Muldowney

They will remember him at the General Assembly for his literary allusions and for the political scars he helped inflict.V. Thomas Gray II, lobbyist for the Maryland State Teachers Association, retired last week amid the usual reminiscences and an unusual accolade.His 17 years as the man from MSTA ended Monday night with a standing ovation and a Senate resolution. No one could recall when a practitioner of the persuasive arts had been similarly recognized."Never has the profession of teaching had so ferocious a defender," said Sen. Michael J. Collins, a Baltimore County Democrat and a retired teacher.

Paul D. Muldowney, a Hagerstown businessman and former two-term Democratic member of the House of Delegates, said yesterday that he is running for the Western Maryland congressional seat held by Republican Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett.Mr. Muldowney becomes the fourth Democrat to enter the race against Mr. Bartlett, a conservative freshman whose surprise victory in 1992 followed the defeat of the veteran 6th District Rep. Beverly B. Byron in the Democratic primary.Without directly criticizing the incumbent, Mr. Muldowney said he is "running to give the Sixth District the most effective and best representation possible."