Local boy jumps into council action

Leventhal fights for alternative energy and transportation

By PETE DELEA

 

Takoma Park resident George Leventhal is already trying to make his mark on Montgomery County, just two months after securing a term as an At-Large member of the County Council.

"It's a tremendous opportunity to pursue the issues I care passionately about," said Leventhal. "I was always interested in politics when I was a child."

He said he developed his passion for politics at an early age because of the exposure growing up so close to the nation's capital. Leventhal first moved into the county with his parents in 1964, where they stayed before moving to Howard County in 1976.

He departed the east coast to attend the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. He then returned to Maryland to earn his Masters in public administration from the John Hopkins University School of Continuing Studies. He also found a home and inspiration in Takoma Park.

"Takoma Park reminded me of Berkeley," he said.

Leventhal moved here in 1985, and quickly got involved in county politics. Before his own run for office, Leventhal spent about 12 years picking up additional political experience. He started working for Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D), who was then a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. In 1986, he continued his support of Ruben by coordinating her successful Senate campaign. He feels that the experience he gained working on Ruben's campaign prepared him for his own race.

"I learned how to run and win an election in Montgomery County," said Leventhal.

Leventhal says that he was also greatly influenced by Sammie Abbott, a community leader who served as Mayor of Takoma Park from 1980 to 1986. He was inspired by Abbott's commitment to the city by focusing on tenants' rights, low income residents, and community organizations.

Leventhal also spent five years working for U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski. He served as her legislative assistant for appropriations, budget, and transportation for three years, then as her legislative director for the following two years. During his stint, he followed his passion by securing funding for transportation improvements and helping to clean up the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

The next step in Leventhal's political path was serving as chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Party from 1996 to 2001.

While chair, he also worked as a senior federal relations officer with the Association of American Universities. There he advised the presidents of 63 universities on political and policy development.

Shortly after taking office in December, Leventhal started pushing to support the Clean Air Act.

"I accomplished my first goal with my resolution for alternative energy," he said.

The resolution, which has unanimous support from council members, will amend the county's energy policy to require that at least five percent of electricity purchased come from renewable sources, such as wind turbines and solar power. The resolution also calls for the setup of an "Energy Wise Offices" program, which will promote energy conservation through the retention of independent energy experts to audit three county office buildings to pinpoint potential opportunities for energy savings.

Leventhal's passionate leadership on alternative energy took some environmentalists by surprise, given his support of the Inter-County Connector, a proposed highway that many associate with sprawl, destruction of wildlife, and pollution. Leventhal ran on a pro-I.C.C. slate formed by Doug Duncan in opposition to then-Councilmember Blair Ewing, who was defeated.

Leventhal is loath to talk about the nasty politics of the election last fall, prefering to discuss his plans as a councilmember.

With the proposal submitted to the council, Leventhal, who serves on the Transportation and Environment Committee, plans to continue his push to expand transportation throughout the county.

Leventhal is an avid bicyclist and lives within a five-minute walk of the Takoma Metro station. He understands, however, that those conveniences are not shared by all, and the county's mass transit system does not meet the needs of his entire constituency.

"It doesn't get us where we need to go," he said.

He now is experiencing that frustration firsthand.

"It's the first time in 10 years I have to drive to work," said Leventhal. "When the weather gets better, I'll bike to work."

He plans to continue his push to expand transportation throughout the county. He feels that the need to expand Metro rail and Ride-On bus service outweighs the need to construct the Intercounty Connector highway.

Leventhal supports the "Inner Purple Line," which would run in lower Montgomery County from the New Carrollton station on the Orange Line to the Bethesda station on the Red Line, with a stop at a Takoma/Langley station which would need to be constructed. There is another proposed "Outer" route, through mid-Montgomery County, which is favored more by residents and council members from that area.

In the coming year as chair of Health and Human Services Committee, Leventhal will have his hands full as he attempts to tackle health care issues including health care for the uninsured, homelessness, access to childcare, and repairing the county's mental health network.