Candidate name: Mike Lenett

Party affiliation: Democrat

Place of residence: Silver Spring

Date of birth: Feb. 24, 1962

Place of birth: New York, N.Y.

Current occupation: Consumer protection attorney

Education: B.A., Brandeis University; M.A. in American Government, Georgetown University;J.D., Georgetown University Law Center; L.L.M., Georgetown University Law Center

Community associations, involvement: President of the District 19 Democratic Club for three years; Nominated as Montgomery County Democrat of the Year in 2001; Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board; Wheaton Boys & Girls Club Athletics Coach; Family Learning Solutions Board Member; Strathmore-Bel Pre Civic Association; Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association; Layhill South Citizens Association; Middlebridge Village Homeowners Association; Longmead Crossing Community Services Association

Family: Wife, Kriszti; Four children, David (16), Aron (16), Jason (3), and Sabrina (age 3)

Campaign office address and telephone: 13507 Rippling Brook Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20906

301-523-3366

Link to candidate’s Web site: MikeLenett.com

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

1. Improve education through increasing school funding, attracting and retaining the best teachers, eliminating portables, reducing class sizes, closing the minority achievement gap, making schools safer, increasing positive after-school and mentoring programs, lowering tuition rates at our colleges and universities, and providing in-state tuition rates for all residents.

2. Enact affordable universal health care coverage, including prescription drugs.

3. Reduce traffic congestion and protect the environment through expanding mass transit (including Metro and the Purple Line), improving existing roads and intersections, promoting better smart growth planning, and increasing our investment in clean, renewable sources of energy.

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

Fair. Delegates Petzold and Mandel have fairly good voting records in line with most Montgomery County Democrats, but they have not been strong leaders for progressive Democratic issues in Annapolis. With only 8 senators to serve the most progressive county in the state - a county we depend upon to lead the charge for progressive policies - we must ensure Montgomery County seats are filled only by our strongest leaders.

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

Yes. Our Governor has more power over the Maryland budget than the President of the United States has over the federal budget and more budgetary power than almost any other state’s Governor. The Legislature should have more authority in budget decisions.

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

Too fast. Development is proceeding faster than our ability to evaluate and control its impact on schools, traffic, infrastructure, and the environment. We need to balance our growth better through more careful long-range smart growth planning with increased citizen participation.

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?

We need to increase funding for education, mass transit, renewable energy investment, and English language programs, while adding a new universal health care coverage program. At the same time, we must go through every line of the budget to eliminate wasteful spending for programs that are not serving any useful purpose or are ineffective. We also should cut many of the Ehrlich administration’s new fees and taxes.

We can raise the money we need by taking such measures as closing corporate tax loopholes, making our tax system fairer by increasing the tax rate for our wealthiest individuals and corporations, instituting a pollution tax, enacting a corporate alternative minimum assessment, increasing the tobacco tax, and possibly increasing the sales tax by one penny.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

Property taxes should be cut across the board. Seniors and others on fixed incomes should be exempt from property tax increases and electricity rate increases. We also need to make our tax rate structure fairer. We have almost a flat tax now, rather than a progressive system like most other states. Our wealthiest individuals and corporations are not paying their fair share. We need to fix this, so that seniors, low and middle-income families, and small businesses can get some badly needed tax relief. There also are too many fees (and too much red tape) for small businesses, which should be cut. We also should cut many of the Ehrlich administration’s new fees and taxes.

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

No. I believe slots are not a desirable or stable way to raise money or move our society forward. There are other, better ways we can raise the money we need to fund our state government.

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

Undocumented immigrants should be able to obtain driver’s licenses so long as they have passed all the road safety tests and other driving requirements.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

I believe every Maryland resident has the right to receive a college education, regardless of the ability to afford it. We need to make sure our colleges and universities are affordable for all our residents. Promoting education promotes better individuals, families, and communities. Studies show that as education increases, economic development increases and crime decreases.

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

The biggest problem facing higher education is that tuition has risen too high and too fast for working families. Under our current Governor’s administration, tuition rates for our colleges and universities have increased over 40 percent, the largest increase ever. We must roll back these tuition increases at our colleges and universities.

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

We can raise the money we need for transportation, as well as schools and health care, by taking such measures as closing corporate tax loopholes, making our tax system fairer by increasing the tax rate for our wealthiest individuals and corporations, instituting a pollution tax, enacting a corporate alternative minimum assessment, increasing the tobacco tax, and possibly increasing the sales tax by one penny.

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

The top transportation priorities are building the Purple Line, expanding Metro and busing, building the Corridor Cities Transitway, and improving existing roads and intersections.

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

I would not support any proposal for a dedicated funding source that would prevent local jurisdictions from providing additional funding for mass transit.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

The new electricity plan and the new Public Services Commission should be given an opportunity to succeed before we consider whether we should re-regulate the industry. The bottom line is I would do whatever it takes to ensure that residents are protected from massive rate increases.

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

Maryland’s gun laws are not strict enough. We need to enact a strict ban on assault weapons, close the gun show loophole, enhance Maryland’s ballistics fingerprint law, and give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to fight gun trafficking and bring gun criminals to justice.

What is your position on abortion?

I am 100 percent pro-choice.

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

I do not think the constitution needs to be amended to allow this to occur. Legislation can and should ensure that all Marylanders enjoy the same and equal rights.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

Yes. We need to improve and tighten the enforcement of our environmental laws designed to protect the Chesapeake Bay, air quality, and open spaces. We need to fully fund Program Open Space and increase our participation in regional, multi-state initiatives to reduce pollution and speed our progress toward clean, renewable sources of energy.

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

Yes.

Do you think the state needs to do more to prevent older, smaller homes from being torn down and replaced by larger houses?

This is a county issue that is governed by local zoning regulations. Better enforcement of these regulations would protect the character of our communities in Montgomery County.