Riemer A Surprise As Second In Council At-Large Race

With all precincts reporting, the big surprise for the Montgomery County at-large council seats was Hans Riemer, a challenger who came in second behind Marc Elrich.

Marc Elrich (D-At Large), with 41,697 votes, challenger Hans Riemer, with 35,469 votes, Nancy Floreen (D-At Large), with 34,062 votes and George Leventhal (D-At Large), with 33,649 votes, are the four candidates who lead the field. Incumbent Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large), with 29,803 votes, was in fifth place. In the at-large race, four of the 10 candidates will move on to the general election in November.

It was a long and rewarding day for Riemer, who got up at 4:45 a.m. and rounded out the night at Jackie's Sidebar in Silver Spring.

"It's been an exciting day, but there's so much more ahead. This week, I'll be sitting down and thinking about the agenda for the council, and I think the first real topic we're going to be tackling is government reform," Riemer said.

Barry Katz, who worked on previous campaigns with Riemer, said Riemer is the best candidate because he brings a fresh perspective to Montgomery County.

"This is the year for people who are outside the box of the local political gestalt, and he is such a candidate," Katz said.

Bethesda resident John Keller said that Riemer's manner and attitude stuck out to him. Keller, a teacher at Herbert Hoover Middle School, has known Riemer for several years now.

"He just has a manner about himself, and he is very thoughtful, very self-assured, very low-key," Keller said. "He just seems like a man that can help bridge some of the gaps and the divides and provide solutions to some of our problems."

Elrich, who has spent four years as an at-large councilman, and was previously a Takoma Park city councilman, said that he is gratified by the response he's gotten so far.

"I've spent the last four years working with everyone," he said. "People made the assumption that I wouldn't talk to everyone, but they were wrong."

Elrich said his two biggest issues to take in the next four years are the restructuring of government in the county and transportation.

Nancy Nickell, who has known Elrich since his days at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Co-op, said she likes Elrich because he wants to preserve existing communities.

"But he's just great. Period," she said.

Mara Parker, another Elrich supporter, echoed that sentiment.

"Marc is exactly who he says he is," Parker said. "He knows how to grow and develop the quality of life in Montgomery County."

Without all the precincts reporting no winner is clear. Check back in the morning for updates on who won. Through the night, election results will be reported on the county Board of Elections site.