It’s another in our series of Conversations with the Candidates. Today, a live debate between the Democratic and Republican candidates for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Baltimore City as well as Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford and Howard Counties. Joining Tom on Zoom is the incumbent, Democratic Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, who has represented the 2nd District in the US House for the past 18 years. A Baltimore native, he earned his law degree at The University of Baltimore Law School Before entering Congress, he served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore County, and as Baltimore County Executive. Representative Ruppersberger is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations. He also spent 12 years on the Intelligence Committee. Congressman Ruppersberger is 74 years old. He and his wife of 50 years have two grown children and five grandchildren… Also with us on Zoom: Maryland State Senator Johnny Ray Salling. He is the Republican candidate in the 2nd Congressional District. A native of Dundalk, Mr. Salling is a US Army veteran. He spent 30 years working at the Bethlehem Steel plant in Sparrows Point, where he was an active member of the United Steelworkers of America Union. He has been representing District Six in the MD Senate, which includes Dundalk, Essex, and Rosedale, since 2015. He has served on the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. He is currently assigned to the Budget and Taxation Committee. State Senator Salling is 58 years old. He is the father of five and he’s also a grandfather... A word about the format for today’s debate. There are no opening statements. Tom poses questions on a range of topics to each of the candidates, who will have two minutes to answer. Each candidate also has one minute to respond to their opponent’s statements. There are two breaks during the course of the hour. We invite listener questions a little later in the show, with preference given to comments from voters in the 2nd District.