While three Democratic state delegates campaign together to join a new senator in the recently reshaped District 21, the two Republican hopefuls in that contest have struck differing themes, agreeing only that the heavily Democratic district needs a change in leadership.

Incumbents Barbara A. Frush, Pauline H. Menes and Brian R. Moe, all Democrats, are running as a slate for the House of Delegates against Republicans Kevin L. Bruening and Bernadine Shettle.

All five candidates live on the Prince George's County side of the district, which also includes a piece of western Anne Arundel County.

The Republican candidates, both educated at the University of Maryland, share a hometown -- Laurel -- and a desire to oust the incumbents. But they have divergent opinions on several key issues, among them slot machines and transportation.

This election is a first for Shettle, a retired real estate agent, and Bruening, a financial planner. Both said they decided to run because they believe one party has controlled the district for too long.

"I'm running because I want to change the way things have been done," Bruening said. "Most of the legislation being passed is not cutting-edge -- it's boilerplate."

Not running as slate

Although they have done some campaigning together, Bruening and Shettle, who were unopposed in the primary election, are not running as a slate.

"He and I differ on a couple of things, but I've lived here a whole lot longer than he has," said Shettle, 63, a Laurel resident for 35 years. Bruening is 31.

In a break from the Republican platform, Shettle opposes slots -- even at horse racetracks such Laurel Park. She also does not approve of the Inter-County Connector, a proposed highway that would run mainly through Montgomery County and link Interstate 270 with Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

"Instead of building more roads, we need to get cars off the roads," she said. "People are frustrated by traffic in this area."

Her stance on slots centers on a lack of adequate roadways around the Laurel racetrack, she said. Adding slots to the Laurel track would increase traffic in the area and change its character, Shettle said, which also would have been the result of a past proposal to build a stadium for the Redskins in Laurel. She said she also opposed that plan.

Sticking more closely to Republican stances, Bruening said he favors slot machines at four Maryland racetracks and the construction of the Inter-County Connector, but he opposes the Maglev high-speed train proposal. He said he would like to see the Washington Metro's green line extended into Laurel.

Bruening said he realizes he will need crossover votes to have a shot at getting a seat in the largely Democratic district, but "if voters look at the issues, they'll see they have a good alternative in Kevin Bruening," he said.

Decades of experience

The incumbents have served a combined total of about 50 years in the House of Delegates. Menes is the most experienced, having been elected in 1966.

A longtime College Park resident, Menes, 78, says that consumer protection and domestic issues are the topics she monitors most closely. Like Shettle, Menes has said she is "not in favor of slots at all."

The other two incumbents said they would like to see the issue go to voter referendum.

Menes said she is confident about the outcome on Election Day. "People know me and have told me they support me and that, more importantly, they will be coming out to vote," she said.

Moe, 40, was first appointed, then elected to the House in 1998. He lives in Laurel and has been a career firefighter in Howard County for 20 years. Public safety, education and consumer protection top his agenda each year, he said.

After four years in the House, Moe said, he is poised to work effectively for the constituents. "Having learned the system and how it works, I think it will be easier to gather support for bills," he said.

The third incumbent, Frush, 57, is in her eighth year as a delegate. A Calverton resident, Frush said she keeps a close eye on issues involving education, health, the environment and seniors.

In the primary election, the three ran as a slate with incumbent Sen. Arthur Dorman, 75, who after 38 years in the state legislature was defeated by John A. Giannetti Jr., 38.

Giannetti is unopposed in the general election, and the three incumbent delegate candidates said it might take time to get used to a new senator.

"It will be a whole new way of working, since we worked so many years with Senator Dorman," Menes said. "I need to know how to be effective in working with [Giannetti]."

But the Democratic delegate incumbents recently met with Giannetti to discuss issues important to District 21, Frush said.

"We will do whatever we can to advance the needs of District 21," she said.