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Maryland Libertarian Governor Candidate, Shawn Quinn (Left)
with 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate, Gary Johnson (Right) |
The following is a guest post/interview conducted by David
Malekar,
who regularly contributes content to the WashCo Chronicle. The
interviewee, Shawn Quinn, is the Libertarian candidate for
Governor of Maryland. You can contact Shawn through the website, citizen4quinn.org.
A very big thank you to Shawn for participating in this interview so close to election time.
DM: Thank you Mr.
Quinn for taking the time during your very busy schedule to agree to another
interview so close to Election Day, November 4th.
We have seen the frustration of Maryland
voters over the last couple of months expressing their frustration on the
candidate selection given by the Democrats and Republicans.
How do you feel this will affect the election
on Tuesday?
SQ: David, there is really no way to know what
voters will end up doing once they are face to face with the voting machine.
The two parties have been ruling with fear tactics for a long time. If I had a
dime for every time I have heard that we must vote for the lesser of two evils
or that somehow Hogan owns republican votes and I am stealing them. Their nonsense just never stops. I personally
don’t think anything will change if Brown or Hogan should win this election. I
continue to be the only candidate that is talking issues with a plan. I
continue to be the only candidate giving honest answers and putting the people
first. I guess we will all find out two things on Tuesday; will people come out
to vote in force, and have people truly had enough of the crap we have been
getting from two party corporate crones.
DM: As stated in my last
interview with
your running mate for Lt. Governor, Lorenzo Gaztanaga, you have the only party
platform in Maryland that will support the full legalization of Marijuana, at a
low state tax.
Can you stress again how
this will benefit Maryland in revenue, combat the black market, help those with
marijuana related records get back into the work force, and many of the other
points?
SQ: Let’s hit these one at a time.
Revenue has been proven by the two states that have already legalized
Marijuana. I want to take that revenue and use it to fight addiction. Addiction
is really the big problem. Of course if we keep using jails to combat addiction
we are not even in the fight.
Combat the black market: Human nature is that some folks
will always try to profit by giving people things that the government decides
should be against the law. By legalizing and keeping the tax low, we will take
in revenue without making it easy for those folks to undercut prices and create
a black market.
Felony charges: This is the greatest insult to our African
American community. They are the target of most non-violent, drug arrest. We
fill our jails up with these folks for years, where we teach them to become
criminals. Is it surprising that these folks can’t get a living wage job when
they are released?
I will work to get
these non-violent folks out of the jails and clean up their records so they
will have a chance to make a living. Getting these folks out of our jails will
free up major assets in revenue.
DM: During our last
interview, you had
stated your intentions to revise and cut Many of Maryland’s taxes and
regulations.
Can you also elaborate
again your stance on the Second Amendment for Maryland and your plan with taxes,
such as cutting the State Tax to 3%?
SQ: I think I have made it pretty clear
that by cutting the sales tax to 3%, we keep citizens shopping in Maryland and
we put an average of $3,000.00 a year back in the pockets of the working poor
and those in poverty.
We will need to
get term limits put in place and end the pension system for elected office
holders. This will offset lost revenue from lowering the sales tax.
The second Amendment is just one of many rights we have as
citizens. It amazes me that so called 2nd Amendment defenders throw their money
at candidates who want to take away their 2A rights. I am the only candidate
running who is pro bill of rights and would fix the permit issue. I am the only
candidate that is willing to try and repeal SB-281. I have to think these
organizations are trying to keep this a problem to steal money from their
members. The NRA did not even respond to the many e-mails I sent them. I was
not even permitted to have their questionnaire to be rated.
DM: A lot of your campaign has been a in
your face, one vote at a time approach versus high cost commercials and famous
endorsements. Do you feel your hands on
approach, is more effective on a personal level to gaining voter’s confidence
and vote?
SQ: Look David, I would love to put out
a couple of closed caption commerce’s. People watch TV and it reaches a lot of
folks. With that said, I know people are hurting. I chose not to do fund
raisers because of that. I have told people if they wanted to donate, that
$5.00 was plenty. I also made a point of going to every event that I could.
This wasn’t always easy and some days I did 3 or 4 events. I left my parties
national convention to make an event in Frederick. I traveled many miles so I
could attend a civil rights march. I showed up in Annapolis for gerrymandering
event. I showed up in Howard County for an addiction awareness event. I have
had my head shaved for cancer and addressed high schools and colleges. We have
been to over 100 events since January. I wanted people to understand that I
will be there for them. They are the ones who are important. So yes, more money
for TV would have been nice; but I would not trade that for one single person
that I was able to meet and talk too. TV may be more effective, but I am much
more blessed and have a far better understanding of what is happening in
Maryland. I will leave it to the citizens for where they want to place their
confidence.
DM: Leo Wayne Dymowski, the Libertarian
candidate for Attorney General of Maryland has been gaining a lot of momentum
in Eastern Maryland. We have seen you
co-headline events with him during this campaign run. Do you have any plans upon being elected by
working together to help improve Maryland together?
SQ: Mr. Dymowski and I have not sat down
and made a plan. We do see a lot of things eye to eye. I will work with anyone
who wants to make a better Maryland. I think Leo Dymowski will be a great
Attorney General. I cannot see any reason why we would not work together.
DM: Many Maryland
voters feel that their vote is not being heard during this election. What are the numbers needed to ensure a
Libertarian winning for Governor?
SQ: Here is a simple truth. If you feel
you are not being heard, vote Libertarian on the 4th. You will turn more than
just heads in Maryland. I think if we take 35 percent, we will be taking office
in January. The people have the power to make this happen or they can simply
vote for more of the same and stop complaining. You can’t ask to be heard and
then vote for the folks who are not listening.
DM: Now that we are so close to the
election, has any of your stances changed for your platform, or can you
confidently say that you have been consistent and honest to the citizens of
Maryland since the start of your campaign run?
SQ: David, I can say for a fact that I
have always given honest answers to everyone. I have also made it clear that we
are not going to lock into one course of action. When something is not working
we will adjust. I also have strongly advocated that citizens must stay involved
after the election. I will have an open door period every day for citizens. I
can say that I have become open to bike paths after going to the disabilities
forum. We must be open to talking and learning from each other.
DM: Shawn, I want to thank you again for
taking the time for this interview. In
closing, what would you like to let Maryland voters know as this may be your
final interview in Western Maryland before Tuesday? What are your final thoughts for voters who
are still on the fence voting for Shawn Quinn as Maryland’s next Governor?
SQ: As I do this interview I am making a
trip across Maryland. I did the eastern shore on Saturday. Tomorrow morning, we
will go west and south. I have tried to meet as many people as possible.
Although I did find it insulting and un-American being kept out of the debates
considering that I have been on the ballot since January. I would think the
citizens should be even more insulted.
Just more of the two party agenda controlling what they allow you to
hear. If you think I have earned a chance to work for you, please step up and
vote for me. I know how hard it is to do something new and untested. I have
spent a life time doing it, and I have always landed on my feet. Most times it
was grand, sometimes it was a lesson, every time it was worth it. This is
supposed to be your government. I will see that it is yours once again. Power
to the people, because it has to be about people.
WashCo Chronicle encourages discussion of current political issues
and candidates, regardless of viewpoints. Please keep comments polite,
and on topic.
Photo courtesy of citizen4quinn.org.