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Gaithersburg resident Daniel R. Campos is hoping his fresh ideas and new perspective will help get him elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010.
The 21-year-old Republican, in his first bid for an election position, is scheduled to announce his candidacy in the District 17 race Thursday night at the Gaithersburg Hilton.
District 17 includes Rockville, Gaithersburg and Garrett Park.
No other Republicans have announced their intentions to seek a seat in District 17.
District 17 incumbent delegates Kumar P. Barve (D) of Gaithersburg, James W. Gilchrist (D) of Rockville and Luiz R.S. Simmons (D) of Rockville are expected to seek re-election.
Former District 17 delegate Cheryl C. Kagan, a Democrat, is challenging four-term Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D) of Rockville.
Campos, a full-time University of Maryland graduate student, said he is making a run at the House of Delegates because he felt a "new direction" was needed in Annapolis.
"I'm tired of the self-serving politicians," he said. "I want to be out there building coalitions and I just think it's time for some fresh new ideas so we can make progress instead of moving backwards."
Campos lists his key issues as protecting the environment, transportation, cracking down on domestic violence and strengthening the economy through exercising fiscal discipline. He added he also would advocate for tougher drunk driving laws if elected.
That would include lending his support to the mandatory use of the ignition interlock system, which would require that an alcohol breath test system be installed in the vehicles of drivers who have committed alcohol-related infractions. A House bill that would have done did not make it through the most recent legislative session.
Campos is co-chair of the Gaithersburg Environmental Affairs Committee and was a staffer for U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.). He said he serves as a volunteer with Gaithersburg HELP and prepares and delivers lunches once a month to the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless Homebuilders Care Assessment Center in Rockville.
Born in Rockville, but a lifelong resident of Gaithersburg, Campos graduated in 2006 from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and recently received a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics from the Catholic University of America. He is pursuing a master's degree in business administration.
Republican
-Residence: Gaithersburg
-Age: 21
-Office sought: Delegate, District 17
-Top Issues: Protecting the environment, transportation, eliminating drunk driving, domestic violence, and the economy
-Occupation: Student
-Web site: www.DanCampos.org
-Contact: Info@DanCampos.org