Steven "Steve" A. Silverman was appointed by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett as Director of the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development in April 2009. Just prior to his appointment, Silverman served as the Director of Aging, Health Care, and Special Projects, for Maryland's Attorney General's Office. Prior to that, he served as the Chief of that office's Consumer Protection Division.

Previously, Silverman was a politician and an at-large County Councilmember in Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...

. where he served two four-year terms. He chaired the Council's Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee and was twice chosen by his peers to serve as President of the Council.

Silverman, a liberal democrat, ran on the democratic party ticket for Montgomery County Executive, a position being vacated by Doug Duncan

Doug Duncan

Douglas M. Duncan is a Democratic politician from Maryland who served as County Executive of Montgomery County from 1994 to 2006. At three terms, Duncan held the office longer than any other County Executive in Montgomery County's history...

, who did not seek re-election. Councilmember Silverman focused his campaign around the issues of relieving traffic congestion, improving education, and increasing affordable housing among many others.

Silverman lost the County Executive primary election, garnering 36% of the vote. Isiah "Ike" Leggett

Isiah Leggett

Isiah "Ike" Leggett is an American politician from the U.S. state of Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Deweyville, Texas, Leggett attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, after serving in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army, earned a law degree from Howard...

 won the primary, receiving 61% of the vote. (Leggett later won the general election.) Candidate Robert Fustero (who had run for Governor of Maryland

Governor of Maryland

The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...

 in 2002 but lost in the primary to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend , is an American attorney who was the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003. She ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Maryland in 2002. In 2010 she became the chair of the non-profit American Bridge, an organization that will raise funds for Democratic...

) received 3% of the vote.

Silverman appeared in debates against democratic party candidate Isiah Leggett

Isiah Leggett

Isiah "Ike" Leggett is an American politician from the U.S. state of Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Deweyville, Texas, Leggett attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and, after serving in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army, earned a law degree from Howard...

, and occasionally debated against independent candidate Robin Ficker

Robin Ficker

Robin Ficker is an American attorney, real estate broker, political activist, and sports heckler who lives in Boyds, Maryland.-Education and professional career:...

 or Republican candidate Chuck Floyd.

Silverman is widely recognized for his strong support of taxpayer-funded social services and low-priced housing.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050302401.html He has been instrumental in persuading the Montgomery County Council to fund Casa De Maryland, a group that runs day laborer centers and provides social services to immigrants.

Silverman was born April 25, 1954, in New Hampshire. He attended American University

American University

American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...

 and then George Washington University Law School.

Maryland 2006 Elections

US Senate | US House Maryland congressional elections, 2006 The Maryland Congressional elections of 2006 were held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. The terms of all eight Representatives to the United States House of Representatives will expire on January 3, 2007, and therefore all were put up for contest...  | Governor Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006 The Maryland gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. It was a race for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. The winning candidates -- Martin O'Malley and Anthony G. Brown, who defeated the incumbent Gov...  | State Assembly Maryland General Assembly Election, 2006 The most recent election to choose members of the Maryland General Assembly was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. The U.S. House election, 2006, U.S. Senate election, 2006, and Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006 occurred the same day...  | County Exec Maryland County Executive Election, 2006 The election to choose County Executives in Maryland occurred on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. The U.S. House election, 2006, U.S. Senate election, 2006, Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006, and Maryland General Assembly Election, 2006 took place on the same day...  | County Offices

External links

• http://www.stevesilverman.org