Maryland's next governor will face issues that include improving education and the state's business climate and finding ways to bolster horse racing. The Sun sent questionnaires to the gubernatorial candidates concerning these and other issues. In preparation for the Sept. 15 primary election, here are edited excerpts from their responses
Charles I. Ecker
Republican
EDUCATION: A back-to-basics approach is needed. For example, use phonics to teach reading. Expect students to learn and to behave. If a child does not master the skills of a grade, the child Ecker should go to summer school or repeat the grade. More training should be required for reading teachers.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT: Move the State Ethics Commission from Towson to Annapolis and give it the authority to review lawmakers' financial disclosure forms. Also, the ethics commission should develop a continuing education program on conflict of interest concerns for elected officials.
IMPROVING MARYLAND'S BUSINESS CLIMATE: Have one department coordinate the review of business projects. We must work to help retain and develop small businesses.
HELPING HORSE RACING: I am opposed to slot machines at racetracks. If it is determined that the state should provide additional financial support to racetracks, let's get it from some source other than slot machines.
TOP PRIORITIES AS GOVERNOR: Education, jobs and streamlining state government.
Ellen Sauerbrey,
Republican
EDUCATION: Maryland spends about 14 percent more on public educa Sauerbrey tion than the national average. But our children consistently score below national averages on measures of achievement. Last year, less than 40 percent of our children scored at the satisfactory level on the state's own test, the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. Clearly, Maryland taxpayers are not getting a very good return on their investment in education.
To ensure that every child reads at grade level by the third grade, we must test our kindergarten and first-graders to diagnose reading problems and learning disabilities and take immediate corrective action as needed. I would support tutoring, summer school and the use of computer technology to help such children.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT: The state prosecutor needs the powers to subpoena documents, immunize witnesses and require testimony under oath. The Maryland legislature refused to give him these powers this year. I would support legislation replacing the Joint Ethics Committee of the General Assembly with an independent committee that would include private citizens. I would also support legislation requiring the reporting of campaign contributions received before the legislative session begins during the first two weeks of the session.
IMPROVING MARYLAND'S BUSINESS CLIMATE: Reasonable regulation is necessary to protect the environment and to promote the integrity of business practices. Too many regulations make it difficult for businesses to remain profitable. I would establish a regulatory reform commission, streamline the permit process and reduce response time from such agencies.
HELPING HORSE RACING: In the long run, slot machines would probably kill horse racing in Maryland. I believe the answer for horse racing should be found in better marketing and financial restructuring, tax and regulatory changes and other options.
TOP PRIORITIES AS GOVERNOR: Ensuring public safety, promoting Maryland's own robust economic growth while protecting the environment and education reform.
Gov. Parris N. Glendening,
Democrat
EDUCATION: Schools need better teachers, more teachers and better libraries. But schools and teachers cannot start Glendening the process that will lead to better reading -- that begins in the home with parents who read to their children. Over the past four years, we have increased state investment in operating assistance to schools by 33 percent -- that translates into more teachers, more books and better libraries.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT: I am awaiting the December report of an ethics commission that I appointed in April to recommend ways to strengthen ethics rules.
The executive order establishing that commission includes strict guidelines for the executive branch regarding contracts. We must continue to take appropriate steps to reduce conflicts of interest and increase the public's access to information regarding potential conflicts of interest.
IMPROVING MARYLAND'S BUSINESS CLIMATE: Maryland's business climate is stronger today than when I took office. Employment is at an all-time high; unemployment is at a nine-year low. More than 120,000 jobs have been created since my administration took office. Maryland has aggressively and successfully pursued high-tech and biotechnology businesses, and ranks third among states in the number of biotechnology firms.
HELPING HORSE RACING: Slots and casinos are not the answer to the challenges facing Maryland's horse racing industry and are not the future that we want for our children or our state. Working with the General Assembly, we provided additional assistance to the industry to increase purses. I am willing to look at additional ways the state can assist the industry.
TOP PRIORITIES AS GOVERNOR: Education, expanding economic opportunity and continuing our aggressive fight against crime.
Lawrence K. Freeman,
Democrat
EDUCATION: Our schools are not educating our children properly. Education should nurture the creative powers of the mind. By making the development of a Freeman child's creative potential the subject of education, we instill in the child a respect for his or her mental capability, and this creates greater respect for the value of their lives. This can most effectively be accomplished through a rigorous classical curriculum, including the study of physical science, classical music, poetry and drama.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT: We should develop a harmony of interests, where all groups and constituencies act in the interest of the entire society to promote the general welfare of all people.
IMPROVING MARYLAND'S BUSINESS CLIMATE: We are about to enter the third phase of the disintegration of the global financial and monetary systems. Unless one recognizes this reality, one is not competent to discuss the future of our economy. We have to change the axioms of economic policy. The direction of the state's business climate is wrong. We have foolishly eliminated most of our industry and gone "whole hog" to service economy. This has to be reversed to have a "real" positive economic climate.
HELPING HORSE RACING: I am morally opposed to placing slot machines at the racetracks. They serve no real economic benefit. They would undermine our society's morality and culture, and their introduction would facilitate the encroachment organized crime into our society.
TOP PRIORITIES AS GOVERNOR: I would work to assist President Clinton in creating a plan for reorganizing the world's financial and monetary system; act to protect the savings and pensions of our citizens, which would be affected as the result of financial collapse; reverse the disastrous post-industrial society policy that has dominated Maryland's economy.
Dr. Terry McGuire,
Democrat
EDUCATION: Our plan targets preschool through third grade. The goal is to enable the child to read well and do basic McGuire math problems by the beginning of fourth grade. Bureaucracy must be reduced and teacher accountability increased. The Maryland School Performance Assessment Program, or MSPAP, would be eliminated. A top priority would be to institute new policies to increase efficiency and control costs.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT: All elected officials should be required to turn in campaign finance reports quarterly, including a reporting date two weeks before the start of each General Assembly session. The state prosecutor should be given more authority in investigating public officials.
IMPROVING MARYLAND'S BUSINESS CLIMATE: The Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration must not continue its "gotcha" attitude. Instead, businesses should be subjected to 10 or 15 mandatory requirements; if those are instituted, then businesses should face no fines upon inspection. I would work to rescind the mandatory Pfiesteria regulations placed on Maryland farmers who have a voluntary plan.
HELPING HORSE RACING: I would support a referendum on slot machines that has these provisions: The state should own at least three and not more than five slot-machine facilities. No outside commercial gambling interests can be involved. None would be located in racetracks, off-track betting parlors or hotels. No facility would be located in any area where a majority of voters opposed the referendum. From the net proceeds, 10 percent would go to increase horse racing purses and the rest would be used for tax relief.
TOP PRIORITIES AS GOVERNOR: Ban partial-birth abortions and enact a parental consent law for minors seeking abortions, institute an across-the-board tax cut that would include eliminating income taxes for retirees.
Pub Date: 9/04/98