Filling in the blanks with …

By David Hansen

…John Giannetti Jr. and James Rosapepe  

John Giannetti Jr.  

            State Sen. John Giannetti Jr. started campaigning at four by knocking on doors in Berwyn Heights for his dad, who was running for city council. The 21st District elected the Democrat to the state Senate in 2002, and he faces a spirited primary battle for that seat from former House of Delegate member James Rosapepe.

If I could change one thing about Prince George’s County, I would ...  change the amount of time to take a road project from conception to building.

The reputation for Prince George’s County is …  a large, rich, diverse county just coming of age. We are educated, and have a newly discovered economic might that people are now becoming aware of.

My proudest accomplishment as state senator is …  passing a landmark hate crimes bill and landmark drunk driving bills.

If someone asked why he or she should vote for me instead of James Rosapepe, I would say ... he doesn’t see the job of a legislator the way I do. I think it is important to take hard stands on important legislation. Example: the ICC. I was out there as early as 1994, one of the only candidates asking that the ICC be built. I have been very instrumental in having the road go through. Jim tells the Sierra Club he’s against it and the business groups he’s for it. He will tell women’s groups he is pro-choice and church groups he is pro-life.

The biggest challenge for Prince George’s County in the next five years is ...  to manage economic development in a way that builders feel that the county government is listening to their concerns, and manage growth so schools continue getting additional funds and quality does not suffer.

I will help overcome these challenges by …  offering my assistance to the county executive, Jack Johnson, who I believe has done a wonderful job.

My opponent isn’t the person to do that because …  I’ve developed a strong relationship with the county executive. My opponent isn’t a strong supporter of his. I have a proven track record of getting legislation passed in Annapolis. My opponent doesn’t have that. When he was in Annapolis, he wasn’t able to deliver the goods. 

The one television show I never miss is … 24.

No one knows that I …  garden. I think every true Italian has to grow tomatoes.

The one food I never order at restaurants is …  seafood diablo. I always warn everyone not to order that, because something could get stuck in your throat.

James Rosapepe  

            James Rosapepe has taken on many challenges. He’s been a state delegate in Annapolis, an ambassador to Romania and a University of Maryland Regent. But Rosapepe bit off more than he could chew last February at Maria’s Sicilian Ristorante and Café in Annapolis when part of his seafood diablo got caught in his throat. Fortunately, a man at the restaurant came to his rescue … his opponent, state Sen. John Giannetti Jr., who by chance happened to be dining there. We hear Giannetti’s a real backslapper…

If I could change one thing about Prince George’s County, I would … improve the public schools with smaller classes, better paid teachers and more discipline.

The reputation for Prince George’s County is … it’s a great place to live, particularly for middle-class families and will be even better as we improve the schools.

My proudest accomplishment in my professional life is … leading the successful fight to stop big tuition hikes for Maryland college students. I was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Maryland, and voted against the tuition increases and worked with the legislature’s leadership to pass the tuition freeze bills.

If someone asked why he or she should vote for me instead of John Giannetti, I would say … that I will stand up for working families, oppose electric rate deregulation and vote to ban assault weapons. He and I disagree on these issues, and I think my views are more in line with the people of the district.

The biggest challenge facing Prince George’s County in the next five years is … improving the public schools.

I will help overcome these challenges by … using my 11 years of experience as a fiscal leader in the legislature to win more state funds to reduce class sizes, improve teacher pay, renovate older schools and build new ones.

My opponent isn’t the person to do this because … he was ranked by the Gazette newspaper as the sixth least effective senator out of 47.

My favorite restaurant in Prince George’s County is … Plato’s Diner, in College Park.

The one TV show I never miss is … The Colbert Report.

No one knows that I … love to bowl. My average is not good.

The food I never order in restaurants is … liver.