Candidate Name: Gareth E. Murray

Party affiliation: Democrat

Place of residence: Montgomery County

Date of birth: Jan. 4, 1948

Place of birth: Baltimore,

Current occupation: Clergy, mental health professional

Education: B.A. & MA, University of Maryland, College Park, M.D., Virginia Union University; PhD, Cornell University

Community Associations: Associate pastor, Senior Ministries, First Baptist Church of Silver Spring; Past board member, Mental Health Association; Past board member, Impact Silver Spring; Mentor, Highland View Elementary; Past president, Banneker Middle School ; African American Health Initiative; Graduate Leadership Montgomery; Action in Montgomery Founding Member; African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County

Professional Associations: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists; DC Baptist Convention; American Counseling Association; National Black Caucus of State Legislators; National Conference of State Legislators

Family: Daughter, 26 and son, 23

Campaign Office address and telephone:

P.O. Box 10508

Silver Spring, Md. 20914

301-384-4279

Link to web site:

www.friendsofgarethemurray.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

My top three priorities for the next four years are:

Education – Fully Funding Thornton with GCEI (geographic cost of education index)

More affordable housing

Access to healthcare for all

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

I would rate the performance of the current representatives of my district as:

Excellent.

Excellent even though there is always room for improvement. However, bills sponsored by the current representatives have a significant impact on the business, disabilities, healthcare, consumer and education community.

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

I would support a constitutional amendment to give the legislature more budgetary authority.

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

It depends on the criteria by which one measures. If we look solely at the number, I would say the rate is about right. However, if we look at the areas of employment where we need more workers (i.e. biotech and agriculture), the rate is too slow.

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?

Not sure of what programs I would cut by name, but it would be those with unsatisfactory outcome measures. I would use the money from those programs that are cut to fund the new programs. New programs would be based upon the results of a thorough needs assessment.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

I would like to cut property taxes for seniors who remain in their own homes.

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

I do not support slot machines for Maryland because:

A) It is the most addictive form of gaming

B) It has a negative impact on the surrounding business community

C) It is a regressive tax

D) It is a poor means of balancing a state budget

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

I support giving driver’s licenses because:

*It is needed to get auto insurance

*It helps to make the roads safer by having qualified operators behind the wheel

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

If a student has attended public high schools for at least four years, he⁄she should be eligible for in state tuition.

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

One of the biggest problems facing higher education is the rising cost of tuition and the disconnect between the need of the business community and academia. I will support a cap on the rate at which tuition can rise annually and create incentives for a closer working relationship between academia and the business community.

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

The current rates for gas would make it unrealistic to increase the gas tax for the Transportation Trust Fund. I am also not in favor of raising the current sales tax because of the impact on lower income families and those on fixed incomes. Therefore, we have to rely on user fees such as tolls to give us more money for the Transportation Trust Fund.

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

The transportation projects I see as a priority for Maryland are as follows:

Purple Line

Corridor Cities Transitway

Baltimore City Red Line

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

Yes, there should be a dedicated funding source for the Washington and Baltimore mass transit.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

Yes, I would regulate the electricity industry in the short-run until a more progressive energy policy can be developed and implemented.

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

I believe that Maryland’s gun laws are not strict enough.

What is your position on abortion?

I feel a woman should have a right to choose what happens to her body.

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

The constitution need not be changed to allow same sex marriages, as marriage is a theological concept. Gay and straight couples have the exact same rights given through a religious ceremony... nothing. The too-long denied rights for committed couples in the gay community are tied to a civil ceremony. It is the civil ceremony that has all of the rights and is basically a legal contract that says nothing about religion, which is the source of our definition of marriage. Therefore, the real question is who should be allowed to enter into a legal contract via civil union? The answer is all committed couples regardless of gender should have the right to enter into such a contract. The definition of marriage is a distraction to the real issue of giving the rights granted through civil unions to all committed couples, straight or gay.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

Yes, tighter controls are needed to protect the environment so that various segments of the business community will not be adversely affected.

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?

I do not favor widening the Beltway. I do favor toll lanes but not on the beltway in areas that are narrow.

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?

Yes, I favor building the Purple Line. I favor a light rail system relying primarily on established roadways so as to minimize the effects on established neighborhoods.