GOP Debate Offers Insight into Candidates

With just a few weeks to go until the primary elections on April 3, candidates running for the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District are trying to reach out to as many voters as possible.

This was the case Thursday night as five of the six candidates gathered at the Del Capri in Dundalk for a debate sponsored by the

Nearly 100 people attended the two-hour debate—which Essex-Middle River Patch Editor Ron Snyder helped moderate—that touched on subjects ranging from the economy and the environment to rising fuel costs and tensions in the Middle East.

Whoever wins the Republican primary will go on to challenge Democratic incumbent in the November general election. The district is arguably the most geographically diverse in the state and stretches from Cecil County to include parts of Harford, Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

Among those participating in the debate were , and , an Army veteran and former congressional staffer for U.S. Rep. Andy Harris. Jessup resident Raymond Bly and Howard Orton, of Brooklyn, were the other candidates who participated in the debate.

To view the debate in its entirety, click .

East County Republican Club president Ric Metzger said the debate was important because citizens haven’t had a chance to meet with candidates like Jacobs and Impallaria, who can’t campaign much due to responsibilities with the General Assembly.

“This is an important election and we wanted citizens to be able to make an informed decision on a candidate,” Metzger said.

Jacobs outlined her position on many issues, including a desire to reduce American dependence on foreign fuel, to repeal President Obama’s health care reform legislation and to enforce illegal immigration policies.

“We have so many resources available in this country that we don’t need to be going elsewhere for them,” Jacobs said on the need to control fuel costs. “But they are not opening up because government, the liberals won’t allow it.

“I believe we need to use the resources we have and become independent of these countries. I believe what they are doing is wrong and we are driving this country further into debt when we have those resources here in this country we should be using.”

Smith, who has offered detailed policy positions on his website, said if elected he would support military action against Iran to ensure they do not have nuclear weapons. He also said he would support preschool voucher programs and would push for greater oversight over states’ aging sewer systems, which he believes is one of the Chesapeake Bay’s greatest environmental concerns today.

“If Iran gets nuclear weapons we will have a permanent base in Kuwait and everywhere else and this nightmare that is uncivilized international relations will continue,” Smith said about Iran.

“We have been in a proxy war with Iran since 1979 through other actors and we have to do everything covert and overt to disallow that theocracy from bringing on…a great nuclear explosion over Israel.”

Impallaria, who arrived toward the end of the debate because of voting responsibilities in Annapolis, cited his record, which includes voting against allowing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants and against deregulation of public utilities as reasons why voters should make him the nominee.

Impallaria also believes Maryland needs another conservative voice in Congress and a representative who isn’t afraid to side against the President or House Democrats.

“I’m going to be out every day knocking on doors and exposing [Ruppersberger’s] record, saying conservatism is the way to do it,” Impallaria said. “I’m going to reach across the aisle and drag him on our side of the aisle.  I’m not willing to compromise anymore.”

Which candidate do you plan to support for the 2nd Congressional District, and why? Tell us in the comments section below.