A Republican dentist and teacher are trying to unseat two popular Democratic congressmen by advocating change, passion for the country and a smaller but more efficient federal government.
“I’m a dentist — I’m not a politician. What I do have experience in is balancing a budget and running a business,” said Mike Hargadon, 57, of Woodstock, who owned a dentistry business for 25 years.
“When I go to Congress, I won’t be your typical politician.”
Hargadon, who faces six-term incumbent Rep. Elijah Cummings, 57, D-District 7, in the November election, supports a limited federal government, less frivolous spending, lower taxes and a decreased reliance on foreign oil, among other positions.
He joined one-term Rep. John Sarbanes, 47, D-District 3, and Sarbanes’ challenger, teacher Thomas “Pinkston” Harris, 56, of Baltimore City, in Tuesday night’s forum at Howard Community College, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Howard County and other community groups.
“Nobody loves America more than I do,” said Harris, an Alabama native and special education teacher at Sinclair Lane Elementary School in Baltimore City.
“You may love it as much as I do. But nobody loves it more.”
He said marriage would solve many of society’s problems, like crime.
“Children need a father,” he said.
“Parenting is a 24-hour job.”
While Harris and Hargadon appealed to residents on the changes they would bring, Sarbanes and Cummings stressed the work they’ve done in Congress — often working together — and their dedication to and thankfulness for residents.
“People are not interested in that you’ve agreed with them on every issue,” Sarbanes said.
“What they want is that you listen to them, that you have integrity and that you work hard.”
Health care
A major initiative Cummings and Sarbanes praised and support in Howard is the new health care access plan for more than 2,000 uninsured residents and their backing for some type of universal health care nationwide.
“We are the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have some type of universal health care,” Cummings said.
“I am very proud of what the [Howard] county executive and [Howard] county council has done. Sometimes creating a model tells other people that something can be done.”
Hargadon, though, said the federal government should play no role in health care.
Instead, the free market should rule so health care costs can go down and choices increase, he said.
“We have a quarter of a billion people, and you can’t compare that to the socialized, smaller countries,” Harris added.
Immigration
Another issue that stirred some emotion was illegal immigration.
All the candidates agreed that the country’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants were a problem, but differed on their approaches to make changes.
“We need to punish the sanctuary cities that provide a haven for those breaking the laws,” said Harris, adding that while the Mexican border receives all the attention, Canada should not be neglected.
Borders and immigration laws should be enforced better and amnesty is not the answer, Hargadon said.
Sarbanes said that while employers needed to crack down on employing illegal workers, providing illegal immigrants with some pathway toward citizenship was important.
Diversity, in fact, was one of the uplifting appeals of Howard, Cummings said.
“So often, people see our diversity as a problem,” he said.
“But with the people I’ve met in Howard County, I see it as our promise.”
[email protected]
District breakdown
District 3 consists of parts of Baltimore, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, as well as a significant part of the City of Baltimore.
District 7 consists of parts of Baltimore City as well as Baltimore and Howard counties.
