Openly gay man considers run for Maryland House

CHEVY CHASE, Md. -- An openly gay analyst for Montgomery County formed a campaign committee and held a kick-off fundraising event to seek a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates to represent Montgomery County. Although he has not officially announced his candidacy, Rich Madaleno held his first fund-raising event Friday, Nov. 16, at the home of Elizabeth Birch, the executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay political organization in the nation. State Dels. Sandy Rosenberg (D-Baltimore), Sharon Grosfeld (D-Montgomery), Peter Franchot (D-Montgomery); State Sen. Chris Van Hollen Jr. (D-Montgomery), and Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan attended to support Madaleno. "I can’t think of anybody better to represent this district than Rich Madaleno," Van Hollen said during the event. "He’s smart, yet humble. He’s passionate on the issues and he will be great on the House of Delegates." Madaleno said he brought in $11,000 from the event and that "more money is still coming in."