When Maryland's newly elected General Assembly convenes in Annapolis in January, many familiar faces will be missing. Montgomery County Sen. Laurence Levitan, the powerful chair-holder of the Budget and Taxation Committee, fell victim to the Republican steamroller. So did another veteran, Baltimore County Del. Kenneth H. Masters, the House majority leader.
In Prince George's County, retirement removed three prominent Democrats. Sen. Thomas P. O'Reilly has been heading the Finance Committee; Delegates Gary P. Alexander and Timothy F. Maloney have been players on major committees.
All this underscores that Baltimore City, alone among Maryland jurisdictions, remained an overwhelmingly Democratic stronghold. As a result, Baltimore-based politicians are in good position to become power brokers. Sen. Barbara Hoffman seems destined to head the Budget and Taxation Committee. Del. Howard P. Rawlings will continue his appropriations chairmanship. Sen. Clarence Blount, the veteran majority leader, is likely to continue in one or two top leadership posts.
What makes this situation particularly sweet is the fact that, because of its declining population, Baltimore's representation in the new General Assembly is actually decreasing. Thus, these power positions will cancel some of the numerical losses.
The challenge to city politicians is to find ways to leverage their clout. The best way, of course, is to forge alliances of mutual interest with legislators from the urban sections of Baltimore County and from Prince George's and Montgomery counties.
Because of a past history of suspicions and city-bashing, this may be easier said than done. But, as one Baltimore legislator puts it, "If it's either-or, us versus them, no one gets anything."
In fact, the unusual political circumstances surrounding Democratic Governor-elect Parris Glendening's slim victory may help forge a pragmatic Democratic alliance that would have little chance in ordinary times. The inroads Republicans made throughout the state -- including Montgomery and Prince George's counties -- were so serious that this may be the moment for all Democrats to forget past hostilities and work together.
Baltimore-area legislators should take a leading role in that mission of conciliation.