The 2006 Democratic primary for Governor was shapong up to be a great one. Late in the spring of 2006, the heir apparent to the Governor's Mansion, Martin O'Malley, was fending off a strong challenege by Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. And the race was getting close and contested. Signs pointed to a spirited summer campaign and a candidate who would have totally destroyed Governor Bob Ehrlich in the general election.
Then suddenly, Duncan dropped out of the race, citing the need to be treated for depression. O'Malley won in a walkover and of course, beat Ehrlich.
Over six years later, Doug Duncan is back. And he's running for his old job back, that of Montgomery County Executive. You can read all about it here.
I was always a Doug Duncan fan and I know that his depression diagnosis is no impediment in his running for, or serving as, County Executive. And he was a fantastic County Executive for Montgomery County. He was a pragmatic leader who did great things to balance the involvement of the public and private sectors to address the county's problems.
It is of course way too early to endorse any candidate for anything in 2014 but I will be following the Duncan campaign for County Executive with great interest!
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