WASHINGTON — Del. Bill Frick had been seriously considering a run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. John Delaney, but in a move that took political observers by surprise, Frick announced Wednesday that he’s left the Maryland 6th District race and is jumping into the contest for Montgomery County Executive.

Frick, D-Montgomery, said that as he met with potential supporters across the region he was told “time and time again” that what was really needed was a change at the local level, specifically in the race for executive.

Isiah “Ike” Leggett, the incumbent, can’t run for a fourth term — a successful ballot measure has term-limited Leggett and three contenders in the Democratic race for Leggett’s job: County Council members Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Roger Berliner.

Frick, who served as the House Majority leader in Annapolis, says his message to constituents is that they really can “have it all.”

“We really don’t need to be stuck in to choosing between our progressive traditions, our progressive values —and private sector success.”

Frick was among the supporters of getting the county out of the business of liquor control. He also said the recent 8.7 percent property tax increase passed by the council was a mistake.

Republican Robin Ficker, a tax hawk who succeeded in putting the term limit question on the Montgomery County ballot, has announced he’s running for the county executive post as well.