Forget the primary ? 6th District congressional hopefuls have kept their sights on unseating the longtime Republican incumbent in November.
Five Democrats were jockeying for the chance to challenge U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett for the district that includes parts of Carroll, Harford and Baltimore counties.
“I have been focused on that race all along,” said Andrew Duck, a 20-year Army veteran who served in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq.
Duck, who has raised the most money among the Democrats and ran unsuccessfully against Bartlett in the last election, said that if he didn?t secure the nomination, he would support the challenger who takes on Bartlett.
“We just need to replace Roscoe Bartlett.”
Former Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty also is determined to bring change.
“I feel like [Bartlett?s] office didn?t give adequate attention to the municipalities,” said Dougherty, who owns a restaurant and works as a Realtor.
Running on her four years of experience, Dougherty said she would end “unchecked government spending,” and she knows how to balance a budget.
Contender Robin Deibert, a business systems analyst in Hagerstown, saw an opportunity to bring changes in health care and the economy.
“I got tired of beating the desk, and said that if I want to effect change, I should be on the other side of the desk,” Deibert said.
Also vying for the seat are Larry Smith and Rick Lank, but neither campaigned vigorously.
Bartlett faced off against four Republican challengers in the primary, but none waged an aggressive campaign.
Bartlett has always run on the same platform ? that “our government is too big, taxes too much and spends too much.”
Looking ahead to November, Bartlett said, “We hope our service will justify another two years.”
