May 16, 2008 - 15:43
News: Maryland

Kratovil calls notion he’s a liberal ‘ridiculous,’ refers to Harris as ‘an extremist’

Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), responding to our interview with Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), said the notion that he is liberal is "ridiculous when you consider my background."

"When you talk to people in Annapolis and around the state-they do not consider me a liberal," Kratovil said.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com earlier today, Harris referred to Kratovil as a "Prince George's machine Democrat," referencing his opponent's younger days in the heavily Democratic county.

"Everyone is considered a liberal to Harris," Kratovil said, calling the state senator "an extremist."

"What I talk about are facts," Kratovil said. "I've been a prosecutor since 1995. My job, my entire professional career, has been putting people in jail and locking them up."

He accused Harris of issuing "blatant political attacks," that are "based on zero facts."

The state's attorney in Queen Anne's County since 2003, Kratovil said, "I have been elected twice by a majority Republican jurisdiction."

Kratovil also referred to his appointment to the Maryland State Board of Victims Services; made in 2005 by Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R).

In addition, Kratovil claimed the reason why Harris has suggested that he would vote the "straight party line" with Democrats is because "Harris has voted straight Republican on just about everything."

"He's says I'll do it because that's what he does," Kratovil said. "We're different people."

Earlier today, Harris referred to his vote in support of a paper trail for electronic voting machines as an example of a bi-partisan vote.

Meanwhile, Kratovil described himself as a "Blue Dog Democrat," saying he was a "fiscal conservative" who believed in "law and order."

Asked if he thought his connection to Prince George's County would hurt him in the more moderate to conservative 1st District, Kratovil said, "It hasn't hurt me in the past."

"It is a bit ironic for someone who is not from Maryland to be talking about that," Kratovil said. Harris was born and raised in New York City.

Kratovil also denied that his decision to move from Prince George's County to Queen Anne's County was based on a calculated political decision, as Harris suggested.

"I moved to the Eastern Shore to raise my kids," Kratovil, who is married with four young sons, said.

"If I had lived on the shore for one day it would be longer than (Harris)," Kratovil added.

In 1997, Kratovil left his position as assistant state's attorney for Prince George's County to take the same position in Queen Anne's County.

"What I think people should be concerned about is the fact that Andy Harris is a political ideologue," Kratovil said. "That's what wrong with Washington."

Kevin Agnese can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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