Two strong candidates,
Valerie Ervin and Sheldon Fishman, are
running to represent District 4, which includes Silver Spring, Wheaton
and Glenmont. Ms. Ervin, a top aide to County Council member George L.
Leventhal (D-At Large), is an energetic community activist and former
labor organizer who has collected a sheaf of endorsements from county
officials and organizations. We backed her in the primary last spring,
but the fall campaign has cast a spotlight on an aspect of her record
we find troubling: her comments in support of diluting the county
schools' excellent programs for gifted and talented students. Ms. Ervin
is interested in promoting less-advantaged students who, she fears, are
being diverted from the best school programs. Her concern is
legitimate, but we agree with Mr. Fishman that academic offerings
should be tailored to a broad range of students, including gifted and
talented ones. Mr. Fishman, an Internet specialist for a D.C. law firm,
would make a dedicated school board member, and we support him.