House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) faces a primary challenge:
A Lexington Park man has filed to challenge House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer in the 2008 Democratic primary for Hoyer's seat in Maryland's 5th Congressional District.
James P. Cusick Sr. becomes the first candidate to file for any race in Maryland's primary election, scheduled for Feb. 12, according to the State Board of Elections.
Cusick said he is running on a platform of banning abortion and stopping the expansion of military bases in the district, which includes all of Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties and parts of Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties.
I'm really disappointed with Steny Hoyer in that I don't believe he represents the values of our Southern Maryland area," Cusick said.
Hoyer spokeswoman Stephanie Lundberg said, "Congressman Hoyer is entirely focused on serving the constituents of Maryland's Fifth District."
Cusick unsuccessfully challenged Del. John L. Bohanan Jr. (St. Mary's) in the 2006 Democratic primary, receiving 13.4 percent of the vote.
In the 1990s, Cusick was incarcerated several times for failing to pay child support, according to his campaign Web site. He also spent three years in prison after defacing the Maryland State House with spray paint in 2000, the Web site said.
I'm sure all congressmen wish they could face a deadbeat dad, former inmate as their main opponent in either the primary or the general election.
