Published: February 08, 2008 10:59 pm      

Kimble taking another shot at seat in Congress

CUMBERLAND — If at first John Kimble doesn’t succeed, he tries, tries, tries, tries — and tries again.

After three attempts at the 4th Congressional District seat — and after placing a “distant second” to Michael Steele in the 2006 U.S. Senate race, the Montgomery County Republican hopes to take advantage of redistricting and unseat eight-term incumbent Roscoe Bartlett in District 6.

Kimble said he never had a chance in the 4th District for a very obvious reason — he’s a white man, and the 4th District, which is comprised of parts of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, includes the largest African-American middle-class community of any congressional district in the U.S.

“There’s no way a white guy stands a chance in District 4,” Kimble said. “I want to make sure I get through the primary (Tuesday).”

Kimble said his chances are much improved in the 6th District, which is “95 percent Caucasian-American.”

Kimble, 47, is a self-proclaimed “solidly middle class” man who works as a behavioral scientist studying the differences between humans and animals. Kimble declined to give out his educational background because of what he called harassment in prior election campaigns.

He discussed illegal immigration, health care, economic development, the environment and the war in Iraq, among other things Thursday while at the Times-News.

Kimble feels his primary challenge is Bartlett, who will be 82 years old by the general election Nov. 4, Kimble noted, a “viable reason” to be concerned about the congressman’s health. He also believes there’s a general movement among voters to cast their ballot toward middle-aged candidates.

Kimble’s concern is that Martin O’Malley, a “liberal tax-and-spend governor,” would appoint a Democrat to fulfill Bartlett’s term of office “if Roscoe is dead or incapacitated.”

Kimble pointed out the few differences between him and Bartlett, whom Kimble considers the clear Republican front-runner. Bartlett voted in favor of the H1B visa program, which allowed more immigrants into America. Kimble opposes such programs.

Bartlett also voted to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

“I do not support that at all,” said Kimble, a member of Defenders of WIldlife and the Sierra Club.

Kimble said Bartlett has seen numerous Western Maryland companies leave the area. All the while, Kimble said, Bartlett is “not doing anything” to prevent them from leaving.

“The future is the 6th District,” he said. “I didn’t see Roscoe going out (asking) ‘What can I do?’ You can tell when your congressman is being effective.”

Kimble admits that “on some issues, I’m very conservative, and on some issues, I’m more moderate.”

He said he’s “far right” on illegal immigration and gun control and questions abortion because it wastes “political capital on something that’s already been decided.”

Kimble supports providing benefits to same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual couples. He wants the issue “to be equal,” he said.

“If you’re living with someone in the same house, you should be able to have health coverage.”

On freedom of speech, Kimble said “hanging a noose is a freedom of speech” issue, as is burning the cross. He believes law enforcement should charge all interracial crimes as hate crimes or none of them.

“The occupation is not going well,” Kimble said of Iraq. “Bring (U.S. soldiers) home gracefully.”

When questioned by a black advocate organization recently about whether minorities are bearing the brunt of the war’s burden, Kimble said no.

“I saw mostly Christian white guys getting killed” on television, Kimble said. “It’s a rich man’s war.”

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.