Candidate name: David Stegmaier

Party affiliation: Republican

Place of residence: Kensington

Date of birth: Dec. 22, 1947

Place of birth: Montreal

Current occupation: Executive Director of a Non-Profit Corporation Building a Residential Facility for the Mentally Ill

Education: B.A. Political Science from Earlham College; Secondary Teachers’ Certificate, Rhode Island College; Juris Doctor from the Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii

Community associations: Church Council and Justice and Compassion Ministry, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church; Member of Lions International since 1979.

Professional Associations: Republican National Lawyers’ Association

Family: married to Jane Hurn Stegmaier; two children: Jeremy, age 27, and Jessica, age 23

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

1). A Senator is a representative of the people of his district and I would regularly send out questionnaires to my constituents about issues that would likely come up in the following legislative session. I did this as a legislator in Hawaii during the 1990s, and I found it very illuminating for me and my constituents.

2). Advocate legislation to force a revamping of the most dysfunctional schools and school districts, such as Baltimore’s, where too many African-American young men are dropping out and being left behind.

3). Attempt to pass legislation to limit the size of new middle schools and high schools and break up current monstrosities into schools within schools.

How would you rate the performance of the current representatives of your district: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

The current legislators have done a fair job, but, unless the state legislature takes responsibility for improving the quality of education for all students, including those in the Wheaton, Einstein and Kennedy high school complexes, legislators from the 18th District will only have done a fair job.

Do you support amending the constitution to give the legislature more budget authority?

No, there is no indication that granting the legislature more budget authority would improve the fiscal condition of Maryland.

Is the rate of growth in Maryland too fast, too slow or about right, and why?

The rate of growth in Maryland is about right, since our gross state product is growing, the state government is operating with a comfortable surplus,and we are experiencing a low unemployment rate in comparison with other states.

What programs would you like to add or cut from the state budget? How would you pay for additional programs? What would you do with the money from any cuts you make?

I would work on legislation to include accountability standards in all government programs. This way, the state legislature would have a clear way of assessing the effectiveness of each program and be able to enhance programs that were producing specific results and terminate programs that were not, turning these functions over to another entity, private or public, that has a commitment to meeting the established accountability standards.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

There are, at present, no specific taxes or fees that I would cut; however, I would be very reluctant to support tax increases of any kind.

Do you support slot machines for Maryland? Why or why not?

No, I don’t support slot machines for Maryland, especially since, under Governor Ehrlich’s leadership, the state budget has been transformed from a massive $4 billion deficit under Governor Glendenning, to an approximately $2 billion surplus.

Do you support giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants?

No. Let’s get Congress to legalize current illegal immigrants with guest worker legislation, so that everyone has legal status in our country.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

No. Again, let’s get Congress to change the laws so that everyone has legal status, including guest worker status, and then can be eligible for in-state tuition.

What is the biggest problem facing higher education and what would you do to solve it?

The biggest problem facing higher education is that certain groups in our society, namely African-American and native American men,are dropping out of high school and college at unacceptably high rates, and therefore never have the chance to succeed as other Americans do. This problem is generally not a function of tuition rates, because scholarships are available, but rather because special care is not being taken to provide educational support necessary to overcome the mediocre lower school education they’ve had to endure.

Where would you get more money for the Transportation Trust Fund?

The Maryland Department of Transportation will be providing the state legislature with a report on various funding options and I’d like to await the results of this report.

What specific transportation projects do you see as priorities for the state?

The specific transportation projects I see as priorities for Maryland are the building of the Intercounty Connector and the widening of I-270 with two additional lanes in each direction from the area of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds all the way to Frederick.

Should there be a dedicated funding source for Washington and Baltimore mass transit?

I’m skeptical of dedicated funding sources for the Washington and Baltimore mass transit systems primarily because of the potential reduction in accountability and automatic nature of increases in the funding source that may not reflect wise policy or taxpayers’ wishes.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

No, rather than re-regulating the electric industry, I’d rather that the state legislature take full responsibility for the decision it made to de-regulate the industry back in late 1990s.

Do you believe Maryland’s gun control laws are too strict, not strict enough or just right?

I believe Maryland’s gun control laws are O.K. as they are.

What is your position on abortion?

My consciousness (and conscience) about this issue have changed over time. As a state legislator in Hawaii during the 1990’s I did not object to the liberal abortion law that was in existence, however, the notion of our society moving towards a ‘‘culture of life,” with laws that would support such an incremental societal change appeal to me now. Although I do believe abortions should be allowed in cases of rape, incest and where the woman’s life is endangered, I will take a stand against liberal abortion proposals, such as abortion on demand, the law I am familiar with in Hawaii. I also support parental notification regarding abortion for minors, with family court intervention where this is not feasible.

Should the Maryland constitution be changed to allow same-sex marriages?

No, the law should not be changed to allow for same-sex marriages in Maryland. Other legislation should address the rights of same sex couples, without altering the critically-important definition of marriage.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

No, the state does not need stricter controls on environment. With the newly enacted Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act, record funding to preserve open space, and leadership in renewable energy production and use, Governor Ehrlich’s leadership has moved Maryland ahead in protecting the environment.

Do you favor widening the Beltway? Do you favor toll lanes? How would you pay for them and how would implement them into the system?

No, I don’t favor widening the Beltway or toll lanes on it. If anything, this will slow things down that much more and make the Beltway available only for those who can afford it.

Do you favor building the Purple Line? What kind of transportation do you favor? How would you pay for it and how would you reconcile the effects as it cuts through dense established neighborhoods?

I have misgivings about the Purple Line, primarily because of the adverse impact it would have on existing densely populated neighborhoods.