In his seventh four-year term, Sen. George Della Jr., 64, represents south Baltimore and is the city?s longest-serving member of the Senate, one of a dying breed of conservative Democrats.
How much has your district changed over time?
I represented a piece of Baltimore County for almost a 10-year period ? the Catonsville area. They thought they would do away with me through the redistricting process by throwing that at me.
What?s different about the Senate now?
Aside from most of the people being younger than I am? In the past, it?s been made up of people from both parties that managed to work together without all the backbiting,sniping at one another, voting along party lines. During the past four years particularly, that?s when it?s gotten really bad. It sort of clouded everyone?s thinking.
Do you find it more difficult now in the Democratic caucus?
I do what I believe those folks back home want me to do ? not taking direction from a Democratic caucus. That?s how come I?ve been in public office all this time. All you have to do is listen.
How do you stand on the tax increases?
I?m not going to support it. Every day I get stacks of e-mails from people who happen to live in my district who are absolutely opposed to what we?re doing here. That?s not to say that I don?t like [Gov.] Martin O?Malley. I?m glad he?s up on the second floor. I look forward to working with him in the future. But I can?t help him on this.
What do you think of the slots bill?
I?ll be there for the last running of the Preakness at Pimlico racetrack. That slots bill is going to force the closing of that historic racetrack. They also said we can reduce the city?s property tax. We?ll never see a tax reduction.
