Now that Sen. Robert Garagiola (D-Dist. 15) of Germantown has announced his intentions to run for Congress, the voters of western Maryland should know where he stands.

According to the Hagerstown Herald Mail, he "downplayed his party affiliation." This is in stark contrast to his record in Annapolis, where as the majority leader representing the Democratic Party, he was the prime sponsor of both the gas tax and homosexual marriage, supported state tax dollars for illegal immigrants, has sponsored gun bans and, in 2007, voted for the largest tax increase in Maryland's history.

In Cumberland, Sen. Garagiola claimed that the newly gerrymandered 6th District will "give voters a choice." He fails to mention that he was a key architect of the plan that cleaved western Maryland into a district with Montgomery County and is intended to take away the congressional representation our region has enjoyed since 1791. As many Democrats have publicly admitted, these partisan actions were for the sole purpose of electing a Democrat to Congress.

Finally, the senator speaks of his desire to create jobs and help our economy. His record stands in stark contrast. Maryland suffers from the fourth-highest taxes in the nation, according to Americans for Tax Reform. Sen. Garagiola has consistently voted and advocated for higher taxes and more spending.

I am confounded by how this has "helped" middle-class families or small businesses. Perhaps during his next visit, the senator can better explain these contradictory views.

Christopher B. Shank, Hagerstown

The letter writer is a Republican state senator who represents District 2.