Ellen Sauerbrey visits local Republicans

June 19, 1997

By SAMANTHA KRULEWITZ

Staff Writer

Gubernatorial candidate Ellen Sauerbrey said Thursday night that growth is necessary for the economy, to a certain extent.

"It is a delicate balancing act," said Sauerbrey, who attended the Republican Annual Elephant Club Reception Thursday night at the Women's Club, Inc. on Prospect Street in Hagerstown.

"If you don't have a growing economy then you have young people leaving because they can't find jobs," she said in an interview. "If there is too much growth you lose the quality of life and the peaceful community, the life people treasure."

Asked about Washington County Commissioner James Wade's comment Tuesday that parents should be required to pay for their children's textbooks and bus transportation, Sauerbrey said that there is definitely a lack of resources, especially textbooks, in public schools.

She said that "$6 billion is spent on public education per pupil, much more in real dollars than was spent 30 years ago.

"I don't understand why the money isn't going into books. Parents paying for textbooks is a last resort, but they should pay when their kid loses them or destroys them," she said.

It was Sauerbrey's first visit to Washington County since she announced on May 20 that she was running for governor in 1998.

"I came to Washington County before I announced my candidacy, I now come after I announced my candidacy, and I will come after I am governor," Sauerbrey said. "There is so much that is great in Western Maryland."

Sauerbrey said that the rest of the state can learn from Western Maryland's sense of community and "spirit of volunteerism."

She said she has been campaigning 18 hours a day, every day, since announcing her candidacy. She said she has been visiting those who supported her in 1994 when she lost a gubernatorial bid to Democrat Parris Glendening by less than 6,000 votes.

"These are conservative people with strong values," Sauerbrey said. "They have strong beliefs in free enterprise, limiting government and experiencing liberty."

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