Montgomery Senator Rejects Offer of Honor

Montgomery County state Sen. Leonard H. Teitelbaum (D) apparently has no plans to coast in retirement quietly.
Last week, Teitelbaum, 75, announced he won't seek reelection after a 19-year career in the General Assembly.
Teitelbaum's announcement came as he was facing an aggressive primary challenge from John Mahoney, an attorney and the former president of the Young Democrats of Maryland.
Mahoney, 36, is campaigning as a fresh, energetic voice in Annapolis for District 19.
When Teitelbaum's retirement plans became public last week, Mahoney said he planned to "honor" the incumbent at a fundraiser next week at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Auditorium in Silver Spring.
The fundraiser, which will benefit Mahoney's campaign, will feature a concert by Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary.
But Teitelbaum doesn't want his name associated with the event.

"After attacking me personally for 3 months, when I announced my retirement, (Mahoney) sent out an e-mail saying he wants to 'honor' my 20 years of service at this event," he wrote in a terse letter to supporters. "I do not wish to be honored by Mr. Mahoney. His e-mail appears to imply that 'honoring' me will convey my endorsement of him."
Teitelbaum goes on to explain he helped secure state funding for the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Auditorium. But he said neither he nor the school can choose who rents the building.
"I do not accept his 'honor.' It is self serving and unauthorized."
After being told of the letter, Mahoney responded, "Well that was rude.
"I thought it was a nice thing to do, honor him for his years of service," Mahoney said in an interview. "I do not understand why Mr. Teitelbaum would chose to pick a fight with me at this stage of the game, but we were being sincere."
Tim Craig