Where you live: Annapolis

Current occupation and employers (may also list up to two previous jobs you’ve held); if retired, list your last job and employer: IT executive

Political experience (public offices held and when; as well as unsuccessful campaigns for office and which years; do not include political party positions): ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 3rd District in 2018

Campaign information:

• email: info@davidlashar.com
• website:https://davidlashar.com
• Facebook:www.facebook.com/lashar2022
• Twitter:twitter.com/davidlashar
• Instagram:instagram.com/lashar2022
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCjnyOHBGs1mSkOTsXdrhmWQ

1 – Why are you running for governor? (75 words max)

I believe that our American experiment in democracy is in dire jeopardy, although not for the reasons that the two big parties are telling us. Rather, for the reason of the two big parties themselves. They are engaged in holy war with one another, bringing us far too much division and dysfunction. I am standing as a principled, accomplished, and civil alternative.

2 – What is the most important issue in this race? How specifically would you address it? (100 words max)

Our most pressing issue is the practice by Democrats and Republicans alike of 1) politics that are too divisive and 2) policies that are too disrespectful of our personal choices and local communities. As Maryland governor, I will be different. I will be genuinely inclusive in my politics, because I respect and embrace all persons of goodwill regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or politics. I will empower individuals, their communities, and their businesses instead of bossing or constraining them. I am devoted to engaging with those who might differ with my ideas, not demonizing them.

3 – What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to be governor? (100 words max) 

Gov. Larry Hogan himself has publicly declared that I am the most qualified candidate to succeed him as Maryland governor. He and others point to my unique combination of experience and accomplishments in both business and government. In business, I have received national awards for IT systems that I have implemented for my clients. In government, I served as the number 2 person running technology and operations of our $14B Maryland Department of Health, earning bipartisan praise for my success at handling crises and delivering solutions — an achievement that neither Wes Moore nor Dan Cox can remotely match.

4 – What is the most pressing health care issue in the state? How would you address it? (100 words max)

This question typically alludes to reproductive rights and responsibilities, on which I am pro choice, consistent with current Maryland law. That said, I do not regard abortion to be our most pressing health-care issue, because current Maryland policy is protected under a 1992 referendum. Instead, I regard — as my rivals ought to regard — a little-known but all-important policy, our federal waiver for the Total Cost of Care model for Medicare, to be my top health priority. In sum, this waiver allows Maryland to be an innovator for patient-centered, outcome-oriented, cost-controlled health care. The waiver must be renewed in 2023.

5 – What is the most pressing public safety issue in the state? How would you address it? (100 words max)

Violent crime is the problem, especially in Baltimore. For which, tighter gun control as proposed by Wes Moore will not help. Stiffer prison sentences as proposed by Dan Cox will not help. What will? Realism about the source of crime — the drug trade, which causes as much as 85% of crime. For addressing the drug trade, we need to accept that prohibition has failed, just as it did 100 years ago for alcohol. Thus, to reduce not only crime, but also addiction and overdoses, we need move toward a Portugal / Netherlands model for eliminating the black market for drugs.

6 – How well is the state addressing climate change? What would you do differently? (100 words max)

Maryland is actually responding strongly to climate change. We regularly rank in the top 10 in studies, even number 1 by some decarbonization metrics. By the leading scorecard, the Bay is improving considerably. And yet, there is work to do. We must continue to reduce runoff, for example by restoring tree-lined buffers along creeks flowing into the Bay. We must get Pennsylvania to meet its Blueprint for the Bay commitments via legal action. We must watch for unintended consequences to the 2022 climate bill. In general, we must pursue energy that is reliable and affordable, as well as clean.

7 – What is one major issue Gov. Larry Hogan handled poorly? What would you have done differently? (100 words max) 

Gov. Hogan handled the response to COVID poorly. By late summer 2020, the data showed that only those who were over 60 and those suffering specific co-morbidities were at serious health risk. Hogan therefore should have initiated a return to normalcy in the fall of 2020, letting those who were ready to return to school and work to do so, while also allowing those who were not ready to remain at home. Whereas people own their own bodies, vaccines should not have been mandated by government. For the future, we need restrictions on emergency powers under any health crisis.

8 – Do you support widening interstates 270 and 495 and adding tolls? Why or why not? (100 words max) 

I support measures to address congestion, yes. But I generally seek methods other than pouring more concrete. For this corridor, I support innovative approaches for making better use of the infrastructure already in place — for example, so-called zip lanes, as well as leverage of shoulders, as Hogan did for the U.S. 50 bridge over the Severn River. Whereas tolls can act to bring demand (i.e., traffic) into equilibrium with supply (i.e., road capacity), I do support their judicious use. Whether this corridor or a new span for the Bay bridge, I will bring local communities into decision-making.

9 – Does Maryland have good open government laws? What, if anything, would you change? (100 words max)

From firsthand experience in Maryland government, I can vouch that laws for information requests and good government are solid, striking a reasonable balance between the privacy needed for the government and an administration to function effectively and the transparency needed for the citizenry to receive transparency and accountability. My own priority would therefore not be laws for "good government," but rather laws for electoral reform and political accountability. Foremost for me would be adoption of so-called ranked choice voting in order to reduce political polarization by empowering voters to show precisely how they feel about all candidates on the ballot.

10 – What is your biggest accomplishment? (max 75 words) 

My proudest accomplishment and greatest joy is my happy family life. That said, I would point to my leadership implementing the 2016 Justice Reinvestment Act, widely regarded as a once-in-a-generation milestone in criminal justice, as a relevant and gratifying accomplishment. Specifically, I served as the designated quarterback across executive agencies, committees in the Assembly, the Maryland courts, and community stakeholder groups. Where previous quarterbacks had failed, I brought this complex set of players to successful implementation in roughly 90 days, receiving bipartisan praise for delivering transformational change for those involved in the justice system.