Candidate name: Jennie M. Forehand

Place of residence: Rockville,

Date of birth: Dec. 17, 1935

Place of birth: Nashville,

Current occupation: State Senator; Small business owner

Education: B.S. in Industrial Relations, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Community associations, involvement: Hospice Caring; Peerless Rockville; Girl Scouts Advisory Council; NIH Bio-Safety Committee; Montgomery Historical Society; Friends of Seneca Creek. Former: Lung Association Board; Civic Association president; Trustee at Asbury Village; Maryland College of Art & Design; Montgomery County Health Planning Board; Chair of RICA Advisory Board; ‘‘Top 100 Maryland Women”

Professional associations: Maryland House of Delegates; Maryland State Senate; Vice Chair, Montgomery Senate Delegation; Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee; Chair, Md. Joint Committee on Federal Relations and the MD-VA-DC Regional Transportation Commission. Council of Governments (COG) Transportation Planning Board member. Natl. Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): Former: vice chair, Transportation Committee; president: Women’s Legislative Network; Chair, Legislative Task Force on Genetic Technologies and Public Policy.

Family: Married; Two children.

Campaign office address and telephone: 712 Smallwood Road, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-762-4772

Link to candidate’s Web site: www.jennieforehand.com E-mail: jennie@jennieforehand.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

1) TRANSPORTATION - Congestion relief: ICC, METRO improvements, Corridor Cities Transit way, Purple Line. Intersection improvements and I-270 exit onto Gude Drive. Find ‘‘dedicated source of funding” for METRO. Incentives for more employees to work at home.

2) EDUCATION - Fund the Geographic Cost of Education; create more higher education opportunities in Montgomery County (U.M. Shady-Grove, etc.) and more funding for Community Colleges

3) HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT - reduce pollution; develop campaign to discourage smoking (following the recent Surgeon General’s report on second-hand smoke); develop incentives for healthy lifestyles, with physical education in schools; increase inspections for excess diesel emissions

Also:

4) IDENTITY THEFT - Balance individual privacy with security needs; pass legislation for credit freeze

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

EXCELLENT! We work well together, and our experience, teamwork, and varied legislative specialties have helped to bring huge benefits to our constituents and the district! We send annual questionnaires to our constituents, and our votes mirror their responses.

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

YES. When I voted against this several years ago, it was because the Chairs of the House AND Senate Budget Committees were from Baltimore City, and we knew their power and also their prejudice against Montgomery County. There has been a change in chairmanships.

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

‘‘About right” by ‘‘Smart Growth” standards, but ‘‘too fast” in some areas where the traffic congestion is already at ‘‘Failing” levels. ‘‘Where infrastructure is in place” (the ‘‘Smart Growth” standard) can be defined in many ways, but should not include already over-crowded schools and congested streets.

What programs would you like to add or cut from the state budget?

I would add the ‘‘Geographic Cost of Education Index” (GCEI). It is a part of the original Thornton Education Plan, but the Governor failed to fund it. It takes into account the higher cost of living and of providing educational opportunities in several jurisdictions.

I might cut some of the subsidies to the racetracks.

How would you pay for additional programs?

Maryland’s economy is booming, and investments and the taxes being derived from new businesses will provide more money for the state budget. Delegate Feldman and I sponsored the Biotechnology Investment Incentive Act, which helps ‘‘jump start” biotech firms, while improving the biotech reputation and business climate in our county and state. Increased economic development is better than raising taxes.

What would you do with the money from any cuts you make?

Pay for the GCEI (Geographic Cost of Education Index) and more funds for school construction.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

The Governor raised the automobile licensing fee sharply, and it could be lowered.

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

I do not support slot machines in Maryland. Our constituents do not want them here. Slots were proposed to provide ‘‘funding for education” but the Governor’s final proposals gave greater funding to the horse racing industry than to education.

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

Anyone who has appropriate identification should be allowed to apply for a Maryland Driver’s License.

I have heard from many sources that people who are denied licenses are going to drive anyway. As a public safety issue, I would require that all drivers should take the tests, and know and obey the traffic laws. However, any license given to illegal immigrants should show in bold letters: NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

If children of illegal immigrants have attended our public schools for at least three years and graduated, then they should be able to attend on in-state tuition. Most could not afford out-of-state tuitions, and our community is better served by educated individuals. In addition, their families are probably paying taxes in Maryland.

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

Funding and over-crowding. Community colleges especially need more funding to be able to admit the larger number of students applying. We need additional higher education options in Montgomery County. The Universities of Maryland at Shady Grove have been a great success, but they need to expand even more!

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

I would double the fines on over-weight trucks statewide (now only on the Bay Bridge). They are ruining our roads. The Beltway’s base is crumbling from too much traffic in general, but especially from over-weight trucks. Maryland’s ‘‘Weigh Stations” should remain open 24⁄7.

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

FINISH THE ICC! Corridor Cities Transit way and eventually extend it to Frederick. Also intersection improvements for Montgomery County (Gude & Rt. 355; Montrose Parkway & Rockville Pike, etc.) Also: Interchange on I-270 to Gude Drive. The Purple Line is also very important!

Baltimore legislators want an extension of their METRO line, but ridership studies need to be made first.

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

YES. To enable Maryland to get matching Federal funding, we must find a dedicated source. A small percent of the current 5% sales tax.....perhaps 50% or 75% of a penny, would enable Maryland to match the federal funds for METRO.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

I voted against de-regulation in 1999. Enron’s lobbyists were promising lower rates & competition which, obviously, did not occur. Re-regulation would be like putting the genie back into the bottle. Re-regulation is a great idea, which I would like to support, but it is not a practical one since the utilities have sold their power plants. It would make it very difficult to regulate at the same level as before. Perhaps a NEW Public Service Commission might develop a ‘‘middle-ground” for partial re-regulation.

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

Not strict enough. We should ban assault weapons, as they were banned for many years at the federal level.

What is your position on abortion?

I am pro-choice, and so are the majority of our constituents. My votes on this issue have been related to privacy and the fact that decisions should be made by the individual with the support, if sought, from medical experts and family, and not dictated by politics. The Plan B Emergency (72 hours) Conceptive pills (which the FDA has approved) should be available from pharmacists, without a prescription.

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

The Constitution should not be changed.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

The existing standards need to be strictly enforced. Program Open Space (POS) needs to be expanded. The original POS plan returned funds to each jurisdiction based on the amount of transfer tax paid by citizens in that county. This has changed, and I want reinstate the original intent of POS, which focused on areas where development is occurring. Awareness of the consequences of poor air and water quality should be publicized by the next Governor. The public should be encouraged to partner with government to protect our environment. A new governor should also re-start the ad campaigns against the dangers of smoking.

Would you support re-routing Route 28 to Gude Drive or elsewhere?

YES. I have been trying to get this changed for at least the last five years. There are many complexities related to the State’s taking over the responsibilities for Gude and ‘‘returning” West Montgomery Avenue to Montgomery County’s jurisdiction. If⁄when the I-270⁄Gude interchange is built, it would be transferred to Route 28 at that time.

Given the proposed redevelopment around the Red Line’s Metro stations, is there adequate public transportation for the current and proposed riders?

This concerns me greatly. These proposed developments will be the real test of ‘‘Smart Growth.” Even now the Red Line is ‘‘standing room only” at certain times of the day. Many worry about what it will be like when all the new construction projects are completed. More worrisome, however, is how the road system will carry those who choose not to use public transportation.

MORE PARKING AT METRO is still needed to serve those who cannot walk to the stations.

What else would you propose to move people living and working in those areas?

Shuttle services have worked well in some areas. More bike racks might encourage people to use bike paths to get to work and shopping.