Candidate for US Representative, Maryland , District #6

Contact Information

About

Dear Friends,

In recent months, I have been encouraged to run for a number of different offices. I have spent the past several months talking to Democratic leaders and activists across the Sixth District to determine the level of support for a Congressional campaign in 2010. I was consistently encouraged to run again.

As I weighed the reasons to run and the costs of running, I kept coming back to the fact that the Sixth District deserves a representative who will do more than say “No.” Our current Congressman said “No” to health care for children. Our current Congressman said “No” to the stimulus bill which is bringing jobs back to our district and the country. We deserve better than that.

We need a Congressman who will advance ideas on how to improve our economy. We need a representative who will demand accountability on a host of issues, from the financial scandals to torture. We need a Congressman who knows what we need to do to restore our leadership in the world. We need someone who will act. We need someone who will lead others to act. We need a change.

THAT IS WHY I HAVE DECIDED TO RUN FOR CONGRESS IN 2010.

Many of you know about my military service, but many people do not know my background in Economics. I studied Economics at the graduate level, and have worked as a Financial Consultant, holding Series 7 and 63 licenses from NASD. This type of education and training are important in dealing with the economic issues we are facing today.

During this campaign, you will hear many candidates, all of whom will say the same thing. Everyone will say they want Universal Health Care, and an effective Energy Policy, and a good education system. Heck, even the insurance companies are saying we need to address the Health Care issue. But what we need is someone who truly understands the problems that families are facing today.

I understand the need for Universal Health Care, because I have been unemployed, without health insurance for my family and my pregnant wife. My solution was to join the Army to obtain health care. We need a better solution. That is why I will fight for Universal Health Care, NOW!

I am proud to have graduated from Maryland’s high quality public school system. As I moved with the military, my children have attended some very good schools, but they also have attended schools where students had to share textbooks and there were not even enough chairs for all the students to sit down. I understand the difference that a good school system makes. No Child Left Behind has failed our children, and must be repealed. If elected, I will introduce legislation to replace No Child Left Behind with a program which emphasizes improving the performance of every child, with an emphasis on individual education plans.

I understand the need for an effective energy policy, because I commute to Washington every day. I know the impact of paying $4.00 a gallon for gasoline to get to work; I had to do it. That is why I will work to ensure we have an Energy Policy which moves us to energy independence within 10 years, through a combination of conservation and transition to alternative energy sources.

We need a change. I will be working to bring that change to Maryland’s Sixth District. I cannot do this alone. Change can only happen if we all work together to make it happen. I ask you for your support and your help to bring change to this District.

Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless America

Bio

Andrew J. Duck is the fifteenth of seventeen children. Born and raised in Maryland, Andrew graduated from Middletown High School, Middletown, in 1979 and later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration from Southwest Texas State University. Andrew served 20+ years in the United States Army, serving three tours in Bosnia and a tour in Iraq in 2003. Andrew and his wife Whitney have been married for 25 years and have three children.

Andrew's Army career began as a Private First Class, working as a Company Clerk. He worked his way up to Administrative Non-Commissioned Officer, was trained as a Korean Linguist, and was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer. His assignments have included:

• Platoon Leader, Joint STARS Platoon, Mostar, Bosnia
• Assistant S3 and Chief, Counter-Intelligence Operations Cell, 103d Military Intelligence Battalion, Multi-National Division (North), Bosnia Commander, D Company, 103d Military Intelligence Battalion, 3d Infantry Division
• Intelligence Liaison Officer to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Iraq
• Intelligence Staff Officer, Combined Forces Land Component Command, Kuwait.

Andrew has also worked as a Stockbroker for Merrill Lynch, in Frederick, Maryland. He currently works in the office of the Deputy Army Chief of Staff for Northrop Grumman as an advisor to the Pentagon on Army Intelligence issues.

Andrew's community involvement includes employment as a paid staff member of the Carter/Mondale Presidential Committee (1980); member of Citizens for Responsible Growth, New Market, MD (1990), and Co-Founder, Frederick For Kerry, Frederick, MD (2004).