Roger Berliner (born February 12, 1951) is a former member of the Montgomery County Council from 2006 to 2018. He represented District 1, which includes parts of Poolesville, Potomac, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase.
Early years Berliner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 12, 1951."Roger Berliner, County Council, Montgomery County, Maryland". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
Berliner earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor from the McGeorge School of Law of the University of the Pacific.
Berliner was an attorney specializing in energy law and a partner for Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP. Some of the clients he represented included Canadian gas producers,Meyer, Norma. "PUC told state needs new gas pipelines: Meeting held concerning SoCal Gas-imposed cuts". Daily Breeze (Torrance, California). October 4, 1988. the Government of Guam,Yaukey, John. "Shipping companies overcharging Guam customers, agency rules". USA Today. June 1, 1998. and Nevada Power Company.Rademacher, Kevin. "Nevada Power: E-mail shows Enron exploited contracts". Las Vegas Sun. February 11, 2004. On behalf of his client Pacific Gas and Electric, Berliner sent a petition to the Maryland Public Service Commission proposing to give customers the option of paying an additional four dollars per month to fund the planting of trees to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."'Climate Protection Tariff' Sought For Maryland". The Energy Daily. September 18, 2006.
Berliner is the president of Berliner Law PLLC.
Early political career and activism Berliner served as legislative director for United States Senator Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio."Voice of the Times". Anchorage Daily News. June 14, 2002. He served as senior policy advisor for Congressman Henry Waxman of California. Berliner worked as director of Congressional liaison for the Carter administration.
Berliner was the Maryland coordinator for Bill Bradley's presidential campaign in 1999.Morley, Jefferson; LeDuc, Daniel. "Bradley Finds Friends in Maryland". The Washington Post. August 19, 1999. p. AA1.Meyer, Eugene L; LeDuc, Daniel. "Bradley Camp Gathers Helpers, Money". The Washington Post. November 24, 1999. p. M11.
Montgomery County Council
2000 election
On January 11, 2000, Betty Ann Krahnke announced that she would resign from representing District 1 on the Montgomery County Council.Ruane, Michael E. "'Today Is a Bittersweet Day for Me'; Krahnke Announces Resignation in Rockville Amid Tears and Appreciation". The Washington Post. January 12, 2000. p. B3. Krahnke had been battling Lou Gehrig's disease for the preceding 18 months, and she was unable to walk or speak.Ruane, Michael E. "Krahnke to Leave Montgomery Council; Lou Gehrig's Disease Reportedly Worsens". The Washington Post. January 8, 2000. p. B3. Krahnke said she would leave office after a special election would be held to fill her seat. Krahnke had represented District 1 since the council was changed in 1990 to include district seats.Wilson, Scott. "9 Vying to Replace Retiring Krahnke; Montgomery Election to Be April 18". The Washington Post. February 15, 2000. p. B2.
Berliner announced that we would run for the seat on the council.Wilson, Scott. "9 Vying to Replace Retiring Krahnke: Montgomery Election to Be April 18". The Washington Post. February 15, 2000. p. B2. Tony Puca also ran for the seat.Wilson, Scott. "9 Seeking To Succeed Krahnke: Special Election Draws 4 Democrats, 5 in GOP". The Washington Post. March 2, 2000. p. MDMVG1. Puca was a life insurance agent who was known for volunteer work with elders and people with developmental disabilities. Ilene Solomon, a special education teacher, also ran for the Democratic nomination.Wilson, Scott. "In Montgomery Race, Making Footsteps Heard; Nine Candidates Vie for Council Seat". The Washington Post. February 27, 2000. p. C1.Hyslop, Margie. "Pack of 8 takes aim at Sarbanes - No clear favorite in Maryland's GOP Senate primary". The Washington Times. March 4, 2000.Hyslop, Margie. "O'Malley candid in anti-crime crusade". The Washington Times. February 16, 2000. Howard A. Denis, former state senator; Casey Aiken, a real estate attorney; Sharon Constantine, a local activist; Scott Dyer, a computer engineer; and Mary Kane, an attorney.
Berliner supported transportation improvements including building the Intercounty Connector."To the Polls in Maryland". The Washington Post. March 5, 2000 . p. B6. Baptiste preferred improving transportation without building the Purple Line and Intercounty Connector.
Incumbent Krahnke endorsed Democrat Patricia Baptiste and donated her remaining campaign funds to Baptiste's campaign, which alarmed local Republican party officials.Hyslop, Margie. "Rappaport beats GOP pack in Senate race - Turnout gets boost from independents". The Washington Times. March 8, 2000.
Baptiste won the Democratic primary by 17 percentage points. Denis won the Republican primary and went on to win in the general election.Wilson, Scott. "Denis Wins Bid To Succeed Krahnke: Republican to Join Montgomery Council". The Washington Post. April 19, 2000. p. B1.
2006 election In January 2006, Berliner announced he would run to represent District 1 on the Council again."Berliner to Seek Council Seat". The Potomac Almanac. January 25, 2006. In his announcement, Berliner said he would increase regulation and oversight of development, reduce traffic, and modernize public schools. Berliner proposed mandatory sustainable building standards for government buildings. He supported an unimplemented law giving a tax credit for purchasing hybrid vehicles and a tax surcharge for purchasing vehicles with low fuel efficiency.
Duchy Trachtenberg considered running for the District 1 seat,Craig, Tim. "Public Body, Private Meetings?". The Washington Post. August 11, 2005. p. T2. but Trachtenberg ended up running for an at-large seat instead.Trejos, Nancy "Council Election Draws A Crowd: Newcomers Enter Montgomery Races". The Washington Post. July 4, 2006. p. B1.
Berliner ran against incumbent Howard A. Denis.Wagner, Arlo. "Incumbents hold on to leads: Leggett leads vote for county executive". The Washington Times. September 13, 2006. Neither faced opposition in the primary election.
Berliner said that, as a Democrat, he could do more for his constituents than Denis, the only incumbent Republican."Vause, Mary. Berliner, Denis Face Off - Berliner challenges incumbent in County Council District 1 race". The Potomac Almanac. September 26, 2006. Berliner said that Denis' sway in the council was diminished because of his party affiliation, and that residents would be better represented by a Democratic Council member. Berliner criticized Denis for being a populist, rather than someone with consistent principles. Berliner criticized Denis for hiding the fact that he had sought to be a delegate for President George W. Bush in 2004, while Berliner had helped John Kerry's presidential campaign in Florida.Vause, Mary. "Berliner Stays Aggressive - Democratic nominee for County Council District 1 criticizes incumbent Denis (R)". The Potomac Almanac. October 31, 2006.
Berliner criticized Denis' vote to lift a tax on developers that was intended to pay for new roads and schools to ease the impact of development.Spivack, Miranda S. "Growth Tax Falls Short of Promises; Delay Set Off Race for Permits In Montgomery". The Washington Post. October 29, 2006. p. C1. Berliner also characterized Clarksburg's development problems as a failure by Denis."Roger Berliner Age: 55". The Washington Post. August 31, 2006. p. T42. Denis said he had advocated for anti-developer bills, such as one to prevent developers from destroying large trees to build mansions.Trejos, Nancy; Aratani, Lori. "3 Candidates Campaign Aggressively In Race to Be Next County Executive: Left-Leaning Montgomery Voters Hear Gamut of Views on Taxes and Growth". The Washington Post. November 2, 2006. p. T3.
The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed Denis' reelection."Montgomery County: Our choices for executive, council, courthouse and charter". The Washington Post. October 28, 2006. p. A14. The editorial board complimented Denis' hard work on the council, although it disagreed with his stance against the Purple Line.
Denis received the endorsement of Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, an organization advocating slower growth.Spivack, Miranda S. "Candidates Cornered on Growth Strategies; Voters Asking How Quality of Life Will Be Maintained — and Who Will Pay for It". The Washington Post. September 4, 2006. p. B5. Denis was also proud to his successful passage of legislation to restrict residents from erecting mansions on small residential lots. Berliner won the general election,Wagner, Arlo. "Incumbents in command in many races: Leggett holds early lead for Montgomery executive". The Washington Times. November 8, 2006. receiving 56 percent of the vote.
First term Berliner took the oath of office on December 4, 2006.
The Council considered instituting a moratorium on subdivision developments.Stern, Aaron. "Council Rejects Moratorium - Montgomery County Council rejected moratorium on subdivision approvals, but new growth policy is in the works that will emphasize restrained growth in the county". The Potomac Almanac. February 6, 2007. The proposal would have stalled 72 projects that were under consideration. Berliner voted against the moratorium.
Responding to the practice of demolishing small, older homes and building larger homes in their place, Berliner helped create a task force to evaluate and propose solutions."Montgomery County approves 'Mansionization'". The Daily Record (Baltimore, Maryland). May 9, 2007. The task force was composed of residents, representatives of the home building industry, an architect, and a real estate agent. Berliner introduced the task force's proposed bill, which reduced the size of homes allowed on small lots, changed the building heights allowed, and changed neighborhood notification procedures."Infill Development Bill". The Potomac Almanac (Potomac, Maryland). May 15, 2008.
Asked whether he would support building another bridge over the Potomac River in Montgomery County, Berliner said he would not.Stern, Aaron. "Crossed Signals: Leggett catches heat for comments about a potential Potomac River crossing in Montgomery County". The Potomac Almanac. June 5, 2007.
Berliner sponsored a proposal to ban fences and other structures on property near the C&O Canal National Historical Park.Boin, Sonia. "Ban on fences at canal gets mixed reviews". The Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Maryland). June 13, 2007. The proposal was intended so that the park's visitors would not have to see a large wall next to the park. Berliner also supported a proposed ordinance that would require the county's approval before the removal of a tree from a residential lots.Stern, Aaron. "Whose Tree? Tree ordinance under consideration by County Council would restrict removal of any tree from residential lots". The Potomac Almanac (Potomac, Maryland). January 18, 2008.
Berliner supported a proposed bill to require people employing domestic workers to provide written contracts describing working conditions, hours, and pay to employees working at least 20 hours a week.Wagner, Arlo. "Bill seeks to aid domestic help: Montgomery County Council weighs measure". The Washington Times. February 27, 2008. The laws regarding overtime and pay frequency that apply to other types of employees would also apply to domestic workers. Workers who live in their employer's house would need to be given a private room for sleeping with a door that can be locked as well as access to a kitchen, a bathroom, and laundry facilities.