Maryland Governor's Race

"I like to compete," says the governor, who has never lost a race. (Nikki Kahn - The Washington Post)

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich will be online Thursday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. ET to take questions and comments about his bid for re-election.

A transcript follows.

Read The Post's profile: A Politician Who Thinks Like a Linebacker .

Visit his campaign Web site.

Programming note: An invitation has been extended to the Democratic candidate, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, to participate in a separate live online discussion.

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Robert Ehrlich: Hello everyone!

Thanks to the Washington Post and its online readers for this great opportunity. Let's get started.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Why should the people vote for you?

Robert Ehrlich: I love questions that go right to the point.

In 2002, I promised to change Maryland for the better, and we have. Maryland is far better off today than it was four years ago. We turned record budget deficits into budget surpluses. Crime is down, and student test scores are up substantially; We're making record investments in K-12 public education and higher education. We are a national leader in stem cell research, and we're revitalizing the Chesapeake Bay after decades of decline. We've changed Maryland for the better, but there is more to do.

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Dorsey, Md.: Were you surprised to be endorsed by the Washington Post?

Robert Ehrlich: Part of me was surprised since the Washington Post does not typically endorse Republicans, particularly those running statewide. However, part of me was not surprised. I knew that an objective comparison of my record vs. my opponent's record would convince most people that we deserve a second term. I believe our strong economy, impressive student performance and our record cleaning up the Bay are a great source of pride for any Marylander.

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Takoma Park, Md.: What effort would you make to increase the amount of moderate- to low-income housing near the D.C. metro area?

Robert Ehrlich: Good question. Two years ago I created the More House 4 Less Program, which helps working Marylanders gain access to low-interest loans. Since its creation, More House 4 Less has helped nearly 5,000 Marylanders purchase a home. I encourage you to contact our Dept. of Housing & Community Development about this great program. I've also created a workforce housing task force that has some interesting ideas for expanding homeownership for nurses, teachers, law enforcement officers and others. If re-elected, you'll be hearing much more from my administration about these ideas.

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Glenn Dale, Md.: How were you able to stop the income and sales tax increases that the Democratic legislature was pushing for the past few years?

Robert Ehrlich: Glen Dale, will-power goes a long way in politics. In 2002, I promised not to raise the sales and income taxes and I kept my promise, despite inheriting crushing budget deficits. In 2004, House Speaker Busch proposed a $1 billion tax increase, including a 20 percent increase in the sales tax. The House passed it, but my administration was able stop it in the State Senate. It's worth noting that my opponent, Mayor O'Malley, supported the $1 billion tax increase. That's just another difference between the two of us.

In total, my Administration has stopped about $7.5 billion in tax hikes proposed by lawmakers. I'm very proud of that.

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Tony V, Linthicum, Md.: Can you explain your goals for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay?

Robert Ehrlich: Tony - For decades, the Bay was suffering from stifling pollution and neglect by elected leaders. In response, I authored the 2004 Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act, which upgrades 66 of the largest wastewater treatment plants in Maryland. These plants dump tens of millions of pounds of pollution in the Bay. My Bay Restoration Act will reduce wastewater pollution in the Bay by about 7.5 million pounds per year, cutting current levels nearly in half. The Bay Foundation called my plan the most important environmental initiative in 20 years. Democrats, Republicans and independents strongly support it. Remarkably, Mayor O'Malley renounced it as a "handout to developers." His comments mystify me and almost everyone else who cares about the Bay.

We are also replenishing Bay grasses and preserving the oyster and menhaden populations in the Bay, both of which are critical components to the Bay's turnaround. I also signed the Healthy Air Act, which will dramatically reduce pollution rainfall in the Bay.

I take deep, personal pride in our progress restoring the Bay, and will not let up in a second term.

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Rockville, Md.: Thank you for taking our questions Governor.

What do you really see in the ICC? Not what you hope will happen but what you see.

Robert Ehrlich: I see less gridlock, safer roads and thousands of more jobs in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

After 50 years of broken promises, the ICC is a reality. In addition, our ICC plan includes a very strong environmental mitigation plan. That's an important part of this project.

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Mike D, Brooklyn, Md.: Can you explain how you will expand the already burgeoning technical job market in Maryland?

Robert Ehrlich: Mike -- I am a big believer in the new economy. I also believe Maryland must play a central role in shaping it. I authored and signed into law tax credits for research and development as well as a bioscience tax credit. I'm making substantial capital investments in bioscience buildings at our colleges and universities, including the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology. We have a Top 5 biotech community in Maryland, but I believe we can be No. 1. We've seen 100,000 new private sector jobs created since I took office, many of them in the tech sector. I believe we can build on our many successes in a second term should I be re-elected.

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Baltimore: How can you call yourself a Republican when half of your cabinet is made up of Democrats and you push things like stem cell research and are pro-choice? If even our Republican governor is a moderate and always compromising with Democrats, how can we move forward with growing our party?

Robert Ehrlich: When I interview cabinet secretaries or staff, that individual's party affiliation holds little to no value to me. I care if that individual is qualified, capable of getting the job done, and shares my vision for changing Maryland for the better. I've been in elected office for 20 years in Maryland, and I could not have been elected so many times without support from Republicans, Democrats and independents.

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Columbia, Md.: You received the Washington Post, Gazette, The Capital, Easton Star Democrat, Herald-Mail, and I'm sure other newspaper endorsements. What do you think that says about your candidacy?

Robert Ehrlich: Columbia - You're keeping good score, but don't forget the Baltimore Examiner, Towson Times, Howard County Times, Laurel Leader and others.

I am honored and humbled by the endorsements, particularly because these newspapers represent every region of Maryland. I have worked very hard to promote a "One Maryland" strategy as governor so that every corner in the state enjoys better schools, safer neighborhoods and roads, expanded access to health care, and better job opportunities. The volume of endorsements shows we keep our commitments.

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Robert Ehrlich: Well folks, I have to run. As you can imagine, my schedule is packed these days. Thanks for this opportunity. I truly hope I can count on your vote on Tuesday. Have a great rest of the week. - The Governor.

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