Candidate Profile: F. Michael Higginbotham For House District 7

BALTIMORE, MD — There are 32 candidates looking to fill the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives left vacant by Elijah Cummings, who died Oct. 17. Patch asked them to describe their qualifications and visions for District 7, which includes parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County.

Eight Republicans and 24 Democrats are running in the special primary, which will be Tuesday. The special election will be April 28, the same day as the Maryland primary.

F. Michael Higginbotham, 62, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat.

Age (as of Election Day)

62

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I am the son of one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. My father served this country and through the GI Bill, was able to go to medical school and became one of the first African American Orthopedic Surgeons in Western Pennsylvania. I am the nephew of the Honorable Leon Higginbotham, the famous Third Circuit judge who should have replaced Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Education

I received my undergraduate degree from Brown University and then went on to receive my J.D. from Yale University in 1982. I received my L.L.M. (master of laws) from Cambridge University in 1985.

Occupation

I have been a constitutional law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law for over 32 years. I served as Interim Dean of the law school in 2012.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

https://higginbothamforcongres...

Why are you seeking elective office?

People from all over the state have asked me why I am running and to them my answer is simple, just like Lamar Jackson, I like running! In fact, I run each morning around the Inner Harbor and throughout the towns in this district. Daily runs keep me healthy and allow me to observe our district. I have seen the homeless population rise, the number of successful small businesses decline, and the high crime rate remain steady. I run down main street in Ellicott City and see a town that still needs help rebuilding. I run down Divided Sky Lane in Columbia, Maryland, and see fantastic entertainment and restaurants that need to be connected to the city via public transportation and I run through the beautiful horse country in Monkton, Maryland, seeing hardworking Marylanders who do their part and pay their taxes but are not receiving a fair share from their government.

As your Congressman, I intend to fight skyrocketing interest rates on both credit cards and student loans, while providing debt forgiveness for those willing to serve the district where help is needed. I am constantly reminded about the commitment this country has made to our troops, and as I nod my head in thanks because I am the son of one the original Tuskegee Airman, I cannot help but think that if we can treat our troops this well, why aren’t we able to do the same for our teachers, nurses and police officers? I believe we can, and that support starts with ensuring young men and women that we will take care of their student loans in exchange for their commitment to serve.

Finally, I believe that our current President is the most dangerous person to ever hold the office. His actions are reprehensible, and they are placing this country’s democracy at risk. The fight for impeachment must be expanded and brought to the people.

Why do you think you would be a good U.S. representative for District 7?

I have lived in the 7th district for more than 32 years and call Baltimore home. I have listened to the thoughts and ideas of those around me and know the changes that this district needs to see. I have the ability to compromise and advocate for fiscal responsibility.

If elected, what would be your three key priorities in the U.S. House?

My three key priorities in the U.S. House would be to tackle what I see as the three largest problems that face our 7th district: (1) High Crime Rates (2) Lack of Public Transportation and (3) Lack of Equity.

I think in order to best fight crime we have to establish trust between the police, prosecutors and government officials and the people of this great nation. The President is making the building of that trust extremely difficult, which is why the fight to impeach him must intensify. We must let the people know that government officials are not above the law. Trust will allow for better police community relations and create opportunities for those who have committed low-level crimes to share information with the police for an opportunity to have their charges dropped. Illegal guns are coming into this city from our neighbors to the west, and the distributors must be caught.
Regarding issues of public transportation, we have a solid plan that has been proposed for a Baltimore Red Line that simply needs to be pushed through. We must also support public WiFi access.

When it comes to equity, there are several ways we can address the issue, including support for the Green New Deal, capping interest rates on student loans and credit cards, reducing taxes for small businesses and providing affordable health care for those who do not have access currently.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

This is the first time I have run for political office, and that means I have no political baggage. I have lived and worked in this district for more than 32 years and have taught more than 6,000 Maryland attorneys, and most importantly I have listened to the people of this district for over 30 years talk about the issues that are important to them. I have served as a litigator and an educator, and now I am ready to legislate in this 7th district.

How would you approach representing a district that includes one of the wealthiest counties in the nation as well as a city where more than 20 percent of people live in poverty?

I think the conversations starts with the inequity in our schools. In this relatively small district, we have both the best and worst schools in the state and the country! Schools that are just a few miles apart should not have such differences. Federal funding must be made available to underperforming schools. Public college education should be available to Americans at the same cost that public high school education is available. Student loan interest rates should be capped at 3 percent. With a primary focus on education, the inequity will not change overnight, but once these changes are made, we will have a sustainable plan for years to come.

Additionally, I know that I need to be available to my constituents and communicate frequently before and during the decision-making process. This is how I plan to meet the needs of this diverse district. I have to spend time in my district on listening tours, not just to deliver good news and cut ribbons. I plan to send my staff to local organization meetings and town halls to capture the ground truth, not just the wave tops found on television. My job is to represent the 7th in Washington DC, and I need to know my district well so I can serve them well.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I served as an advisor to Barbra Mikulski and during that time we appointed qualified and diverse judges to Maryland bench. My career experience as Interim Dean at University of Baltimore Law School has shown that I am able to compromise and build bridges between those in conflict so that they can work alongside one another, demonstrating my ability to bring people together to work towards a common goal.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

To do your best and let it rest. If you can wake up every morning, look yourself in the mirror and know you did your best, you don’t need to worry about anything else because all you can do is your best.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As director and co-founder of the Fannie Angelos Program at the University of Baltimore Law School, I have been able to work with students throughout Maryland. This program is quite unique in that it provides scholarships and funding for students from the 4 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Maryland. The funding serves to level the playing field for the students to take the same prep courses that the majority of applicants take when preparing for law school.
I am prepared to take on some of this district’s toughest battles and believe that I am ready for the job.