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Why these Republicans are running for Congress — and almost certainly won’t win Why these Republicans are running for Congress — and almost certainly won’t win
(2 days later)
One is a longtime crusader for judicial reform in Maryland. One is a Marine-turned businessman who wants to put people to work. The third is a self-described anti-Federalist who carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket wherever he goes. One is a longtime crusader for judicial reform in Maryland. One is a Marine-turned-businessman who wants to put people to work. The third is a self-described anti-Federalist who carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket wherever he goes.
In a congressional district where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 4 to 1, there is little chance that the winner of the April 26 Republican primary will win the general election contest to succeed U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards, who is running for the U.S. Senate.In a congressional district where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 4 to 1, there is little chance that the winner of the April 26 Republican primary will win the general election contest to succeed U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
But the long odds haven’t dissuaded a few Republicans from seeking their party’s nomination in hopes of giving voters another general-election option in the majority-minority jurisdiction.But the long odds haven’t dissuaded a few Republicans from seeking their party’s nomination in hopes of giving voters another general-election option in the majority-minority jurisdiction.
[Contest to succeed Edwards boils down to three veteran politicians][Contest to succeed Edwards boils down to three veteran politicians]
Three of the four candidates — two from Prince George’s County and one from Anne Arundel County — share a political vision that bemoans the Democratic monopoly in Maryland and advocates returning the federal government to what they see as its founding principles.Three of the four candidates — two from Prince George’s County and one from Anne Arundel County — share a political vision that bemoans the Democratic monopoly in Maryland and advocates returning the federal government to what they see as its founding principles.
The fourth hopeful, Rob Buck of Severna Park, has not gone to candidate forums and did not respond to repeated interview requests.The fourth hopeful, Rob Buck of Severna Park, has not gone to candidate forums and did not respond to repeated interview requests.
Entrepreneur David L. Therrien, civic activist George E. McDermott and conservative Robert Broadus have each sought office before, multiple times. They know their chance of beating the Democratic nominee in November is remote, but they see running as an exercise of their political duty.Entrepreneur David L. Therrien, civic activist George E. McDermott and conservative Robert Broadus have each sought office before, multiple times. They know their chance of beating the Democratic nominee in November is remote, but they see running as an exercise of their political duty.
George E. McDermott, 70, describes a childhood of “abject poverty.” Orphaned at 13, he started working at a young age and never made it to college.George E. McDermott, 70, describes a childhood of “abject poverty.” Orphaned at 13, he started working at a young age and never made it to college.
As an adult, he built a construction business and had a plan to develop the land around the Naylor Road Metro Station in Prince George’s in the mid-1990s.As an adult, he built a construction business and had a plan to develop the land around the Naylor Road Metro Station in Prince George’s in the mid-1990s.
But in 1995, he lost almost everything. He claims he was duped into signing over his business to a man who was later convicted of bribery and conspiracy in an unrelated case that involved the Baltimore school system.But in 1995, he lost almost everything. He claims he was duped into signing over his business to a man who was later convicted of bribery and conspiracy in an unrelated case that involved the Baltimore school system.
The Forest Heights grandfather has submitted scores of court filings that testify to his long-standing legal troubles and unsuccessful efforts to hold someone accountable for his loss. In that fight, he said, he has seen up close where the judicial system fails and has become an advocate for reform.The Forest Heights grandfather has submitted scores of court filings that testify to his long-standing legal troubles and unsuccessful efforts to hold someone accountable for his loss. In that fight, he said, he has seen up close where the judicial system fails and has become an advocate for reform.
“I was born in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and I believe in the system. But I refuse to allow what is happening to our system,” he said. “The system is rigged.”“I was born in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and I believe in the system. But I refuse to allow what is happening to our system,” he said. “The system is rigged.”
On his website, secretjustice.com, McDermott has recorded videos, published court documents and blogged about his experiences. This will be his fifth time running for Congress, which he says he does to raise consciousness. On his website, secretjustice.com, McDermott has recorded videos, published court documents and blogged about his experiences. This will be his fifth time running for Congress, which he says he does to raise awareness.
“It’s about going out and telling people what’s happening to our country.”“It’s about going out and telling people what’s happening to our country.”
David Therrien, 59, of Pasadena is a moderate — and he believes most other Marylanders are, too. He loves his country, served in the military and falls right-of-center on most issues. His reason for running for Congress, he says, is to fix the economy through business savvy. David Therrien, 59, of Pasadena is a moderate — and he believes most other Marylanders are, too. He loves his country, served in the military and falls right of center on most issues. His reason for running for Congress, he says, is to fix the economy through his business savvy.
Therrien has had a long and varied career that started with the Marine Corps in 1975 and includes stints with the federal government, including the U.S. Marshals Service. He worked in cryptology, homeland security and law enforcement and obtained a law degree. Therrien has had a long and varied career that started with the Marine Corps in 1975 and includes stints with the federal government, including the U.S. Marshals Service. He worked in cryptology, homeland security and law enforcement, and he obtained a law degree.
Looking for a new challenge, Therrien tried business. His technology expertise helped him rise within the Keller Williams real estate company, eventually becoming chair of the board of his franchise.Looking for a new challenge, Therrien tried business. His technology expertise helped him rise within the Keller Williams real estate company, eventually becoming chair of the board of his franchise.
As a congressman, Therrien said, he would apply business principles to train and re-train the workforce. In a departure from classic Republican ideology, he favors a “people first” platform that supports a livable wage, paid sick leave, health-care security and policies that help workers succeed: “For me, politics is not about party issues, it’s about people issues.” As a congressman, Therrien said, he would apply business principles to train and re-train the workforce. In a departure from classic Republican ideology, he said he favors a “people first” platform that supports a livable wage, paid sick leave, health-care security and policies that help workers succeed: “For me, politics is not about party issues, it’s about people issues.”
Therrien believes the federal government’s primary concern should be creating jobs and opportunity. He is also concerned with immigration, terrorism, military funding and the national debt. “If I ever ran my company like this country runs their budget, I’d be out of business,” he said. Therrien believes the federal government’s primary concern should be creating jobs and opportunity. He is also concerned about immigration, terrorism, military funding and the national debt. “If I ever ran my company like this country runs their budget, I’d be out of business,” he said.
But making the economy work for everyone, he said, would solve many problems.But making the economy work for everyone, he said, would solve many problems.
“I joined [the military] to get involved and do my part for God and country because I felt like I owed the country,” he said. “Here we are now, and I’m having the same types of thoughts. That’s why I’m running.”“I joined [the military] to get involved and do my part for God and country because I felt like I owed the country,” he said. “Here we are now, and I’m having the same types of thoughts. That’s why I’m running.”
Robert Broadus, 44, used to be a Democrat. His relatives were Democrats. His Prince George’s community was Democratic.Robert Broadus, 44, used to be a Democrat. His relatives were Democrats. His Prince George’s community was Democratic.
The Iraq War, he says, made him wake up.The Iraq War, he says, made him wake up.
He was discouraged by Democratic lawmakers who had voted in favor of a military conflict he saw as unnecessary. As a veteran, he understood the sacrifice the country was asking of its service members. He was discouraged by Democratic lawmakers who had voted in favor of a military conflict he saw as unnecessary. As a veteran, he said he understood the sacrifice the country was asking of its service members.
Broadus graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 with a degree in political science. After five years in the Navy — which included time on a Israeli kibbutz and on ships wading into war zones — he left military life at the rank of lieutenant in 1999.Broadus graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 with a degree in political science. After five years in the Navy — which included time on a Israeli kibbutz and on ships wading into war zones — he left military life at the rank of lieutenant in 1999.
Information technology training in the military allowed Broadus to find a job as a “computer nerd,” he said. Meanwhile, his interest in politics only grew while he watched the country “moving eagerly toward socialism.” Information technology training in the military allowed Broadus to find a job as a “computer nerd,” he said. Meanwhile, his interest in politics grew while he watched the country “moving eagerly toward socialism.”
His political awakening came to a head in the 2008 presidential election, when he decided to vote for Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.), who had opposed the war. Broadus also unsuccessfully sought the GOP primary nomination for the 4th Congressional District that year, hoping to face off against then-Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D), who had voted for the war.His political awakening came to a head in the 2008 presidential election, when he decided to vote for Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.), who had opposed the war. Broadus also unsuccessfully sought the GOP primary nomination for the 4th Congressional District that year, hoping to face off against then-Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D), who had voted for the war.
“I opened my mind up to the Republicans,” he said. “I never considered them before.”“I opened my mind up to the Republicans,” he said. “I never considered them before.”
Today, the divorced father of two considers himself an “anti-Federalist,” a movement that opposes a strong central government. Broadus’s top priorities as a member of Congress would be to amend the Constitution, pass religious liberty laws and terminate the personal income tax.Today, the divorced father of two considers himself an “anti-Federalist,” a movement that opposes a strong central government. Broadus’s top priorities as a member of Congress would be to amend the Constitution, pass religious liberty laws and terminate the personal income tax.
At candidate forums, Broadus usually begins with a history lesson, urging black voters to take up his cause: “I am involved in this fight because government doesn’t want to leave me alone,” he says. “I’d like people to think about what freedom really is.”At candidate forums, Broadus usually begins with a history lesson, urging black voters to take up his cause: “I am involved in this fight because government doesn’t want to leave me alone,” he says. “I’d like people to think about what freedom really is.”