WASHINGTON — The race for Montgomery County executive nomination — still too close to call after last week’s primary — just got a new twist: Current county Council member Nancy Floreen has signaled her intent to run for county executive as an independent.
Floreen filed paperwork with the board of elections Monday. She is currently registered as a Democrat and is term-limited.
Deadlines forced her to make the declaration. In a statement, Floreen said she would have liked to wait for the final count of ballots in the race, but Maryland law set July 2 as the deadline for those declaring independent candidacy.
“I did not support either David Blair or Marc Elrich,” Floreen said in her statement.
“Whichever candidate prevails in the count will do so with less than 30 percent of the third of Democrats who voted … I believe ALL (sic) Democrats, Republicans, and independents would benefit from a third, independent choice.”
Floreen has a few hurdles to clear. First, there is the question regarding her ability to file as an independent while still a registered Democrat.
But, if legal counsel allows her to change party affiliation, then Floreen will still need to get signatures from at least 1 percent of Montgomery County’s registered voters to get her name on the ballot — about 6,500 signatures by Aug. 6.
Read Floreen’s full statement below.
Statement of Nancy Floreen by wtopweb on Scribd
