While the Republican Party seeks to establish majorities in Congress by knocking off Democratic office-holders on Nov. 8, Maryland's Second Congressional District is one piece of turf the GOP must fight to defend. The seat became open when Rep. Helen Bentley, the five-term Republican incumbent, launched her ultimately unsuccessful gubernatorial bid. Given the district's conservative demographics and Republican voting patterns, Mrs. Bentley might have held onto the seat for many more years. But as "The Almanac of American Politics" notes, the make-up of the Second District "probably would be [favorable] to any
serious Republican nominee," whether named Bentley or not.
The GOP does have a serious candidate for the seat: Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. of Timonium, 36, a two-term member in the House of Delegates, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, an attorney schooled at Gilman and Princeton, self-billed as a working-class kid from Arbutus who got where he is through effort and brains.
The Democratic candidate offers some of the same credentials. He is Gerry L. Brewster of Towson, 37, a freshman delegate, a Judiciary Committee member, an attorney schooled at Gilman and Princeton, self-billed as an industrious politician who has at times vexed the legislative leadership in Annapolis with his independent stands.
Despite the similarities between the contestants, their differences are significant. Mr. Brewster gets higher ratings from environmental and labor groups; Mr. Ehrlich from business organizations. Mr. Brewster backs universal health care; Mr. Ehrlich prefers "market reforms" that keep government involvement to a minimum. Mr. Brewster supports term limits; Mr. Ehrlich does not. Both are pro-choice, though Mr. Ehrlich disapproves of expanding the funding of abortions through Medicaid and making a federal crime of blocking access to abortion clinics. Mr. Brewster voted in the legislature to ban assault guns; Mr. Ehrlich did not.
Though we believe either candidate is suited to the work of Congress, our choice is Bob Ehrlich. His positions have not always jibed with ours, but we have nonetheless been impressed over the years by his reputation as a Republican delegate who could forge consensus from both sides of the aisle, who labored behind the scenes to spot and remove flaws from important legislation, who was reliably sincere and diligent. Consequently, he won the respect of Republican and Democratic colleagues alike. In this, he differs markedly from his opponent, and it is why we endorse Bob Ehrlich for the Second District seat.