Candidate Profile: Paul V. Konka 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.

Paul V. Konka, 68, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat.

Age (as of Election Day)

68

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Married with two adult daughters and one granddaughter

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. (University of Wisconsin-Madison), M.B.A. (George Washington University), J.D. (University of Oregon)

Occupation

Professor and teacher

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Baltimore County Democratic State Central Committee

Campaign website

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

To provide the voters of District 7 with a candidate who has the education and experience to deal with two of the most important issues facing our country. The first is climate change, and if that problem is not addressed — and quickly — then the other problems become almost irrelevant. We must have an environment that permits human life to flourish. The second is the financial irresponsibility of the current Congress. With my expertise in finance, I will be able to bring some financial common sense to the federal budget (now approaching a trillion dollar deficit each year). In addition, my philosophy of “servant leadership” is appropriate for the diverse makeup of the District.

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

Arguably I have more relevant experience than any other candidate in the race and am the only candidate who has experience in the fields of politics, government, education, the military, and private industry. As a member of the Baltimore County Democratic State Central Committee, I have voted for and helped elect two state senators and one state delegate in the last two months. My involvement in politics goes as far back as 1975 when, at his request, I met with Senator McGovern in his Senate office, and he asked for my advice as to whether he should run for President again in 1976. During much of my life I have worked in the federal government, and the Hatch Act has prevented me from a public role in politics. But my experience in government (in five different departments) means that I understand what laws are needed and what laws are ineffective. My last job was at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where my team and I saved the government over one billion dollars in administrative costs for the Medicare program. Since retiring from government five years ago, I have been a substitute teacher in Baltimore County (grades K-12) and a finance professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where I teach business finance and personal finance. I am a retired Navy Captain and a proven leader (two tours as a Commanding Officer). I have also been a management consultant with the preeminent consulting firm of Booz Allen.

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

CLIMATE CHANGE

If we do not solve this problem — and solve it relatively quickly — we might not survive to solve the other problems. We must move rapidly to meet the 2015 Paris Climate Accord goal of holding global warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. That will prevent an estimated 150 million deaths from air pollution (NYTimes Magazine, December 20, 2019). In Baltimore, provide “cool roofs” to reflect sunlight and reduce indoor and outdoor temperatures and plant thousands of shade trees.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Government deficits approaching one trillion dollars ($984 billion in fiscal year 2019, which was $205 billion more than in the previous year) are irresponsible and must end. We should have budget surpluses (as we did under President Clinton) during good economic times so that temporary deficits can see us through future recessions.

CIVIL DISCOURSE
Rather than two sides (political left and right) yelling at one another, we should address any problems in a thoughtful manner, without resorting to name-calling. One can disagree without being disagreeable.

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

In addition to being the only candidate who has experience in the fields of politics, government, education, the military, and private industry, I am also the only candidate who has promised to give half of the $174,000 congressional salary to charitable organizations in District 7. Maryland is the richest state in the country and its median household income is slightly above $83,000. While Gallup shows Congressional approval at 23 percent in January 2020, it has been as low as 9 percent (November 2013). I think it's time for Congress to be approved by a majority of the people and one way to do that is to reduce the high salaries, and if that is not possible, to donate half of the salary to charity.

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?

In addition to donating half of my $174,000 congressional salary to charity, I would also support the anti-poverty proposal to provide up to 10 percent of the federal discretionary spending to areas where at least 20 percent of the population has lived in poverty for at least 30 years. I would support a revision of the tax system, along the lines of what we had during President Clinton's tenure, when we had low unemployment, a good economy, and budget surpluses instead of the current system where budget deficits approach one trillion dollars.

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

Two tours as a Commanding Officer in the United States Navy. Saving the government over one billion dollars in administrative costs of the Medicare program while at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Innovative ideas, for example, my "Environmental Tax Plan: A Meaningful Tax Reform Proposal," published while I was a finance professor at the University of Notre Dame in the late 1980s.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Tell the truth.

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

I would rather lose this race based on honesty than to win by deceit.