Montgomery County Union Sits Out Of Executive Race

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- A union representing 8,000 Montgomery County employees is staying out of the county executive's race due to opposition to the incumbent and doubts about his challenger.

The president of the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization tells The Washington Post the union will not endorse a candidate in the race.

The union is unhappy with County Executive Isiah Leggett after bruising contract negotiations and court fights during the recession. And the union isn't convinced challenger Doug Duncan can win.

Union President Gino Renne says the "no endorsement" decision is pragmatic because Leggett has more than $1 million on hand compared with $340,000 for Duncan. Renne says it's a business decision. He says if it was an emotional decision, the union would have endorsed Duncan long ago.