An energetic Jim Rosapepe chided the efforts of both his major opponent and Republican actors at all levels last night at the Nyumburu Cultural Center, ranting against everyone from current State Sen. John Giannetti to Gov. Robert Ehrlich to President George W. Bush and calling for Democratic takeovers of the “Bush Republican” Maryland and United States.
But in his fiery, multi-faceted speech to a crowd of about 50 people at the College Democrats meeting, just a few days before the Sept. 12 primary, the former state delegate and Board of Regents member still managed to have a sense of humor about the often nasty tone the hard-fought campaign has had.
“I’m sure you’ve seen my signs,” he grinned. “Some the full signs, and some the ones with the big holes cut out.”
Rosapepe’s occasional jokes were characteristic of a candidate who seems confident in the ability of his slate – made up of incumbent delegates Brian Moe and Barbara Frush and House-newcomer Ben Barnes – to bring Maryland back to “strong” Democratic rule in one of the year’s most contentious races: The race for the Democratic Senate seat in Maryland’s 21st District.
The former regent urged the audience – which included Democratic state Sen. Robert Garagiola and city council member Eric Olson – to vote and make a change.
“This is obviously a very important year,” he said.
Rosapepe, a city resident, recounted how he was one of the first to target the state’s Republican governor, attacking his term’s 40 percent tuition increase and his initial veto of a tuition-freeze bill.
“[Ehrlich is] the most anti-environment, anti-healthcare, anti-student governor maybe in the history of Maryland,” Rosapepe said.
Rosapepe then moved criticized his incumbent competitor, Giannetti (D-Prince George’s), whom he charged with attempting to “act like a moderate” at election-time events after doing things such as voting against a state bill to ban assault weapons, supporting a Republican filibuster against stem cell research and “siding with the governor” when the Democrats wanted to stop university budget cuts.
When talking about his own record, Rosapepe focused on his progress in education, referring to his successful and not-so-successful attempts at securing a tuition freeze for the university during his years as a delegate. The successful attempt – made in January along with supporters such as Garagiola and Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley – secured the first tuition freeze in university history, Rosapepe said.
“I tell that story to show I can get things done for students,” Rosapepe said.
Rosapepe was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1987-1997 and a university system regent from 2001 to this May, a position he was appointed to by former Governor Parris Glendenning. In between the two jobs, he was appointed U.S. ambassador to Romania by President Bill Clinton in 1998, a position he held for three years.
If elected, Rosapepe will represent a district including parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, including College Park.
“We make one pledge,” Rosapepe said. “When we get to Annapolis next January, we will work as close with O’Malley as John Giannetti worked with Ehrlich.”
Contact Raquel Christie at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
