Independent

Candidate name: Robin Ficker

Place of residence: Boyds

Date of birth: April 5, 1943

Place of birth: Takoma Park

Current occupation: Attorney

Education: J.D., University of Baltimore Law School; M.A. in public administration, American University; University of Pennsylvania Law School; B.S. in engineering, Case Institute of Technology; U.S. Military Academy; Montgomery County Public Schools

Community associations, involvement: Maryland House of Delegates

Professional associations: Maryland Bar

Family: Three adult children, Desiree, Robin Jr. and Flynn

Campaign office, telephone: 8002 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD, 301-652-1500

Web site: www.robinficker06.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

l. Property tax relief. The county financial plan says the county property tax limit will be broken each of the next five years with an l8% increase in property tax revenues nest yrear alone. I’ve spent the past thirty years placing ballot questions in Montgomery County designed to eliminate waste and duplication. I pledge to stick to the property tax limit while in office. I would have returned half of the county’s $300 million surplus to the taxpayers without adversely affecting services. Unanticipated revenues should be returned as well. Leggett led the effort to give us the largest tax increase in county history, a 20% increase in the county income tax, has called for a 50% increase in the gasoline tax and has recently sent out a county-wide mailing saying ‘‘NO” to the county property tax limit. Robin Ficker—Property Tax Relief! Leggett—Property Tax Increase.

2. Improving transportation by extending Metro to Montgomery Village and Germantown, building a newe Potomac Bridge at Muddy Branch, completing a one-track, reversible trolley between Silver Spring and Bethesda Metro stops within two years, something Leggett washn’t able to do in l6 years, a low-toll intercounty connector, and building drop-off lanes on the Beltway so that cars can let of passengers for the Forest Glen Metro without leaving the Beltway. Double spending on bikepaths.

3. Integrity in Government. I am accepting no contributions from developers. I will give them a fair hearing, but not backdoor access. Leggett received 64% of his campaign contributions from developers in election years l994 and l998 and recently took $20,000 from the developers of Crown Farm in Gaithersburg which will be as dense as New York City. Yet, he told the East Silver Spring Citizens Association as reported in their newsletter that he would enact a moratorium ‘‘within five minutes after I took office.” Also he votred to give away Belt Jr. High, over community opposition, to Jack Abramoff and friends, when it cost the taxpayers over $9 million to buy the school back latter.

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

Poor. His solution to ending gridlock was to give developers backdoor access and ordinary citizens the cold shoulder. The Charter property tax revenue limit was overridden for three of the last four years, and the quintupled energy tax, which was supposed to be sunsetted, was not. The County surplus of $300 million was spent; half of that should have been returned to the taxpayers, while maintaining levels of good services.

Is the rate of growth in Montgomery County too fast, too slow, or just right?

Too fast

Who should have more control over the county’s planning process, the council or the executive, and why?

We should have a system of checks and balances, whereby both the Executive and Counsel contribute for the good of the citizenry.

What should have been done to avoid the development problems that happened in Clarksburg?

I am accepting no campaign contributions from developers, hence they will not be calling my tune. Where one special interest group provides the amjority of campaign funding, their views are disproportionately influential. Attorneys for developers should not be writing opinions for the planning board. Amendments to Sector Plans should be published on the Internet. Steve Silverman said that Leggett voted for 21 of 24 Clarksburg sector plans.

What’s your plan to provide more affordable housing in Montgomery County?

Focus on the need for low-income housing first. Disallow buyouts of low-income housing set-asides. Limit Montgomery County housing subsidies to Montgomery County residents - 70% of the people on the MPDU waiting list are not County residents. Developers have a financial disincentive to build smaller homes. By not accepting developer contributions, I am not beholden to their desires to concentrate on building expensive residences. Leggett sat on the council for sixteen long years while the county’s supply of affordaable housing steadily declined, traffic doubled and taxes sscalated.

Do you think the county is doing enough to meet the needs of its growing diverse population? If not, what do you think the county needs to do?

No. Strictly enforce laws prohibiting discrimination as to race, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation. Offer a program of ‘‘English Saturdays” to ensure that every graduate can speak and write the perfect English necessary for success. Provide financial incentives for minority business. I worked with Rosa Parks as the first legal counsel for the National Caucus on the Black Aged.

Do you support Montgomery County’s day laborer centers?

Yes, if they are financed by the employers who hire the folks seeking jobs at the Centers. The only possible place in Gaithersburg I can think of would be at Crown Farm where nobody presently lives and where there will be thousands of construction jobs.

What programs would you add to the budget, and how would you pay for them?

Half the County’s $300 million surplus should be returned to the taxpayers, either by reducing the County income tax to 50% or by reducing property tax revenues by the same amount. I am alarmed at the $50 million of cost overruns in nine school construction projects. That money should have been used to eliminate portable classrooms.

Are there any programs, taxes or fees that should be cut? What would you do with the money from the savings?

When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. I would focus on education, transportation, and public safety and would fully fund these basic needs ahead of other desires.

What is the biggest challenge facing the county school system, and how can the executive help address it?

We need to instill a ‘‘can do” attitude in our students. Children often rise up to meet expectations. I would hope that every boy and girl in Montgomery County could finish in the top quarter of standardized national tests. Also, an hour of physical exercise per day and healthy lunches would help our students to meet a goal of playing hard and working hard.

Should the county pay more for school construction, and where would you get the money?

The state is supposed to pay for 50% of county school construction but hasn’t met its obligation. As the only Independent candidate for County Executive and only candidate who has served in the state legislature, I’ll be able to work with a governor of any party to help Montgomery Countians receive their fair share of state school construction funds.

Do you support an east-west Metro link, and where should it go?

Yes, we need a one-track, reversible trolley between operating between the Silver Spring and Bethesda Metro stops within two years and then seek enhancements. I would give greater priority to extending Metro to Germantown than extending METRO from Silver Spring to Landover.

What standards should be used in distributing county grant money to nonprofit organizations?

All County grant money to nonprofit organizations should be distributed by competitive bids only and in response to County requests for proposals. Otherwise, we have public funding of political cronies and special interests.

Do you support the Montgomery Cares program, and are adequate audit controls in place for accountability?

I support healthcare for low-income, uninsured residents with adequate audit controls.

What should be the county’s role in mental health?

I support community mental health providers, Linkages to Learning, outpatient mental health services, and shelters for the homeless.