Report: Rice Endorses Feldman for District 15 Seat

Maryland Del. Brian J. Feldman has picked up yet another endorsement for the District 15 seat being vacated by Sen. Robert Garagiola, D-Germantown.

Montgomery County Councilman Craig Rice, a former state lawmaker and a resident of Germantown, wrote a letter to the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee endorsing Feldman, political blog Maryland Juice reports.

Maryland Juice posted Rice’s letter and has also posted the letter Feldman sent to the MCDCC making a case for his appointment to the state senate.

Read the full account at MarylandJuice.com.

Garagiola, who is the senate majority leader, said in a statement June 6 that he was leaving elected office in order to spend more time with his kids, Garagiola told Patch in an emailed statement.

His resignation would take effect Sept. 1.

Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, which will nominate a replacement, subject to approval by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

The central committee has 30 days from the time Garagiola vacates his seat to submit a name to the governor.

Feldman, a Democrat from Potomac, has already received an endorsement from the District 15 Democratic Caucus and from several local politicians—including Garagiola.

Disrict 15 comprises most of northwest Montgomery County.

Citing story in Bethesda Magazine, Maryland Juice reports that some party activists complained that minorities were excluded from the caucus’ process of picking the endorsement.

The District 15 Democratic Caucus is independent of the Montgomery County Central Committee.