Officials’ Careers May Be Affected

Its 200-plus pages are written in pure bureaucratese. And it avoids identifying any major player by name.

But this week’s report from the Montgomery County Council’s investigative arm still manages to make clear that the county’s planning system is ailing and that three officials watched as it grew weaker: Planning Board Chairman Derick P. Berlage, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) and County Council member Steven A. Silverman, who heads a key committee with oversight of the planning process.

Berlage, Duncan and Silverman (D-At Large) face career crossroads as they try to shake the stigma of Clarksburg. Duncan is seeking the 2006 Democratic nomination for governor, Silverman hopes to become the next county executive and Berlage is fighting to keep his $129,000-a-year job as board chairman.

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