With a year in office under his belt, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, D-District 3, was hopeful his “listening tour” at area businesses, clubs and other venues in the district would pay off in the primary.
“It showed me what a tremendous amount of assets there are in the district,” said Sarbanes, 45. “We felt that should be our focus.”
Sarbanes? district covers parts of Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties and also portions of Baltimore City.
If successful in the primary, Sarbanes said he will continue to focus on the “issues that matter to people,” such as the war in Iraq.
“People are very focused on the economy and as they should be,” he said. “We?re in a situation where things are very fragile for people.”
Voters in the Roland Park Elementary/Middle School precinct, where three out of four registered voters are Democrats, were coming out in high numbers for Sarbanes.
“I actually voted for him the first time too,” said Megan Lower of Roland Park. “I know people who know him personally and speak highly of him and admire him.”
Sarbanes? opponent in the Democratic primary is John Rea of Annapolis. He couldn?t be reached for comment.
Running in the Republican primary are Thomas “Pinkston” Harris of Baltimore, Christopher Panasuk of Glen Burnie, Paul Spause of Hanover and John Stafford of Jessup.
Panasuk, 33, a cell phone technician, and Spause, 44, an aerospace engineer, said the Republican race hasn?t gotten any attention.
“I think our country is headed for a financial disaster, and I can?t stand by and let that happen,” Panasuk said.
“I don?t really think that Sarbanes really represents people in a way I think is best.
“We need people to get into office, stick with their principles and do what?s right for this country.”
