When Diane R. Evans first was elected to the Anne Arundel County Council four years ago, she promised to shake up what had been a cozy, all-Democratic club. And she succeeded. While she sometimes slipped into strident partisan sniping, Mrs. Evans nevertheless inspired her colleagues to be more open and free thinking.
The councilwoman from District 5 no longer is the minority voice. She is the newly elected chairwoman, the senior member of a new Republican majority and one of only two incumbents on the council. For at least the next several months -- until the new councilmen learn their way around -- this will be her council.
Politicians accustomed to being in the minority sometimes have trouble adjusting when they find themselves in the majority. The rules for Mrs. Evans are different from four years ago. She now will be judged not on how forcefully she dissents, but on how well she leads. Already, Mrs. Evans appears comfortable with her new position.
At the council's inaugural ceremony and first meeting, Mrs. Evans reigned like a cool and elegant queen, flanked by her court of male colleagues. She graciously acknowledged the service of previous county office holders, promised to cooperate with her fellow councilmen and pledged to try to heal the rift between the county's north and south.
Flowery words can be expected on the first day of a new term, but Mrs. Evans is proving she is sincere. She pushed for the election of veteran Democrat George F. Bachman of Linthicum as the council's vice chairman. She is keeping Atwood B. Tate as council attorney even though he is a Democrat, and she is retaining most of the council staff. Although she pushed auditor Joseph Novotny to retire and dismissed one of his assistants, she nevertheless publicly thanked Mr. Novotny for his service and made no mention of their past disputes.
Mrs. Evans already has begun implementing her philosophy of smaller government by cutting two staff cars and an assistant auditor post. Larger challenges await on the environment, crime, public safety and the schools. The council's resolve will be tested on plans for a new detention center in Glen Burnie and the injured, but not dead proposal to build a Redskins stadium. Working with County Executive John G. Gary, we expect Mrs. Evans to leave her mark on county government.