Candidate Name: Kathleen M. Dumais

Party affiliation: Democrat

Place of residence:Rockville

Date of birth: July 5, 1958

Place of birth: La Jolla, California

Current Occupation: Attorney with Paley Rothman in Bethesda

Education: J.D., University of Maryland, School of Law; B.A., Mount Vernon College.

Community Associations⁄Involvement: Member, Advisory Committee, Jewish Council Against Domestic Violence; Member, Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission; Vice President, St. Vincent Pallotti High School; Board Member, Citizenship Law-Related Education Program for Maryland Schools

Professional associations: Member, Board of Directors, Montgomery County Bar Foundation; Past Treasurer, Montgomery County Bar Association; Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Past President, Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association

Campaign address and telephone: P.O. Box 4247, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-951-9353

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

1. Affordable health care for all

2. Ensuring that Maryland children receive excellent education and that the State adequately funds such education

3. Funding transportation projects to reduce congestion

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

I believe that the current District 15 Team has done an excellent job representing our constituents. We’ve worked together, across party lines, to obtain Bond funding for several projects and co-sponsored emergency legislation to stop the closing of several MARC Train stations. Each of us brings a different area of expertise to the table, which has clearly benefited our District. We have each been incredibly successful in marshalling through important legislation.

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

Yes.

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

I think the rate of growth has been about right. But, we have not planned our roads and public transit projects in a manner to adequately handle the growth. Our goal in the future must be to ensure that residential and commercial development is supported by adequate roads and public transit projects.

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 like to see more funds dedicated to our Juvenile Services system. It is critical that we address the needs of our at-risk youth. The Governor prepares the budget in Maryland and the legislature is currently precluded from shifting funds from one program to another and precluded from adding programs without a funding source. As noted below, we need to study and address the overall structural deficit in a meaningful manner before recklessly cutting or adding programs.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

It is time to establish a commission to review our overall tax system and address our structural deficit.

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

No. Generally, I do not think we should expand gambling.

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

As with so many issues we handle in the legislature, there are competing interests that must be balanced. If undocumented immigrants are not provided either a license or some sort of driving certificate (as in Tennessee), then we will have unlicensed and uninsured drivers on our roads. Several AAA studies have indicated an increase in accidents caused by unlicensed and uninsured drivers, many of them undocumented immigrants. Therefore, from a State perspective are we not better off providing either a license or a certificate to individuals that would only be provided to them upon presentation of appropriate, verifiable documents that confirm their identification. The legislature has been wrestling with the question. Clearly, the Federal government must address our overall immigration policy and problems and determine how to treat undocumented immigrants currently in this country. At the State level, we have to address how best to protect our citizens.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

I have supported the legislation offered in the House of Delegates during the past four years that would provide in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants IF the student attended a Maryland high school for at least the last three years prior to application to an institution of higher education in Maryland. Although their parents may well have brought them here illegally, it is certainly not their fault. I believe that it is important to allow these young people the opportunity to become productive members of our State and that they should not be penalized for their parents choices.

What is the biggest problem facing higher education and how would you solve it?

Clearly, funding is the biggest problem facing higher education, particularly community colleges whose enrollments are growing by leaps and bounds. Therefore, their facilities are bursting at the seams. As our economy grows, so many jobs now require post-secondary education. Therefore, we must invest in our terrific institutions of higher learning so that post-secondary education is affordable and accessible. How do we solve the problem? It must be a priority that the Governor includes in his or her budget.

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

My understanding is that a Blue Ribbon Commission has been established to analyze how best to fund transportation projects. As noted throughout my responses, I believe it is time to analyze and review our existing tax system, as well as our budget structure.

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

I think the Corridor Cities Transitway should be one of the priorities for our State, and certainly for District 15. Further, I support the ICC and the Inner Purple Line.

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

Yes, I believe we should have a dedicated funding source which will hopefully be identified as part of the study discussed above.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

To be honest, I need more information on this issue. My first reaction would be not to re-regulate. We obviously need to carefully review the existing statutes and, particularly the legislation passed in 1999 that presumably de-regulated the industry. Now that the statutes have been in effect for a period of time, it seems to make more sense to fix the problems with the existing statutes than to go back to the pre-1999 regulation of the electricity industry. For instance, some of the measures we passed during the recent special legislative session will result in great improvements for PEPCO and other rate payers; specifically, the provisions lifting restrictions on the time utility companies can purchase electricity.

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

I believe Maryland should adopt legislation banning assault weapons. Otherwise, I believe our gun control laws are adequate.

What is your position on abortion?

I am pro-choice.

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

No, the Constitution should not be amended. This is a legislative issue.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

Yes.

What is your position on the Corridor Cities Transitway? Assuming you support it, do you believe it should be a bus or a light-rail system? What would you do to advance its funding?

I strongly support the Corridor Cities Transitway and believe it should be a light rail system. The funding will be a combination of Federal and State funds. As indicated above, I believe we need to study the funding structure for all transportation projects.

The upcounty remains one of Montgomery County’s fastest growing areas and a growing crime problem is a concern for residents. What is your plan for providing state support to the local mission of protecting public safety?

As indicated above, I believe we need to dedicate more funds to our Juvenile Services system as one way to address this concern, which would include providing education and training programs for at-risk youth. I have great faith in and support our Montgomery County and other local police forces. From a State perspective, we need to continue to fund initiatives that support our local police and initiatives designed to offer job opportunities and training for those in the criminal justice system that want to turn their lives around. But, at the same time, we need to structure our criminal laws in a way that drug king pins and dealers, sexual predators, and violent defendants are incarcerated for appropriately long periods.