BERLIN – Candidates for the new District 38C seat shared their views on job creation and how to get things done at the state level at a forum this week as they prepared for a final stretch of campaigning.
Candidates Mary Beth Carozza and Judy Davis joined several other candidates in a forum Oct. 22 sponsored by the Coastal Association of Realtors and Ocean City Today at the Ocean Pines Library.
Republican Carozza, an Ocean City native who has served in a variety of government positions including a stint in President George W. Bush’s administration as well as deputy staff director for then-Governor Bob Ehrlich, stressed her plans to work with the state’s representatives on the other side of the Bay Bridge to get things done and to make sure the Eastern Shore was represented.
Carozza said everyone in Maryland has ties to the shore — whether they had vacationed there, gone to college there or had relatives that had retired there — and she would remind them of that.
“The approach I would take is by working with delegations on the other side of the bridge,” she said. “Instead of us against them, I’d say they’re vested already in the shore. What is good for the shore as far as policies go really benefits all Marylanders.”
Democrat Davis said she would use the variety of skills she learned as a teacher and her four decades of experience from living on the Eastern Shore to make sure local voices were heard. Davis taught early child and special education for 22 years in Worcester and Wicomico counties.
“The skills and life experience I have I’d use to build a common ground or common understanding with folks across the bridge,” she said.
Neither candidate disputed the need for more stable jobs in the area. Davis named a number of programs already in place designed to provide small business loans, training and high-tech educational opportunities. She said the county’s Step-Up internships were giving kids exposure to careers in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math.
“I’m one that advocates using the programs that are already in place, not reinventing the wheel, to help with our job expansion,” she said.
Carozza said her tactic would be to provide support for the area’s two major industries — tourism and agriculture.
“You have my commitment I will support, vote for and lead on initiatives to strengthen those core industries,” she said.
Carozza added that she would like to see more focus put on high-tech jobs as well.
“I think we do a great job educating our young people but we need to make sure the economic opportunities are here so they don’t feel they have to leave,” she said.
Asked about their thoughts on real estate by the Coastal Association of Realtors, both women touted its importance to the local economy. Carozza said she would work with realtors on ways to strengthen the economy. Davis said the area “could sell itself” and that the shore should continue to be promoted as a year-round destination.
A question from the audience asked each candidate how they would work to continue drug court. Currently, there is a drug court division within the Circuit Court for Worcester County. It was established in 2005 and its three programs, “operate with a team of agencies working together for service integration and collective treatment planning,” according to the Circuit Court’s website.
Carozza said she would take the approach she learned working for former governor Bob Ehrlich.
“Before I make a commitment, I will do my homework,” she said. “I understand it’s your taxpayer dollars we’re investing.”
Davis said that during her time as a teacher two of her students had died because of drug abuse and she understands the importance of protecting young people from substance abuse. She said she would like to make sure critical health department programs remained funded.
“We need to continue to work hard to save our young people from substance abuse,” she said.
In closing, Carozza stressed her desire to improve the local economy and make sure the shore was represented at the state level. She said the door-to-door visits she has done during campaigning had helped her see firsthand the area’s needs.
“I believe by doing all these visits you all strengthen the positions I can take,” she said. “I have every intention to support, vote for and lead on policy issues.”
Davis reminded voters that she has been a shore resident for four decades, while Carozza spent years working in Washington D.C. Davis said she lives on a modest teacher’s pension.
“You won’t see an ad pop on the Internet this week,” she said. “You won’t see numerous commercials. You won’t see ads in the paper because I believe money spent on our people and on our community is more satisfying than money spent on the campaign.”