The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • A15

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016 THE BALTIMORE SUN 15 GOP candidates focus on terrorism RSIVY 1 iflR I HUkjK SENATE, From page 1 "Cybersecurity is very important," she said. "I would not be in favor of the government forcing Apple to build a back door." The race to be the Republican nominee for the Senate seat held by Democrat Barbara A. Mikulsld, who is retiring, has drawn less attention than the Democratic contest between Reps. Donna Edwards and Chris Van Hollen. The Republican candidates have lower public profiles and have raised less money.

Their debate was sponsored by The Baltimore Sun, the University of Baltimore, WJZ and the Baltimore City League of Women Voters. The primary election is April 26. In a state where registered Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans and the last GOP candidate to win a U.S. Senate race was Charles Mathias in 1980, Republicans face a challenging battle to capture the seat in November. Asked how they would appeal to independents and Democrats to assemble a winning coalition in the general election, the candidates offered their own theories.

Szeliga pointed to the success of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who pulled off a surprise victory in 2014. Having served in Annapolis since 201L Szeliga painted herself as a Washington outsider and said her appeal as a mother, grandmother and small-business owner would let her follow Hogan's path. "They're looking for a real person, a real Marylander who has proven leadership skills," she said. Douglas said voters he's spoken to in Baltimore are energized by the prospect of Donald Trump being on the presidential ballot He said he thinks the brash businessman could help draw new supporters to the Republican Party.

Kefalas, who has worked for both Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Democratic U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, said he's the only candidate with bipartisan experience.

"I can get record numbers of Democrats to join our cause," he said. The primary race is wide open, according to a Baltimore SunUniversity of Baltimore poll conducted this month, with almost eight in ten Republican respondents saying they had yet to make up their minds. Szeliga held a slight lead, but all the candidates had single-digit levels of support. The three candidates were designated the leading contenders to debate from the field of 14 hopefuls by guidelines set by League of Women Voters. The debate will be broadcast on WJZ-TV and streamed on baltimoresun.com and CBSbaltimore.com at 7 p.m.

April 2. Democratic candidates Edwards and Van Hollen are scheduled to debate Friday. Their debate will be broadcast and stream KARL MERTON FERRONBALTIMORE SUN From left, Republican candidates Richard Douglas, Chrys Kefalas and Kathy Szeliga during a debate at the University of Baltimore. "Dead terrorists do not have Fourth Amendment rights. Period." Richard J.

Douglas "I can get record numbers of Democrats to join our cause." Chrys Kefalas "They're looking for a real Marylander who has proven leadership skills." Kathy Szeliga conservative Scalia "As Republicans, we do not know who the next president of the United States will be, we do not know who will hold control of the United States Senate," he said. "As long as we control the United States Senate we have leverage." Szeliga cited the battle over the vacancy as another example of a faulty political system in Washington, calling the fight "partisan politics at its worst." "I think it's reasonable for U.S. senators to meet with whomever the president has appointed," she said. Douglas said he didn't trust Obama and said he'd be willing to take the court fight forward next year. "If I'm in the U.S.

Senate and President Hillary Clinton nominates Barack Obama to the Supreme Court, I'm going to block it," he said. iduncanbaltsun.com ed at 7 p.m. Monday. The Republicans roamed widely Tuesday night, tackling questions on climate change, gun rights, the economy and student debt. On some of the biggest challenges facing the country failing infrastructure, student debt and struggling government finances the three candidates settled on more rapid growth and a stronger economy as something of a cure-all solution.

"The key is to light that rocket and then stand out of the way," Douglas said in response to a question about the nation's future fiscal health. He called for cutting red tape that hurts American exporters. Asked about how to fund the country's infrastructure, Kefalas said creating jobs is the answer. "Unleash the American economy and we can invest in the long-term infrastructure challenges and opportunities that our nation needs," he said. And Szeliga said the problem of college debt could be answered by creating well-paying jobs that don't necessarily need a degree.

"We need our ldds to know these are great futures," she said. The three candidates were asked about how they would approach the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia's death. If Merrick Garland, a U.S. appeals court judge and President Barack Obama's pick for the spot, is not confirmed this year, deciding on a nominee would be one of the first big votes they might have to take when the new Senate convenes. Kefalas said the current senators should take up the issue while Republicans hold a majority, but didn't say whether a nominee ought to be confirmed and said he'd like to see another justice in the mold of the Top Democrats face off in mayoral debate Mayoral candidates will debate live today on baltimoresun.com Democrats who are trailing in the polls Gersham Cupid, Patrick Gutierrez, DeRay Mckesson, Cindy Walsh, and Calvin Allen Young III will debate from 11 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m. The debate will be streamed live on baltimoresun.com. The Republican candidates for mayor Armand F. Girard, Chancellor Torbit, Brian Charles Vaeth, Alan Walden and Larry O. Wardlow Jr.

will debate from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The debate will be streamed on baltimoresun.com. FOR A FULL SCHEDULE OF DEBATES, GOTO BALTIMORESUN.COMDEBATES Democrats and Republicans running for Baltimore mayor will meet in two debates today sponsored by The Baltimore Sun, the University of Baltimore and the Baltimore League of Women Voters. Democrats running for U.S.

Senate will meet in a debate Friday. The debates will be held at the university. ub UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE THE BALTIMORE SUNT LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MAYOR, From page 1 She suggested that Mosby would face a conflict of interest as mayor because his wife, Marilyn J. Mosby, is the city's top prosecutor. And she said David L.

War-nock's business dealings would have to be scrutinized because he is senior partner at Camden Partners, one of Baltimore's largest private equity firms. "This city that we love cannot afford a leader who operates under a cloud of suspicion," Embry said before an audience of about 180 at the forum, sponsored by The Baltimore Sun, the University of Baltimore, WJZ and the League of Women Voters. Mosby fired back, noting that half of the nearly $400,000 that Embry reported raising in a January campaign finance filing came from 35 donors, including developers tied to her politically connected family. In the recent poll, 5 percent of likely Democratic voters supported Embry and 6 percent favored Mosby. Ten percent supported Warnock, and City Councilman Carl Stokes garnered 3 percent Pugh and Dixon were well in front, with 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

Still, many see the race as wide open. A quarter of the Democrats polled said they were undecided, and nearly half who backed a candidate said they could change their minds. Dixon, 62, dismissed the attacks, characterizing some as "blatant lies." She became mayor in 2007 and resigned from office in January 2010 after being found guilty of embezzling gift cards meant for the poor. "There are lessons that are learned, and I learned those lessons. It doesn't define who I am," Dixon said.

"It's going to take experience and leadership to take this city forward. It's about removing politics from city government." She used most of her time on stage to point to successful programs created under her administration, including one dedicated to ensuring that babies are born healthy and another that helps local minor- Embry, 39, chief of the criminal division in the Maryland attorney general's office, said she would not "be distracted by ethical violations and conflicts of interest" as mayor. She pledged to "usher in a new era of accountability," saying she understands the widespread distrust of government and the criminal justice system because of her interaction with victims, witnesses and defendants as a prosecutor. Stokes, 65, said the city's problems have festered because many in leadership have not shown a sense of urgency. He used as an example legislation he pushed to require routine audits of the city's largest agencies, which he said he had to introduce twice before it was adopted.

Stokes said he wants the city to act aggressively to remove problem officers from the police force, at least double the funding the city gives to the school system and leverage development plans to provide community amenities. "We're here talking about long-term goals and long-term plans," he said. "I don't have a five-year plan. I have a next-day plan. I will make this city work tomorrow." Afterward, Francine Brown, 62, a former medical technician from West Baltimore who was in the audience, said she is turned off by negative campaigning, but felt Mosby used criticism appropriately to draw distinctions between himself and other candidates.

"My main interest is education and the killings in Baltimore City that need to be addressed," Brown said. "I am leaning toward Nick Mosby. I like his ideas. I know he wants to do the right thing for Baltimore." Eric Johnson, 38, of Northwest Baltimore said as an unemployed man looking for work, he listened carefully to the candidates' plans for jobs and was most intrigued by Warnock. "He was focused and on point," Johnson said.

"The other candidates, I feel, strayed away from some of the answers." John E. Kyle, 70, of Bolton Hill said he left the forum still undecided. "I found it disappointing that some candidates felt a need to disparage other candidates. True or untrue wasn't the point. I wanted to hear more about what they wanted to do," said Kyle, a retired teacher and youth advocate.

Two more mayoral forums will be held today at the University of Baltimore. Democratic candidates who polled lower than the top six will debate at 11 am. and Republican candidates at 1:30 p.m. ywengerbaltsun.com LukeJ3roadwaterbaltsun.com twitter.comyvonnewenger ity businesses compete for government contracts. Dixon said there would be no learning curve if she were elected, and that she would begin improving the city by increasing police foot patrols, using land banks to provide affordable housing and instilling a stronger sense of public service in the city workforce.

The former mayor stayed mostly above the fray, but took a veiled swing at Mosby, questioning what he has done during his nearly five years as a councilman. Pugh, 66, defended her campaign fund-raising record. She said she has always maintained transparency and has not broken any laws. Her tone remained positive throughout as she described her experience in the public and private sectors as a state senator, small-business owner and banker. "Everything I have done since I have been in public office and throughout my life has been transparent, and I will continue to be transparent," Pugh said.

She explained her plans to make sure the city's auditing team is fully staffed and that all agencies are scrutinized. Pugh said she would tap relationships she has made during her time in office, such as those with the presidents of Baltimore-based hospitals and universities, to harness their power to help transform the city. Warnock, 58, stuck close to his campaign message, continually returning to the idea that he is the right candidate to turn the city around through the creation of jobs. He hopes to offer free Wi-Fi to the public and wants police district offices to have playgrounds. He said he will pair more students with summer jobs and explore ways to use expungement laws to help former offenders find work.

"Look, if you're tired of the political back-and-forth, if you're tired of a city with 16,000 vacant properties and an unemployment rate that's simply unacceptable, I'm your guy," Warnock said. Mosby, 37, framed himself as a new leader who would eliminate the gag order on police brutality settlements, establish a place for ex-offenders to receive services as they leave prison and draw on public-private partnerships with universities to fortify neighborhoods. "Yes, we have ideas and plans on this stage, but the question to Baltimore is, Where have those ideas and plans been at for the past 30 he said. "This election is so important. It's not about the failed polices of the past and the fake promises of tomorrow." Share your Memories or Express Condolences For a Loved One By using the "Guest Book" on-line at: DEATH LODGE NOTICES WOHLMUTHER, Jennie On March 20, 2016, Jennie May Wohlmuther loving wife of the late August Wohlmuther.

Devoted mother of James Wohlmuther, Patricia tynn Kissinger and Carolyn May Alexander. Caring grandmother of 3 and great grandmother of 4. Sister of Helen Dennis. Family will receive friends at the Eline Funeral Home, 1 1824 Reisterstown Road (at Franklin Blvd.) on Thursday 3-5 7-9pm. Service will be held on Friday, 1 at the funeral home.

Interment in take View Memorial Park. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's tutheran Church, 1900 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. For additional information visit www.ElineFuneralHome.com.