Foreclosure Surge Could Be Key Issue in Md. Primary

When the Rev. Jesse Jackson came to Prince George's County in December to push for more forceful action on behalf of homeowners facing foreclosure, there at his side was Maryland congressional candidate Donna F. Edwards.

Last week, Jackson took his message to Washington, leading hundreds of marchers in a protest at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This time, he was joined by Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.), the eight-term congressman who is being challenged by Edwards in the Feb. 12 primary.

State officials have said that Prince George's has the highest rate of foreclosures in Maryland. Montgomery County, too, has been hit hard by the crisis. So it is little surprise that the housing market has emerged as a central issue in an increasingly vigorous campaign for Congress from Maryland's 4th District, which includes parts of both counties.

Wynn faces a tough challenge from Edwards, a lawyer who came within three percentage points of defeating him in 2006. Also competing for the nomination in the overwhelmingly Democratic district are Michael Babula, Jason Jennings, George E. McDermott and George E. Mitchell.

In 2006, Edwards focused her criticism of Wynn on his 2002 vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq.

"It could be economic anxieties may drive this election more than the war did the last time," said Ron Walters, a University of Maryland political science professor. "To the extent there's now been a sliding in the economy, whoever has or appears to have the best proposals for dealing with foreclosure may be in a very good position to win."

Wynn said he is urging legislation to protect the credit rating of those who have lost homes to foreclosure because of predatory lending. He also has backed a proposal to give tax relief to those whose homes are being seized, and he wants to enhance the ability of the Federal Housing Administration to provide loans to people who want to buy a home.

Edwards has called for a moratorium on home foreclosures, which could give recipients of subprime loans time to renegotiate better interest rates. She also says the loan industry should have additional congressional oversight and regulation, a task she accuses Wynn of shirking.

"These loan products should have never been in the market in the first place," she said. "Congress should have been watching."

Wynn and Edwards have clashed in increasingly stern tones over whether Wynn's 2005 vote in favor of a bill that made it more difficult for people to file for bankruptcy has had any impact on the crisis.

At no personal appearance does Edwards fail to mention Wynn's vote, and she has noted that he has taken campaign contributions from credit card companies and banks that lobbied for the bill's passage. She suggests that the blame for increasing numbers of people losing their homes should be placed at Wynn's feet.

Specifically, she argues the bill should have included a provision to allow those filing for bankruptcy to renegotiate their home mortgages in court.