Despite shift in roles, the politicking will likely remain

When Doug Duncan unveiled his candidacy for governor two Octobers ago, the campaign's motto, "Think Bigger," was distinctive for more than just the host of ideas the Montgomery County Executive would unload over the next eight months.

Duncan is a big man - towering, even, at a robust 6-foot-4-inch - and his selection as vice president of administrative affairs could yield sizable gains for the university. In the simplest terms, when it comes to this institution's future, size matters. The campus is a colossus in Prince George's, a massive state institution local politicians both appreciate for its magnetic economic draw and lament for its ability to guzzle resources.

So it seems appropriate that Duncan was chosen to take on a job that includes stewardship of the university's $1.3 billion budget, seven departments and two multi-million dollar development projects. But Duncan's experience as a Maryland politician will certainly come into play as well, both in the halls of Annapolis and among College Park and county officials.

The fact that university President Dan Mote chose Duncan is a clear signal that the university is on a path that requires political know-how. Duncan's predecessor, John Porcari, was a Gov. Parris Glendening appointee when he took over in 2003 and is reprising his role as transportation secretary under Gov. Martin O'Malley. But part of what makes the job so political is all the wrangling over development.

Here's why: The two developments Porcari oversaw, research park M-Square and retail anchor East Campus, are forays into land ownership that generate revenue by making the university a landlord. Neither are anywhere close to completion - East Campus doesn't even have any plans drawn up yet - but Duncan will be free to make a serious impact on how the projects proceed.

Over the past few years, as the university has bought land and moved forward on development, College Park has increasingly been seen as an untapped bastion of well-heeled students, faculty and educated residents underserved in retail, restaurant and live-where-you-work options. County and city officials know that, and have moved quickly to regulate, restrict and provide oversight - especially when it comes to shoring up the tax base.

Where Duncan's challenge will lie is in navigating a rugged political landscape made up of headstrong, and sometimes jaded, local politicos who cautiously eye the university's every move. City-university relations now are strained, particularly over a proposed university connector road that residents and local officials staunchly oppose.

The connector road has so infuriated local officials that it could test Duncan's reputation as a consensus builder - especially considering Duncan was a proponent of the locally opposed Intercounty Connector and other controversial road projects in Montgomery.

Duncan's real strength in leading the university will certainly come from his development experience. Not only was he known as a friend to developers in Montgomery, but he also worked with the university's preferred developer for East Campus to revitalize the long-blighted downtown Silver Spring.

But Duncan isn't known for having a bruising style, and his freshness in College Park could build up relations with locals that could prompt support for some initiatives. And like his "Think Bigger" campaign slogan, Duncan really is an idea man as much as a skilled administrator. It just remains to be seen whether those ideas work as well for a tuition-paying constituency as for his former tax-paying one.

Contact reporter Kevin Litten at littendbk@gmail.com.