Former Marine set to take on Hoyer for seat in Congress

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009

"We're going to speak the truth. We're going to speak about what matters. There are people hurting out there," Lollar told about 80 supporters gathered at the American Legion banquet hall in Greenbelt, where he announced his run.

Lollar, 38, a Newburg resident and regional general manager for Cintas uniform company, is the first official challenger to announce a run against Hoyer in the 2010 congressional race. He previously served in the U.S. Marines and as chairman of the Charles County Republican Central Committee.

Lollar said he is running on a pledge to reduce taxes, limit government spending and "give Congress back to the people.

"I'm concerned about the direction this country is going," Lollar said. "We need to change direction, and I don't think a 26-year incumbent is the one to do it."

Hoyer, 70, of Mechanicsville has held the District 5 seat since 1981. In 2008, he defeated Republican Collins A. Bailey with 73 percent of the vote.

Bailey has said he will seek the nomination, but has not formally announced his campaign.

Lollar said he will not raise taxes and will fight government attempts to create competition for the private sector, most notably the public option in health care reform and government spending on bank bailouts.

A self-described fiscal conservative, Lollar said he is also pro-life.

The candidate said his campaign has raised about $50,000 so far, though no Federal Election Commission filings could be found. He plans several other fundraising events at his home in the next month.

Lollar said the Republican Party needs to embrace diversity and avoid confrontational behavior that is alienating independent and moderate voters.

"We have the answers as conservatives, but we wrap it up wrong," he said. "It's condescending. We spend way too much time throwing mud … and after you've offended half the crowd, you try to tell them what they're doing wrong."

Maryland's Republican Party has long struggled financially and has rarely held a majority in the state. But departing GOP Chairman James Pelura told Lollar supporters that 2010 will be different.

"This is the year of the nonpolitician politician," Pelura said. "There are going to be a lot of Democrats replaced by Republicans — committed Republicans and principled Republicans.

"Steny Hoyer is not going to know what hit him," Pelura said to Lollar.

A spokeswoman for Hoyer said last week that the majority leader plans to focus on his job for the next year and did not plan to discuss his potential opponents until after the September 2010 primary.

dvalentine@gazette.net