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Office Sought: Maryland 2nd Congressional District Name: Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger Age: 60 Years Old Marriage status: Married Website: www.dutchforcongress.com
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Education: Juris Doctor Degree, University of Baltimore Law School Attended the University of Maryland at College Park Work Experience: Private Attorney, Ruppersberger, Clark, and Mister Prosecutor, Baltimore County, Chief of the Investigations Division Law Clerk for Judge of the Baltimore County Circuit Court Claims Adjustor for USF&G Employee with the Baltimore City Schools System, Division of Special Services Police Officer in Ocean City Lifeguard in Ocean City Previous Political Offices Held: Baltimore County Executive, 1994 - 2002 Baltimore County Council, 1985 – 1994, twice elected Chairman Brief Biography: Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger is honored to serve his second term in the United States House of Representatives representing the citizens of Maryland’s 2nd District. Congressman Ruppersberger is known as a consensus builder who works with Members from both sides of the aisle to get results for Maryland and the nation. Congressman Ruppersberger serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The committee oversees the collection and analysis of intelligence information from all around the world to keep our country safe. Congressman Ruppersberger also serves on the Government Reform Committee, the investigative arm of Congress. Congressman Ruppersberger is working hard in Washington to create jobs and rebuild our economy in Maryland and across the country. He is dedicated to improving healthcare for everyone and helping seniors by providing them with quality, affordable and accessible healthcare and prescription drugs. The Congressman considers one of his highest priorities to be improving security of our homeland and getting our first responders the money they need to protect our communities and our families. Congressman Ruppersberger has spent the last 19 years serving his community as an elected official. Before being elected to Congress, he was the Baltimore County Executive from 1994 to 2002. Under his leadership, Baltimore County was named one of the nation's four best-managed counties by Governing Magazine in 2001 and is still one of only 19 counties nationally which continue to receive a triple-A bond rating from all three of the country's bond rating agencies. Prior to serving as County Executive, Congressman Ruppersberger served nine years on the Baltimore County Council and was twice elected as council chairman. Congressman Ruppersberger chose a political career after a near-fatal car accident in 1975 while investigating a drug trafficking case as a State’s Attorney. With luck and the dedication of doctors at the University of Maryland's renowned Shock Trauma center, he survived. After recovering the young investigative prosecutor decided to run for public office to help others and to repay Shock Trauma for saving his life. Today, he remains an active supporter of the hospital, serving as Vice Chairman of Shock Trauma's Board of Visitors. A native of Baltimore City, Congressman Ruppersberger spent his summers as a lifeguard in Ocean City. He attended Baltimore City College and the University of Maryland at College Park, where he played varsity lacrosse. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore Law School. The Congressman has been married for 37 years to his high school sweetheart, the former Kay Murphy. Together they have two grown children, Cory and Jill.
1. Why are you running for this office? I am running for my third term representing the Maryland 2nd Congressional District because I want to continue to make a difference and improve the lives of Maryland families. I got into public service twenty years ago to help people. In Congress, I vote for legislation that gives our seniors and veterans the benefits they deserve and our first responders the resources to keep us safe. I also support giving our schools the funding they need to prepare our children for the future and increasing programs that promote the development of alternative fuels to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. 2. If you are elected, what do you intend to do to improve the quality of education in the United States? Every child in the United States deserves a quality education. The strength of America is built on the backbone of our nation’s education system. Maryland’s young children face serious shortfalls in their education because of lack of federal funds in both No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA). I believe the federal government must fully fund NCLB and IDEA so states can afford to modernize schools, hire top-notch teachers, and reduce class sizes. We have to give our children the tools that are necessary to be successful both in school and in life. 3. To date the United States has committed thousands of men and women and countless billions of dollars to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Should we continue to commit men, women, and dollars to this effort? If so, why? If not, why not? We need a new strategy in Iraq. I have traveled there four times. Every time I go, I meet with members of the military from Maryland, American and Iraqi Generals, and Iraqi political and civic leaders. Iraqi security forces must take over responsibility for protecting their country. I call it my “Perimeter Plan”. American forces should stop patrolling the streets of the major Iraqi cities and should instead guard the perimeter. In many cases, the fortified green zone could be used as the perimeter. American troops will still back up the Iraqis in an emergency and will only be a fifteen minute Blackhawk helicopter ride away. This will break the Iraqis of their dependence on American troops. I presented this “Perimeter Plan” to President Bush and members of his Cabinet on two separate occasions at the White House. Changing the mission of U.S. forces, redeploying them to perimeter areas, and lowering their profile in urban areas are critical components as we move forward. Our ultimate goal is to create a free, open, and democratic Iraqi government and bring our men and women in uniform home. I believe this change in strategy will help us do that. 4. What in your mind is the biggest problem facing United States as it enters the 21st century and how do you expect to correct this problem? The most urgent issue facing Maryland's 2nd District is "the middle class squeeze." The cost of everything is going up. Families are facing huge spikes in electricity and home heating bills, rising gas prices at the pump, less assistance to pay for rising college tuition, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. At the same time, incomes are stagnant or falling, and people have to work harder just to make ends meet. In Congress, I am working to increase the development of alternative fuels, decrease dependence on foreign oil, expand financial aid opportunities for college, and increase access to affordable healthcare.
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