Nine challengers seek to take over Maryland's 6th Congressional District from incumbent
Six Republicans and three Democrats are vying to unseat the incumbent Democrat in Maryland's 6th Congressional District.
The district includes all of Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick counties and parts of Montgomery County after it was redrawn as part of the state's redistricting done every 10 years. Challenges to the map as initially drawn by the Maryland General Assembly delayed this year's primary and led to all of Frederick County being included in the district.
The primary is July 19, but early voting runs from July 7 through July 14. The Herald-Mail in Hagerstown sent questionnaires to all of the Republican and Democratic candidates.
Included in the questionnaire were basic biographical questions, as well as opportunities to list websites and social media accounts so voters can learn beyond just answers to the questions we asked. Responses were limited to 500 characters — the equivalent of more than two tweets.
The questionnaire was sent in early June, and follow-ups were made with those who hadn't responded by mid-June. Those who didn't answer by July 5 are listed below as "Did not respond." But since this questionnaire is meant to inform voters, we've included websites and social media accounts if they were included in the candidate's filing listed on the Maryland State Board of Elections website.
Republicans
Colt M. Black
Home: Frederick County
Campaign website: www.coltblackforcongress.com
Matthew Foldi
Home: Montgomery County
Campaign website: www.matthewfoldi.com
Twitter: @matthewfoldi
Facebook: facebook.com/matthewfoldimd
Instagram: @matthewfoldi
Jonathan Jenkins
Home: Germantown, Montgomery County
Occupation: Business owner
Age as of July 19: 51
Campaign website: vote4jenkins.us
Twitter: @JenkinsCongress
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Vote4JonathanJenkins
Instagram: @jonathan_jenkinsforcongress
Neil C. Parrott
Home: Hagerstown
Occupation: Traffic engineer
Age as of July 19: 52
Campaign website: www.neilparrott.org
Twitter: @neilparrott
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parrottforcongress
Other social media: truthsocial.com/@neilparrott; www.instagram.com/parrottforcongress
Robert Poissonnier
Home: Cumberland, Allegany County
Occupation: Retired law enforcement
Age as of July 19: 53
Campaign website: poissonnierforcongress.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076189307771
Mariela Roca
Home: Frederick, Frederick County
Occupation: Supply chain & logistics specialist
Age as of July 19: 37
Campaign website: rocaforcongress.com
Twitter: @rocaforcongress
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rocaforcongress
Instagram: @rocaforcongress
Democrats
George Gluck
Home: Montgomery County
Campaign website: www.georgegluck.com
Twitter: @gluck4congress
Facebook: facebook.com/george.gluck.31
Instagram: @georgegluck
Ben Smilowitz
Home: Aspen Hill, Montgomery County
Occupation: Executive director, Disaster Accountability Project & SmartResponse.org
Age as of July 19: 41
Campaign website: www.bensmilowitz.com
Twitter: @ben_smilowitz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Smilowitz4MD
David J. Trone
Home: Potomac, Montgomery County
Occupation: Member of U.S. House of Representatives
Age as of July 19: 67
Campaign website: www.davidtrone.com
Twitter: @davidjtrone
Facebook: facebook.com/davidjtrone
Heba Machado Zayas
Home: Montgomery County
Bringing home benefits to the 6th District
How will you work with your colleagues to secure continued federal funding for local infrastructure needs (i.e., Interstate 81 expansion, the Professional Boulevard project, Hagerstown Regional Airport and others)?
Black
Did not respond.
Foldi
Did not respond
Jenkins
I will have a framework to select projects most impactful to the District for long term value. I will work to eliminate/reduce regulations (federal, state, county, and local) that unnecessarily drive-up cost and artificially delay progress. By having agreement across all levels of government for projects, I can demonstrate to my colleagues knowledge of the needs, cost effectiveness, and ability to advertise that Congress can actually get something completed as if it was a business.
Parrott
As a Traffic Engineer, I know that safe, efficient travel is essential for jobs & families. As a Delegate, I work for local interests on the Environment & Transportation Committee. In Congress, I will request the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to work for smart, transportation-policy decisions, including funding local-priority projects. In our area, we must improve north/south roadways, including US 219, I-81, & I-270. To alleviate PM delays, I-70 should be widened in Frederick.
Poissonnier
As an elected official representing Maryland District 6 I will work with the Maryland governor and state delegates to ensure funding received from the federal government is used for the intended purpose. As a resident of Allegany County I will do everything I can to get funding to enlarge I-81, Hagerstown Regional Airport along with Cumberland Regional Airport. I will fight to streamline the process so we are not waiting for decades to receive funding.
Roca
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into law last year and includes funds for the state of Maryland for various infrastructure improvements across the state. Right now, western Maryland and the 6th district has not seen the benefits of this. When I get to Congress, I will work with colleagues both at the state and federal level to not only secure funds for local infrastructure needs, but will actually work without delay to prioritize and distribute the funds without delay.
Gluck
Did not respond.
Smilowitz
As your Representative, the people of MD-6 will be my only focus. I’ll work with members of both parties, as I have, for years, as an advocate. ... People need healthcare and dental, a lower Medicare age, lower prescription drug costs, government accountability, help for small business, and protection for our environment and Social Security. Washington County deserves a full-time Rep, working overtime for people.
Trone
I’ve already secured millions of dollars for projects in Washington County and will continue to do so in my third term. In my position on the Appropriations Committee, I get a seat at the table to allocate funds for important infrastructure projects. In December, I helped to secure nearly $1.2 million in funding for the Hagerstown Airport. And I recently led the MD delegation in urging the Dept. of Transportation to make critically important upgrades to ensure safety and efficiency on I-81.
Zayas
Did not respond.
Party or constituents: Which is more important?
What do you believe is more important — party loyalty or the needs of your constituents? In cases where you have to make a choice, which takes precedence?
Black
Did not respond.
Foldi
Did not respond
Jenkins
I favor constituent needs EXCEPT when it violates my principles or that of the Republican party. EVERY Republican principle is expected to meet the needs of constituents for a limited government. Republicans may vary on legislation specifics but it must always align to the Republicans principles. As a life-long Republican, my loyalty is to party principles and not to the party. As a Marine and Iraq War veteran, I am my own man and will be unwavering and unapologetic to principles.
Parrott
In 2011, the General Assembly passed a bill to pay 2/3 of the college costs for illegal aliens who can’t work legally in our country after graduating. The vast majority of my constituents were unhappy with this bill. When I talked with the Republican Minority Leader about working to stop the bill, he said not to. Rather than go with party leadership, I worked with people across Maryland to have the first successful referendum effort in Maryland in over 20 years. I work for the people, period.
Poissonnier
Above all my moral standards are most important. As an elected official it is my duty to represent my constituents to the very best of my ability. Elected officials need to listen to their constituents and bring their concerns to D.C.
Roca
The needs of our constituents is more important than party loyalty for me. This is not a choice for me, and we need to elect more people that will not waver on this. Our constituents and voters are the ones that will elect me to Congress, and I will serve them above anything.
Gluck
Did not respond.
Smilowitz
We need Representatives that serve people, not party bosses or big money. The political parties have allowed big money and special interests to dominate Washington. I’m running against an incumbent who spent $25 million to get elected. I’m a Democrat that believes we need to serve the needs of Main Street, not Wall Street. I put people, healthcare, our environment, families and communities, small business, and civil and human rights, first.
Trone
I was elected to serve the people of my district, not my party. I was rated one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and 80% of the legislation I’ve introduced has been sponsored by members of both parties. And constituent service remains a top priority. I’m the first representative in this district’s history to open four offices, including one in Hagerstown. Each year, my team and I answer thousands of requests for help and hold hundreds of events to hear directly from those I represent.
Zayas
Did not respond.
Join the fight against gerrymandering?
This congressional district has been the frequent object of redistricting controversies, including lawsuits that have reached all the way to the Supreme Court, because of the manner in which redistricting is conducted in Maryland. Would you support efforts on the federal level to reform election law to end gerrymandering in all states? Please explain.
Black
Did not respond.
Foldi
Did not respond
Jenkins
As a believer in limited government and full support of the 10th Amendment, I would favor the state legislatures establishing laws to end gerrymandering. The founding fathers envisioned a weak federal government where the states had the power. They understood that too much power at the federal level would result in deteriorating rights of the states. Remember, the US Constitution was developed to limit government. It is not to provide rights to individuals.
Parrott
Each person deserves to be represented fairly. Dividing communities for political gain in either direction steals our right to fair representation. Maryland had the worst gerrymandered districts in the country, starting with Gov. O’Malley’s scheme to remove Roscoe Bartlett. I fought that gerrymander for 10 years and finally won in Maryland Courts this March. Western MD now has fair representation. The Constitution specifies that the states elect their representatives, & I defer to the states.
Poissonnier
Absolutely. Gerrymandering has been used in America for a very long time to manipulate the results of elections. It needs to stop. I will fight to have laws to end this abuse of power.
Roca
Voting is a sacred responsibility for citizens and we should expect fairness and transparency in our elections, including with election law and fair maps. ... I support the common-sense notion that ID's should be required to vote in the United States, and that only eligible voters be allowed to participate in our elections. I will also support election law reform and ending gerrymandering in all states.
Gluck
Did not respond.
Smilowitz
Absolutely! Maryland’s redistricting was an incredible mess. There’s also no fairness in Texas, Florida, Michigan, and other states drawing maps wildly in favor of one party while other states attempt to draw fair maps with varying standards. We need a single, national standard that everyone follows. We also need to protect voting rights and not allow nonsense like long lines and other obstacles. We should celebrate voting! Our democracy is special and unique and we must protect it.
Trone
I’ve been a proponent of a national solution to gerrymandering since day one. I supported the For The People Act, which does just that. It’s no secret that redistricting made the Sixth District a little bit more competitive this year. I consider that a good thing. It’s an opportunity for me to share my message of competence, compassion, and civility — and continue to showcase the fact that the issues we face don’t discriminate based on political party, nor should our response to them.
Zayas
Did not respond.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: 6 Republicans, 4 Democrats running for 6th Congressional District
