Ehrlich Hires Ex-Delegate Dembrow

By Susan Levine
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 31, 2003; Page B05

Former Maryland delegate Dana Lee Dembrow, a lawyer who was ousted by voters after an arrest on domestic abuse charges, has begun a new job with the Ehrlich administration in the
Department of Juvenile Justice.

Dembrow, 49, started May 12 as the department's director of professional standards. In that capacity, he will develop and write policies that workers need for implementing programs and
legislative directives.

Department spokesman Lee Towers said Dembrow will be paid about $65,000 a year.

Dembrow said he turned down a more lucrative offer to accept the post, calling it a "fascinating position" that capitalizes on his "knack" of crafting policy.

"It's a terrific opportunity for me to help kids in trouble," he said.

Dembrow and Secretary of Juvenile Justice Kenneth C. Montague Jr. served together in the House of Delegates for more than 16 years. Both sat on the House Judiciary Committee, which
acts on juvenile justice bills.

Tower said Montague "came to appreciate the skills Mr. Dembrow has," especially in areas of law and policy development.

During the fall Democratic primary, the longtime Montgomery County lawmaker fell 524 votes shy in his bid for a fifth term in Silver Spring's District 20. The domestic abuse charges
prompted a campaign against him.

Dembrow's wife, Suzette, accused him of hitting her in the face during an argument at their home, sending her to a hospital with a bloody nose and two black eyes. He was acquitted of
second-degree assault when she refused to testify against him.

"I believe they spoke about this," Towers said yesterday, indicating that the secretary had concluded that the incident would not hamper Dembrow's effectiveness. "What's this agency
about? Giving kids a second chance, learning from mistakes and moving on."

A month after his defeat, Dembrow joined two dozen other Democratic politicians in crossing party lines to support Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

A spokesman for the governor said Ehrlich considered Dembrow's professional background clear qualification for his hiring. As for any partisan differences, "the Ehrlich administration is
a big tent, and party affiliation means little," Henry Fawell said.

Dembrow's appointment was first reported in the Baltimore Sun.

                                                 © 2003 The Washington Post Company