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Doug Duncan Tells Supporters He Will Run for Montgomery County Executive

One of Montgomery's dominant political figures set to return to the political stage after six years.

 

 

After months of strategizing, Douglas M. Duncan has told supporters he has decided to run for an unprecedented fourth term in Montgomery County's highest political office, marking his return to politics after a six year-hiatus.

Duncan, 57, met privately yesterday morning with political advisers and supporters in Gaithersburg to discuss his run for county executive and weigh the results of a recent poll by Harrison Hickman, the pollster for Al Gore and John Edwards' presidential bids. At the end of the meeting, Duncan told attendees that he would be entering the 2014 race, according to an email sent yesterday afternoon to supporters.

“I am not seeking to return to the County Executive office simply because it is winnable—I am returning because I have so much energy for the job and know that Montgomery County is ready to again see real progress,” he wrote in the email, which was obtained by Patch.

Duncan could not be immediately reached for comment.

Two-term incumbent County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) has vowed not to run for re-election, prompting County Councilmen Phil Andrews and George Leventhal to announce their candidacies.

Duncan held the office from 1994 to 2006—the longest-ever tenure—before making an unsuccessful run for the governor's office in 2006. Here is a timeline of his political career:

1982-1987: Rockville City Council.

1987-1993: Mayor of Rockville.

1994-2006: Montgomery County Executive.

2006: Contended for the Democratic nod for governor with then-Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, before bowing out, citing clinical depression.

2007-2008: Vice President of Administrative Affairs, University of Maryland-College Park.

Related Topics: Doug Duncan, Elections 2014, Montgomery County Executive, and Montgomery County politics

MD

10:38 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Well, hes better than what we have now?

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David Heyman

10:38 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Great. Duncan is the reason we don't have a Wegmans in Bethesda. He was protecting Giant's labor unions.

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Sam P

1:17 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

hopefully to another county so he can spend, spend , spend

tanisha

11:19 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

He is running because he needs a job. He is the one that gave everything to unions and developers. How did he do in the poll against Leggett? Probably 60% (Leggett) to 40% (Doug) just like Silverman.

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Joe Galvagna

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Run the both of them out of town a couple of wasted humans

Fran Asbeck

11:19 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

And he's why the jail is in Boyds, moving the undesibable county stuff out of his neighborhood and into ours, where there are fewer votes. And personally, I wouldn't miss Wegman's if it weren't going in to Germantown. I was a member of the UFCW (back when it was called the RCIA), BTW so I appreciate any protection we workers can get; sorry we have to have the Dunk to get it.

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SWN

11:19 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

This is the best thing to happen for Wheaton in a long, long time. It's good to see some hope for unseating Leggett.

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Joe Galvagna

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Why unseat Leggett just throw out the trash

jag

11:19 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Great news! Duncan was certainly a spectacular County Exec before, but I'll still be listening to what the other candidates (especially Leventhal) think they can bring to the table. End of the day, though, I think Doug's already got this in the bag. He's just too highly regarded and well recognized for anyone on the County Council to compete.

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Fred Foo

1:17 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Personally, I'd prefer Phil Andrews who is also running. I can only hope that people will remember many of the bad decisions Duncan made such as pushing for the ICC.

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Tom Termini

1:17 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Gawd awful manager in-the-pocket of developers. Stay retired, for the sake of all of us...

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Tom Termini

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Anti-corporatist. I am an anarcho-capitalist at heart. Although I *do* like consorting with socialists...

Sam P

1:17 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Oh yuk...another bureaucrat who cant get a job. Has NO private sector experience and no sense of how to move an economy forward. Highly respected? And he resigned for what reason....short memories!

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Joe Galvagna

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

The guy is a nut case proble needs money to pay for his schrink

david plihal

1:17 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

robert schroeder, i think you meant to say "where do i go to vote against this idiot."
i thought we buried this loser a long time ago.

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Rob Sugar

3:31 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I think without Doug Duncan there would be no Downtown Silver Spring as we know it today. That is a good enough reason to consider him again.

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John

3:31 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Fantastic!!! The best County Executive we have had, since I've been a resident of MoCo, since the 1990's. I also am thrilled, beyond belief, that Leggett is not running again; he really is a Republican hiding behind the label of Democrat. The County has never been in worse shape, since Leggett has been the County Exec. Andrews is a career pol who would be about the same as Leggett. He perhaps is the only County Council member who doesn't have a newsletter, for the people to read, probably because he doesn't do anything useful or helpful to the citizens of MoCo. I don't think Leventhal has been County Council President, so I am skeptical of his leadership abilities. When Duncan was County Exec., MoCo was doing great. Since he has been out of office, we have had all kinds of problems. Bring back Doug Duncan!!!

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Joe Galvagna

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Yea and you probly voted for Leggett. None of these are good for MoCo

Allen Barnes

10:19 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012

You have got to be kidding us. Has the Democratic party approved this? What about party leaders such as Kramer, Gelman, O'Malley, Gansler, Elrich, Ervin, to name some of them.

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tom norris

10:19 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012

Doug Duncan would not have allowed Burtonsville to be ruined by the no growth crowd. Just look at Burtonsville, and then compare it to Maple Lawn in Howard County. Something is very wrong with the Montgomery County side of Rt 29.

www.SaveBurtonsville.com

Today, Burtonsville is an embarrassment and eyesore, not to mention an economic disaster. Where is the leadership and vision?

Why can't the politicians stand up for smart growth, common sense, and job creation? They need to say "no" to the County Planners who are out of control; preferring to slow and stop development instead of promote it. Silver Spring would have ended up like Burtonsville, had it not been for Duncan. It is time for some serious County leadership to stop the obvious decline and get the County moving in the right economic direction.

The status quo is not working.

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Sean R. Sedam

8:36 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Are you happy with the prospect of a Duncan candidacy? Are you not happy with the prospect of a Duncan candidacy? Do you prefer someone else for County Executive? Tell us who and why here: http://rockville.patch.com/articles/poll-who-would-you-back-for-montgomery-county-executive

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Bill Samuel

10:19 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012

Both Leggett and Duncan are tools of corporate interests. To my mind, the more corporate tools in the race, the better. That may give someone who actually wants to serve the people instead of the monied interests a chance to win, despite the fact that they won't be able to get the campaign funding the corporate tools get.

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Ddad99

10:19 am on Thursday, November 29, 2012

Will he share his medication protocol with the public? Do we have a right to know his psychological profile? Is he still suffering from depression?

We can do better. One party government is stupid government.

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Ken Sandin

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

"Will he share his medication protocol with the public? Do we have a right to know his psychological profile? Is he still suffering from depression? "

Not "flagging it"; saying it: inappropriate

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Joe Galvagna

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Right on Ddad99 all Dems are on antidepressents. We need some new blood that will not give away the store.

david plihal

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

what is so beautiful about Maple Lawn? a thousand cookie cutter homes, no trees, tons of asphalt and a few chain restaurants in the middle of nowhere; the ambiance of Hiroshima after the bomb dropped. If you consider that smart growth then i don't know what to tell you. Burtonsville, while admittedly low rent in spots, at least has character. Some people think you need a Starbucks on every corner, though.

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tanisha

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Folks Doug was able to move forward on many projects because at the time the county was flushed in cash. I think that is why most people have great memories of Doug. The county no longer has that kind of money. By the way Burtonsville was on the downslide while Douggy was in office.

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Marla Jackson

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

My money is on Valerie Ervin. Doug and Ike will run others will drop out and Valerie will become our first female county exec.

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Frank Brewer

10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

Doug Duncan was good for the County. He would stop stupid projects (like Stauffer School Rd bike paths) that Andrews & Leggett are forcing at the expense of many for the benefit of very few.

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