County Council power play fizzles out

Like a sparkler on its last spark, the movement to garner more power for the County Council has nearly fizzled out.

Last night the most sweeping measure proposed to wrestle governing influence from County Executive John R. Leopold failed to get the necessary five-vote majority from the council to put the idea on November's ballot. It would have given the councilmen veto authority over budget shuffles of $50,000 or more. They currently have no say.

So far, only the most innocuous of the County Charter amendments proposed earlier this year has passed muster to be put on the next countywide ballot and left up to the voters....