Gansler taps Montgomery Pol to Protect Consumers

The state's new Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has assured a soft landing for a Montgomery County pal. Former County Council member and Democratic candidate for County Executive Steven A. Silverman starts next week as assistant attorney general for consumer protection.

For the next few months, Silverman said he expects to work on consumer protection legislation before the General Assembly. After that, he'll turn to residents throughout the state to build a portfolio of issues to tackle.

The high-profile office is the attorney general's busiest division with a budget of $4 million and about 50 people.

Silverman called the division "the face of the attorney general's office."

"It's got a good reputation and Doug wants to build on that," he said.

The two Montgomery politicos have known each other since they were first elected locally in 1998, and they supported each other in their respective campaigns last year. Silverman was defeated in the Democratic primary by Isiah Leggett, the new county executive.