Candidate name: Neil B. Sood

Party affiliation: Republican

Place of residence: Laurel

Date of birth: Sept. 4, 1979

Place of birth: Tulsa, OK

Occupation: Student

Education: J.D., University of Maryland; B.A., Brigham Young University

Community associations, involvement: Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eagle Scout - Boy Scouts of America

Professional associations: Member of the Brigham Young University Alumni Association; Member of the University of Maryland Law Alumni Association; Member of the Federalist Society

Family: Wife, Lori

Campaign office address and telephone: 38 Orchard Towne Court #302; Laurel, MD 20707 (Mailing address)

Link to candidate’s website: Currently N⁄A

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

Welfare Reform - the process to receive state assistance needs to be made less corrupt and more accountable as well as easier for those applying to understand the process. Also, beyond financial assistance, the state should encourage education and development of small businesses to help those receiving aid become self-sustaining

Crime Reduction - crime needs to be reduced by pushing for by strengthening enforcement and education. Education should be improved by facilitating police and parental involvement in their children’s lives. Enforcement needs to be strengthened in two ways. First a three strikes and you’re out law should be passed to remove career criminals from the streets. Second parents should be held accountable for crimes committed by their children. There must be consequences for the failure of parents to adequately monitor their children.

Reducing Government Regulation - government interference with the free market raises the cost of living for all Maryland residents. By investigating regulations that are excessive or too burdensome to justify their application and eliminating them, the business climate and the Maryland economy can thrive more readily.

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

Local Economy - Poor: The decline of the Laurel Mall and other area retail locations as well as the relocation of businesses (primarily to Howard County) is emblematic of the lack of concern that the current representatives have for their constituents.

Crime - Poor: Although the Governor’s Victim’s Rights Bill was approved, not enough has been done to reduce the high level of recidivism and remove the fear criminals impose on Maryland families.

Education - Poor: Although the Governor has significantly increased education spending since 2002, parents are still skeptical of the quality of education that their children are receiving. If the legislature is unwilling to demand improvements, local communities need to have a streamlined process to establish charter schools that will allow their children to succeed.

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

Undecided.

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

Since zoning issues are handled through local planning boards, I support giving local homeowners greater say in development better access mechanisms.

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?

Each program must be considered in relation to the whole. Obviously wasteful spending must be eliminated, with cuts being used to both protect Maryland from potential downturns in the economy and return money to those from whom it has been taken - taxpayers.

What must be done to ensure the long-term success of Prince George’s Hospital Center?

The Governor and Lt Governor saved the hospital with a $15 million bailout just a few years ago. Low income and destitute individuals in need of health care should always have access to affordable local options. It may be worthwhile to look outside the state for ideas on how this may be implemented.

Is there adequate federal emergency and preparedness support for Prince George’s County given its proximity to the nation’s capital?

It is always beneficial to have more money, but more important is the need to implement effective training practices for personnel and improve interagency communication and coordination.

Are there specific taxes or fees that you would cut?

Taxes and fees should be considered in the whole, not individually. Those that are unnecessary or too burdensome should be reduced or cut.

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

Ideally, slot machines would not be needed. But, if the legislature is intent on spending above and beyond their needs, then they may become necessary.

Do you support giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants?

A driver’slicense gives a person the right to utilize vehicles that transit on tax-payer funded roads. Driving is not a right of citizenship, do if illegal immigrants are willing to pay taxes like all other residents of Maryland, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t be permitted to have one. Additionally, issuing a license to illegal immigrants is not a bad idea for security reasons, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the liberals in the General Assembly add undeserved benefits to that privilege.

Do you support in-state tuition to illegal immigrants?

In-state tuition is largely possible as a result of the taxes that are paid by residents of the state of Maryland. To justify the disparity in what is charged to out of state students, we can look to the contributions that individuals and parents have made to the state’s coffers. Any resident of the state of Maryland who is paying their taxes should be entitled to the benefits of thosetaxes.

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

Based on my experience as a student up through the last year, the rising cost of tuition, especially in-state tuition, is placing onerous burdens on higher education students in Maryland. The Board of Regents has raised tuition to dangerous levels that are slowly forcing students to choose between massive debt or never graduating as they try to work and go to school at the same time. Toalleviate this burden, the state needs to demonstrate its commitment education by making more four year programs available at junior colleges and reallocating wasteful spending to this essential budget item.

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

The Transportation Trust Fund exists to support transportation in Maryland. Accordingly, a reallocation of current gas taxes and other transportation related income should be implemented.

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

The most important projects for the state are the same as those that will allow District 21 to develop and improve. The ICC, expansion of the Green Line, and a Purple Line are three projects that will reduce congestion on our roadways and encourage business and retail development for the residents and businesses of District 21.

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

Those who benefit from the expansion of Washington and Baltimore mass transit accordingly can be expected to bear the burden of that expansion. The funding should be revenue based, with a specific local trust fund created to administer those monies.

Would you re-regulate the electricity industry?

Re-regulation will not create lasting improvement - it would only be a temporary fix. By not creating better avenues of access for competitors to BGE, the state is essentially continuing to subsidize BGE. Tax breaks for energy cooperatives and other competitors will work to the benefit of residents and businesses by challenging the rise in energy costs with market forces. Also important to the state is a push to seek renewable, alternative energy sources.

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

This is an issue that needs to cease to be partisan. More important than increased or decreased gun control is increasing the safety of legally owned guns and decreasing availability to those that would do us harm.

What is your position on abortion?

Abortion is currently a federal issue, not a state issue.

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

Making any decision on emotion - either for or against - and not study, is premature. There are too many collateral issues beyond just getting married, like divorce, child custody, etc that should be investigated before a decision is made.

Does the state need stricter controls to protect the environment?

Wastewater treatment plants are among the largest polluters in the state. With the passage of the Governor’s Bay Restoration Act, best practices are required when they are renovated. The current administration is already on the right track with regard to reducing pollution, but it takes time for change to occur and the legislation and law (the Mirant consent decree) currently in place have yet to be fully implemented.