Candidate Name: Karen S. Montgomery

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Place of residence: Brookeville

Date of birth: Aug. 23, 1935

Place of birth: Middletown, NYCurrent occupation: Delegate, Community Activist

Education: B.S. Towson University; M.F.A. George Washington University

Community associations, involvement: GOCA; Sandy Spring Civic Association; Women Business Owners Association; Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC)

Professional associations: Maryland General Assembly Women’s Caucus; National Association of State Legislators; former Certified National Society of Professional Fund Raisers

Family: Married to Harry; Three children; Four grandchildren

Campaign office address and telephone: 211 Market Street, Brookeville, MD 20833 (301) 774 2814 (10 am to 6 pm)

Link to candidate’s Web site: www.KarenSMontgomery.org

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

1.Public transportation, traffic and roads – This impacts every aspect of our lives: health, education, medical care, grocery shopping, the environment- our quality of life.

2. Education- in order to keep Montgomery County the viable, safe and economically thriving community we are, education at all levels must be accessible and affordable.

3. Affordable and accessible Health Care- with over 100,000 people in Montgomery County without health insurance, a major contagious disease could affect our whole population. Lack of health insurance adversely impacts our hospital emergency rooms.

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

I believe our delegation has given our district excellent representation.

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

Of the 50 states, the Maryland governor has the most budget authority. I believe this issue needs to be carefully examined and addressed, creating some changes.

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

I believe that growth has gotten ahead of infrastructure. We must require careful formal plans to ensure that adequate water supplies, schools, transportation modes, police and fire services are quickly available for any new communities. Annexation and growth should proceed only when these plans have had public hearings and are in place.

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?

The State should provide more English and other adult educations classes for illiterate and immigrant families to help meet the new competitiveness requirements for the current globalization trend of our economy. Because corporations would benefit from a more educated work force it is appropriate to increase corporate income taxes to pay for it. An increase in corporate income taxes by 0.1% would increase the revenue to the State by more than $10M.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

I believe we should consider removing real estate taxes. Lower real estate taxes in rural areas lead to housing sprawl, high real estate taxes adversely affect those on a fixed incomes and force people to move unwillingly from houses they own.

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

I am and will be opposed to slot machine expansion. I believe they take money from Maryland families who can least afford it and send money to out of state interests who own the machines. Additionally, I believe it is morally wrong to encourage people to ‘‘get something for nothing” or rely on luck. We try to teach our children that hard work is rewarded with better opportunity and jobs. Slots do the opposite.

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

When the police testified, they indicated it would be easier to track a traffic offender if they had a valid license. It could prevent accidents if all applicants had to take a driver’s test. It would be easier to track offenders if their licenses were registered.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

Unless we put multiple billions of dollars into rounding up and deporting individuals without proper papers, our society will be better off if all children who are here are educated. Adding high tuition costs will lead to many dropouts and possible gangster behavior.

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

We are turning away qualified students for lack of classrooms space. Our young people have a thirst for education and skill training that benefits us all. I suggest, if the skill set and interests are congruent, that businesses offer both scholarships and building funds. In exchange, selected students would work for the company or organization for a set period of time. Similar programs are in place for teacher training in many states. It could work in other fields too. Additionally, I suggest that generous corporations put up and name more buildings that train students in their fields.

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

I would ask the Federal Government to use cuts in military funding for public transportation as well as road, dam and bridge repair nationwide. States would receive funding according to population, pertinent infrastructure and car registration.

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

The Purple Line; rail between Frederick and up-county Montgomery County to the Metro in Gaithersburg, more cars for Metro and more parking at Metro final terminals are needed

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

Yes

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

When we consider re-regulation, it is necessary to account for the cost of electric generation. If we do not, the same problems we have now will reoccur. Re-regulation can work if we add in the cost of production to the cap.

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

I believe we need to concentrate on enforcement of the existing laws at this time.

What is your position on abortion?

I believe prevention of an unwanted pregnancy is primary and do not believe abortion should be used casually. I do believe in a woman’s right to choose.

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

I believe that all who wish to, should have access to a civil union and that the various denominations of churches, synagogues, gudwaras, mosques and temples should control their own religious ceremonies for marriage.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

We are just paying lip service to the environment, emulating Nero playing his violin while Rome burned. We must conserve energy. We must recycle more, including electronic equipment as well as paper, plastics, water and so on. We must keep airborne and water-carried pollutants out of our Bay. The funding we have put into saving our formerly productive Bay is minimal. It needs national as well as Maryland help. When we cut down trees for housing developments, we are destroying our forests, which help create and protect our water supply. We need to enforce the laws we have and protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat.

Students at Sherwood High School have shown us good examples through their electronic recycling efforts and programs on alternate energy sources.

Given the debate over the Ashton Meeting Place development, what would you do to strike a balance between the right to develop the parcel of land and the desire to keep a rural feel to Ashton?

I believe had there been more active public involvement from all of the local communities at the conception of the plan, the present conflict could have been avoided. While the builder and his investors assumed they were doing a great thing for the community, it obviously is not perceived as such by over 800 concerned residents. The builder has made some good cosmetic changes to the plan. However, the overall size has not diminished and there is still impingement on the wetland. Before the courts get involved, I suggest that the developer and one or two informed principals opposing the present plan, meet again with an unbiased arbiter. They should focus on the two or three of the main areas of disagreement and pound out a solution. The developer has the right to develop his property, but in the name of good business and good community relations, I hope this can be worked out.

Would you support placing the Intercounty Connector under ground as it intersects with Georgia Avenue just north of Norbeck Road?

I have been very actively involved in this issue, along with Senator Rona Kramer, Delegate Ann Kaiser and Delegate Herman Taylor. I have gone to Baltimore with the fine resident team and GOCA officers to meet with Neal Pederson, made phone calls and written letters to support placing the ICC under ground at Georgia Avenue.