Duck trying again for 6th District seat

September 09, 2010|By ANDREW SCHOTZ

,

Democrat Andrew Duck wasn't sure about trying a third time to defeat U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett in Maryland's 6th District.

Then, people asked him to run again, he said.

"Our country is in trouble and we need new representation in Washington," Duck said.

Duck lost to Bartlett, a Republican, in the 2006 general election.

In 2008, Jennifer Dougherty defeated Duck in a Democratic primary.

Duck, 47, of Brunswick, Md., said his two previous campaigns have helped him get his name and message throughout the 6th District, which covers Washington County and parts or all of seven other counties.

Two years ago, Duck focused on how the United States was handling the war in Iraq.

Now, he lists jobs as his top concern. He said Congress needs to set conditions for more people to find work.

He said the U.S. needs to close its trade deficit and he favors financial reforms that keep banks from making risky investments.

The 6th District should have an economic development plan to bring jobs to each county and more investment in alternative energy and biosciences, he said.

Duck said the district's transportation network, including heavily traveled Interstate 81, needs improvement -- which could lead to more jobs.

He wants a veterans hospital in the Hagerstown area, so people don't have to go to Martinsburg, W.Va. A current policy that looks at the state instead of the geographic area is an obstacle, he said.

The Hagerstown area also needs more job-focused education, such as training for people to work on aircraft, Duck said, noting the opportunities in and around Hagerstown Regional Airport.

Asked how he differs from Bartlett, Duck said, "The biggest change we need is we need someone that can be effective."

Duck said Bartlett has only sponsored a few bills that passed.

"After 18 years in Congress, he still blames Congress," Duck said. "He is Congress."

Duck is one of two Democrats on the ballot in Tuesday's primary.

However, J. Casey Clark, the other Democrat, has been quiet in recent months. His campaign apparently has gone inactive, according to the chairman of the Frederick County Democratic Central Committee.

Bartlett is running for a 10th two-year term. His GOP challengers Tuesday are Joseph T. Krysztoforski, Dennis B. Janda, Steve Taylor and Seth Edward Wilson.

Members of Congress earn $174,000 a year.

|

|

|