U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, D-District 3, won a landslide victory in the Democratic primary and will now challenge a substitute teacher who?s come a long way to join the political scene.
“I am totally flabbergasted ? This campaign cost me $400,” said Republican Thomas E. “Pinkston” Harris, 56, of Baltimore, with a laugh.
“I?ve just been campaigning the same way as George Washington and just going out and meeting with people.”
The 3rd District covers parts of Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties and also portions of Baltimore City.
Harris, who?s now a long-term substitute for special education children, said he had been recently unemployed but had been in the insurance business for 20 years before giving politics a shot.
“No one loves America more than I do,” he said. “I was born in the back woods of Alabama in a shack.”
This primary season, he spent time sharing his views during forums with his other opponents. He was challenged by Christopher Panasuk of Glen Burnie, Paul Spause of Hanover and John Stafford of Jessup.
Harris is against racial politics and universal health care and is supportive of lower taxes and the troop surge in Iraq.
Sarbanes supports a plan to withdraw troops, adopt an effective counter insurgency strategy and to bring reconstruction to the United Nations.
In an interview this week, the congressman said he will also turn his attention toward the economy and health care ? issues he said are most on residents? minds.
Rea, an Annapolis resident and Baltimore businessman who also has run unsuccessfully for the position in the past, said he will support Sarbanes after losing the Democratic bid.
“I?ll support Sarbanes ? he?s a good man,” said Rea. “I just thought it was my time, but I guess I was I wrong.”
Unofficial votes for District 3
Democrats:
» Sarbanes: 78,762 (89.1 percent)
» Rea: 9,683 (10.9 percent)
Republicans:
» Harris: 9,604 (39.2 percent)
» Stafford: 7,870 (32.1 percent)
» Panasuk: 3,646 (14.9 percent)
» Spause: 3,372 (13.8 percent)
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
