reporting, according to incomplete but unofficial election results. With 140 of 252 precincts reporting, Leggett led with 20,357 votes.
Farming the future
Likely to join at-large incumbents on council
n
VIRGINIA TERHUNE STAFF WRITER
Summer started Saturday and the Red Wiggler Community Farm in Clarksburg will soon start distributing its crop of certified organic tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers, potatoes and Swiss chard. Unlike some local farms now selling seasonal produce at roadside stands, the nonprofit Red Wiggler sells shares in each season’s harvest to subscribers as part of its community supported agriculture program. The summer season is sold out, but there are spaces still available for the fall crop, said Executive Director and founder Woody Woodroof. Red Wiggler also sells fresh vegetables to group homes for developmentally disabled people for a nominal fee and to the Manna Food Center of Gaithersburg, the county’s major food bank, at a discount. The farm could sell at retail but this is a way for some of the fresh produce to reach low-income people, Woodroof said, The farm is on 12 acres at the eastern end of the Ovid Hazen Wells regional park on Md. 27 in Clarksburg bordering Germantown. Red Wiggler has a lease with Montgomery Parks through 2025 and “we’re hoping to extend the lease,” Woodroof said. In the meantime, Montgomery Parks,
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Obituaries Opinion Sports
SPORTS B-13 A-2 B-9 B-5 A-11 A-14 B-1
BY
Councilman Craig L. Rice held a strong lead Tuesday for re-election to the Montgomery County Council. With 39 of 42 precincts reporting in district 2, Rice led with 4,410 votes, according to incomplete but unofficial election resutls. His op-
PHOTOS BY DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE
Elaine Fickenscher, a grower at Red Wiggler Farm, plants basil. At top: Assistant farm manager Matt Gardine drives a 1948 tractor that has been converted to use electric power into a field for weeding.
Free performances will run each Saturday through July
n
BY
SARAH SCULLY STAFF WRITER
On Saturday BlackRock Center for the Arts will host a concert with The Crawdaddies, the first in a free summer series of five concerts between June 28 and July 26. All concerts will take place on the lawn outside of the center at
See FARMING, Page A-11
Local college football prospect attends one day camp in hopes of improving recruiting odds
Isiah Leggett 23,503 Douglas M. Duncan 15,967 Philip M. Andrews 11,590 171 OF 252 PRECINCTS REPORTING; RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL
Duncan trailed with 13,483 votes while Andrews was not far behind with 9,898 votes, according to unofficial results. However, as of 8:30 p.m., 7,755 absentee ballots had been issued in Montgomery County, of which
See LEGGETT, Page A-12
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 Democrats:
Craig L. Rice 4,410 Neda Bolourian 1,353 39 OF 42 PRECINCTS REPORTING; RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL
ponent, Neda Bolourian had 1,353 votes, according to unofficial results.
See RICE, Page A-12
BlackRock’s free concert series kicks off Saturday
which owns the Ovid Hazen Wells Park north of Skylark Road, is doing some planning of its own. First on the list for the park planners is to relocate the carousel bequeathed by the Wells family from its temporary location in Wheaton. Planners are also looking into how to best use the vacant Oliver Watkins House at Red Wiggler farm, one of two historic houses in the park. Many residents have also said they would
B-1
1910278
KATE ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER
ONE DAY TO IMPRESS
Democrats:
Rice is well ahead
Nonprofit distributes fresh food to group homes BY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Volume 31, No. 26, Two sections, 32 Pages Copyright © 2014 The Gazette
Please
RECYCLE
12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown and begin at 7 p.m. In case of bad weather, the concerts will be moved inside to the BlackRock mainstage. No reservations are required. June 28: The Crawdaddies, who “infuse cajun, zydeco, blues, ska, roots, rock and reggae into an incomparable, groove-laden sound,” according to BlackRock’s
See CONCERTS, Page A-11