The calvert County League of Women Voters published the questionaire results for all Maryland candidates. Posted here are the responses from Mark Fisher to compare with the others running for this seat.
Mark N. Fisher
QUALIFICATIONS: I am a husband, father of three, friend to non-profits and 21 year Calvert resident. I am an entrepreneur who has owned and operated a successful small business, with experience in making the tough decisions we need to grow our economy, create jobs and move Maryland forward.
PRIORITIES: I will bring fiscal, economic and government reform to the General Assembly. My specific priorities include proposing a three-month sales tax holiday; eliminating the personal property tax; introducing common sense fiscal restraint by utilizing zero-based budgeting; and returning Maryland to a citizen legislature by pushing for term limits.
TRANSPORTATION: As people continue to move farther from DC for a better quality of life to raise their families, traffic along Calvert‘s major arteries has worsened. We need a comprehensive plan to address the commuter traffic issues in Calvert County, and a Delegate who‘ll secure our fair share of tax dollars.
BUSINESS TAXES: Starting and maintaining a business in Maryland is unnecessarily expensive and burdensome. More than three thousand Employers have closed or left the State. Maryland needs to revamp its anti-business, regulatory and taxation regime. Only in this way can we say: ―Made in Maryland", instead of "Moved from Maryland.”
SAFETY NET SERVICES: Maryland is the fourth highest taxed state in the nation. Increasing taxes on families and businesses is not the solution to the current economic crisis, and will only make things worse. The solution is to create an environment that attracts job-producing businesses and economic opportunity for all Maryland workers.
EDUCATION: To help meet the funding needs of our public schools, I support slots at horseracing tracks such as Pimlico/Laurel, provided that all proceeds are earmarked exclusively for K-12 education. I support selling Rocky Gap, saving $100,000,000.00. Annapolis has bungled slots, costing K-12 Education two billion dollars and lost jobs.
ENERGY: Consumers will adopt clean energy alternatives when they make economic sense. This is why I support Innovation and an ―all of the above‖ approach to reducing our dependence on foreign oil. This includes nuclear, renewable energy (solar – wind – geothermal), natural gas, battery technologies, and coal. Innovate and let consumers decide!
Mike Blasey
No response received by deadline.
Bob Schaefer
QUALIFICATIONS: My qualifications are that I am an American born citizen, Calvert county resident for 17 yrs. and over the age of 25.
PRIORITIES: My focus will be on the reduction in the size of our government in order to reduce the over regulation on business and return tax dollars to the families of Maryland.
TRANSPORTATION: Transportation in the form of roadways is the lifeblood of this community. I believe that our roads should be funded through gas tax, taxes placed on trucking, permitting and special use tax as they have since the early 90's.
BUSINESS TAXES: I support a lowering of business tax to mirror the 6% corporate tax in surrounding states. Also a lowering of the sales tax which would affect all residence to 5%.
SAFETY NET SERVICES: I am opposed to an increase in tax for liquor. The state has overspent on our budget and has no solutions to increase revenue outside the increase in taxing. I propose a reduction is spending.
EDUCATION: The premise is that K-12 is in crisis. The crisis is the failure to control administrative cost in other parts of the Maryland school system.
ENERGY: Energy is of vital importance to families and business. Calvert County is in the midst of adding another reactor to Calvert Cliffs. This energy is the most efficient use of dollars per KW-hr and should be combining with natural gas and coal as to produce the most cost efficient power.
Sue Kullen (Incumbent)
QUALIFICATIONS: I am currently serving as the Delegate for Calvert County. I have served 6 years in office. I am building a reputation of listening to and responding to constituents. I am outcome oriented and refuse to play political games. I did not get into politics to be like everyone else.
PRIORITIES: My legislative priorities start with the letter ―e‖. Education, environment, and the economy. I want to make sure that we continue to invest in a vital educational system for our children, make constant improvements in the health of our River and Bay, and support Marylanders through this tough economy.
TRANSPORTATION: We need to invest more in public transportation and figure out ways to encourage more efficiency in transportation in rural areas. We need to do this through dedicating the existing highway user fees.
BUSINESS TAXES: There is currently a commission to study the business tax structure in Maryland made up of representatives of business, Maryland municipalities, tax experts and county associations. The report is due in December, 2010. I will support their findings.
SAFETY NET SERVICES: I support restoring funds to these vulnerable populations but not through establishing dedicated taxes. We can prioritize in a bad economy and leverage more federal funds to protect vulnerable populations.
EDUCATION: It is not “we verses they”. State and local governments need to sit together to discuss how to best work together to educate our children and address large budget issues such as teacher pension. Maryland has the best education system in the nation; we can continue to lead the way.
ENERGY: Marylanders needs to focus on energy conservation and efficiencies. Maryland needs to focus on strengthening the efficiency and reliability of existing energy while investing in energy alternatives. Tax incentives for alternative
You can view the Candidates responses from the League of Women Voters website at http://calvert1.lwvmd.org/n/node/3206. The PDF file with all the information is http://calvert1.lwvmd.org/n/sites/default/files/VG2010P_Calvert.pdf