"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

WE BEGIN WITH A SURE BET THAT IS ANYBODY WATCHING TONIGHT'S FOOTBALL GAME WILL SEE TONS OF GAMBLING ADS, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL AND THE CASINOS.

THE EXPANSION OF SPORTS BET SOMETHING ONE OF THE REASONS THE GAMBLING HELP HOTLINES ARE BUSIER EVER AS SUSAN ELLERBEE REPORTS.

>> JIM KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FACE A GAMBLING PROBLEM INTEREST I SPENT THE FOUR YEARS HIDE TO GO FROM MY WIFE.

I HAD STOMACH ISSUES ALL THE TIME NOT FROM THE GAMBLING BUT FROM THE LYING AND MANIPULATION I HAD TO DO TO HIDE THE GAMBLING T COST ME MY JOB.

I HAD A COST THAT I LOVED.

I WOUND UP GETTING ARRESTED.

I FACED GOING TO JAIL.

>> JIM HAS BEEN IN RECOVERY FOR 35 YEARS AND USING HIS EXPERIENCE TO HELP OTHERS.

HE IS ONE OF FIVE PEER RECOVERY SPECIALISTS WITH THE MARYLAND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE INTEREST WE CAN MEET PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS ADDICTION WHETHER THEY WANT TO STOP, SLOW DOWN OR WHATEVER SITUATION THEY'D LIKE TO BE WE CAN OFFER ASSISTANCE.

FREE, INPATIENT, FREE THERAPY, FREE LEGAL ADVICE FREE THINGS THROUGH THE STATE OF MARYLAND FOR SOMEBODY LOOKING FOR HELP.

>> AND THE CALLS AND NEED FOR HELP ARE INCREASING AS SPORTS ABOUT THING CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING REPORTED A 45% INCREASE IN CALLS AND CHATS TO THE HELP LINE BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022.

AND CALLS FOR HELP AND ADVICE ARE TICKING UP IN MARYLAND NOW AS WELL.

WHERE AN ESTIMATED 4% OF RESIDENTS HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM.

>> I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN EXACT NUMBER BUT WE'RE RISING SLOWLY AND MORE OF THE CAUSE I THINK IN 2024 MAYBE A 15% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING SPORTS BET SOMETHING MY PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 7% SO MAYBE DOUBLE FROM HEARING THAT SPORTS BETTING IS THE ISSUE.

>> THE AGE DEM DWRASKS ARE CHANGING.

>> WE GET CALLS FROM PARENTS THAT THEIR KIDS ARE STRUGGLING AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

UNFOR THE NATURALLY, IF THEY ARE KIDS, BUT IF THE KIDS ARE STRUGGLING UNLESS THE PERSON WANTS HELP, THERE'S NOT A LOT WE CAN DO.

JUST LIKE ANY ADDICTION UNLESS SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO GET HELP, YOU KNTS' DO A LOT.

WE SEE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE COMING IN.

>> WHAT IS THE JUDGEST YOU'VE SEEN?

>> WE HAVE HAD CALLS ON 13, 14-YEAR-OLDS FROM THE PARENTS.

>> GAMBLERS AND FAMILIES FACE FACE CHALLENGING, SOME LIFE-THREATENING.

>> 20% OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A GAMBLING DISORDER MADE ATTEMPTS AT SUICIDE.

SO THAT'S 20% OF INDIVIDUALS.

THE HIGHEST FOR ANY OTHER THAN ANY OTHER ADDICTION.

>> MEN ARE STILL THE MAJORITY WHEN IT COMES TO SEEKING HELP BUT WOMEN ARE INCREASING IN NUMBER.

>> IT'S ABOUT 60%, 40% BUT THAT GAP KEEPS CLOSING ESPECIALLY WITH ON-LINE AND INTERNET AND THE MOBILE BETTING YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT TO WATCH A RACE OR OUT TO A CASINO YOU CAN SIT ON YOUR COUCH IT'S AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

>> NEXT UP FOR MARYLAND COULD BE INTERNET GAMBLING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN SIX STATEDS BAT MARY DREXLER SAYS MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED BEFORE MOVING AHEAD.

>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MOBILE AND ON-LINE SPORTS BETTING IS DOING BEFORE WE START TO ADD MORE BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO MORE THAN THE SPORTS BETTERS WHO SEEM TO BE ADDING TO THE CALL VOLUME AND OTHER THINGS RIGHT NOW.

WE AT THIS POINT, WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW SPORTS BETTING IS IMPACTING THE STATE BEFORE IT MOVES ON TO INTERNET GAMING.

>> FOR NOW, THE CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, OUTREACH, TRAINING AND RESEARCH WHEN AND WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

>> AT THE CENTER WE'RE NOT FOR OR AGAINST GAMBLING.

WE TRY TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT GAMBLING CAN BE AN ISSUE AND IF IT IS AN ISSUE OR YOU ARE CONCERNED OR YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THEY CAN REACH OUT FOR FREE HELP.

>> IN BALTIMORE I'M SUSAN ELLERBEE FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

>> AND JOINING US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT GAMBLING ARE MARY DREXLER AND JIM NOWLIN OF THE MARYLAND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING.

SO GREAT YOU COULD JOIN US I APPRECIATE IT.

I GUESS A FEW YEARS AGO, THE STATE FUNDED A STUDY, A SURVEY OF HOW BIG GAMBLING ADDICTION WAS AND IT CAME UP WITH A NUMBER THREE OR FOUR PERCENT.

DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT?

>> THERE'S BEEN THREE STUDIES THUS FAR IN THE STATE AND IT AVERAGES 4% OF MARYLANDERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES WITH A GAMBLING PROBLEM OR DIAGNOSED WITH A GAMBLING DISORDER.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL THING, THREE OR FOUR PERCENT IT'S MORE THAN 100,000 MARYLANDERS AND JIM THAT WAS YOU?

>> THAT WAS ME.

AND THAT'S THE THING THAT WE KNOW OF.

WE SAY THIS 4% BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY STRUGGLING WITH THIS DISEASE LIKE NIL ADDICTION THAT MAY NOT RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM OR MIGHT NOT WANT TO COME FORWARD AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM TRYING TO HANDLE IT ON THEIR OWN.

THAT IS JUST THE PEOPLE WE KNOW OF THAT ASKED FOR HELP.

>> Jeff: I DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP YOU WANT TO GO IN YOUR BACKGROUND, WHAT FORM OF GAMBLING, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE?

WAS THERE A PERIOD THAT YOU THOUGHT I'M LOSING CONTROL OF THIS AND TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THAT'S FINE.

THE FOR ME AND MYSELF, I NEVER THOUGHT I HAD A PROBLEM GAMBLING.

I STARTED OUT WINNING SOME MONEY AND IT WAS FUN.

AND IT WAS ALL GOOD.

AND THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE CASINOS WERE HERE IN MARYLAND.

BACK IN THE DAYS WHERE YOU COULD BET ON A FOOTBALL GAME IT WAS WHO WON AND LOSS THERE WAS NOT ACTION THROUGHOUT THE GAME.

IT WAS GOING BACK A LITTLE WAYS AND I NEVER THOUGHT I HAD A PROBLEM.

ANYTIME I RAN INTO SOMEBODY THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME I WAS RUNNING TO ATLANTIC CITY, I WOULD TUNE THEM OUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT I HAD A PROBLEM I DIDN'T THINK I HAD A PROBLEM.

AT THE TIME I WAS SINGLE LIVING ON MY OWN PAYING MY BILLS WHAT IS THE HARM?

AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE I CROSSED THIS IMAGINARY LINE AND IT BECAME MORE ABOUT THE ACTION AND IT WASN'T ABOUT THE MONEY.

AND THEN I FELT LIKE I WAS WINNING AND IF I DID LOSE, I'D HAVE TO PLAY AND WIN IT BACK.

SO YOU START CHASING YOUR LOSSES.

AT THE BEGINNING IF I WAS PLAYING BLACK JACK AND I TELL PEOPLE WHEN I TALK TO THEM, IF I'M PLAYING FOR $20 AND I GET A BLACK JACK YOU WIN $35.

AND OVER TIME, 35 DOLLARS WASN'T THAT EXCITING.

SO THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT MORE EXCITING IS TO INCREASE THE BET AND INCREASE THE BET.

IT'S LIKE ALCOHOL OVER A PERIOD OF TIME OUR BODY DEVELOPS A TOLERANCE.

GAMBLING IS THE SAME WAY, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME WE NEED A MORE HIGHER BET TO INCREASE THAT DOPAMINE HIT WE GET FROM THE ACTION.

AND IT GETS TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE OUT OF CONTROL AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT THERE.

I SPENT THE MAJORITY NOT ACTUALLY MAJORITY MY WHOLE TIME GAMBLING IN DENIAL.

AND THAT'S WHAT COST ME MY JOB, THAT'S WHAT CAUSED ME TO COMMIT A CRIME AND CAUSED ME TO GET ARRESTED BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT I HAD A PROBLEM.

I WAS BUSY TRYING TO HIDE THE GAMBLING THAT I WENT ON A CRAZY ON THE OTHER END.

>> Jeff: IT'S GREAT THAT YOU CAN SHARE THAT AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

LIKE OTHER FORMS AFTER DICTION ALCOHOLISM YOU DON'T SAY YOU ARE A FORMER ALCOHOLIC YOU ARE A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC FOREVER IS THAT HOW YOU THINK OF IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS DECEMBER WILL BE 35 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN RECOVERY.

I STILL GO TO GA MEETINGS BECAUSE I WILL ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM GAMBLER.

I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND I ADD IN IT THAT NOW AND I CAN FACE IT NOW.

I'VE GOTTEN A LIFE THAT IS SO MUCH HEALTHIER AND EARNED THE TRUST BACK FROM MY WIFE AND FAMILY THAT I COULD TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT AND GO TO A CASINO AND PLAY.

NOW I KNOW ENOUGH THAT I CAN'T STOP.

IF I WERE TO PLAY AND WIN, I'D BE IN TROUBLE.

OR IF I WERE TO LUCID'S BE IN TROUBLE.

I NOW KNOW THE PROBLEM IS I CAN'T STOP.

I STILL GO TO MEETINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHO I AM AND WHERE I'M FROM AND WHAT I'M DANABLE OF.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR GUESTS CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR SEND AN E-MAIL TO LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

MARY, STATE FUNDS YOU AND THERE IS AN EXCLUSION SYSTEM TELL US HOW IT WORKS.

>> THERE IS A STATE PROBLEM GAMBLING FUND.

THOSE FUNDS WERE SETUP WHEN LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO LEGALIZE GAMBLING HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

SO WOE DO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS.

THEY ARE PRIMARILY FROM THE BRICK AND MORTAR CASINOS.

WHEN ON-LINE AND MOBILE SPORTS BETTING CAME THERE WAS NOT FUNDING TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT BECAUSE SPORTS BETTING INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CALLS TO OUR HELP LINE.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING TO GAMBLE NEED HEALTHY AND INFORMED CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO GAMBLING.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING WE WANT THEM TO BE AWARE OF THE RESOURCES AND ONE TOOL IS THE STATE'S VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S IF THEY ARE IN A CASINO OR DOING ON-LINE BETTING, MOBILE BETTING, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR MARYLAND'S VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION PROGRAM WHERE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GAMBLE NOT EVEN TO ENTER THE CASINO IF YOU ARE ON THAT PROGRAM AND IN MARYLAND IT'S YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR TWO YEARS OR LIFETIME.

THE SAME IS THE CASE ON-LINE THAT THERE IS A VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO YOU.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL.

BALTIMORE COUNTY, BETH THANK YOU FOR THE CALL.

GO AHEAD.

>> HELLO.

>> Jeff: HI.

BETH WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

BETH, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> HELLO.

>> Jeff: BETH, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME SEND US AN E-MAIL AT LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE EXCITEMENT THRESHOLD CHANGES OVER TIME.

YOU NEED MORE.

TO THE NEWER FORMS OF GAMBLING THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN PUT AN APP ON YOUR PHONE AND IT'S ALL VERY FAST BETTING DURING THE GAME NOT JUST BEFORE THE GAME.

DOES IT MAKE IT MORE ADDICTIVE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND AGAIN WHEN YOU CROSS THIS IMAGINARY LINE IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY IT'S THE ACTION.

I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE OLD DAYS AND I SAY THE OLD DAYS, YOU BET ON WHO WON A FOOTBALL GAME AND WHO LOST A GAME.

AND IT MIGHT BE -- >> Jeff: YOU GO TO LAS VEGAS OR YOU HAD TO KNOW A GUY THAT KNEW A GUY.

>> NOW YOU CAN TAKE ON TONIGHT'S GAME AND I USE THE SUPER BOWL AS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU BET ON THE COIN TOSS.

YOU CAN BET ON THE QUARTERBACK HOW MANY INTERCEPTIONS THEY ARE GOING TO THROW.

YOU CAN BET ON A RUNNING BACK.

IN THE SUPER BOWL THEY HAD A LINE HOW MANY TIMES THE CAMERA SHOWED TAYLOR SWIFT YOU COULD BET ON THAT.

YOU CAN HAVE ACTION THROUGHOUT THE GAME IF YOU ARE LOSING YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO BET ON.

>> Jeff: THE THING ABOUT SPORTS EVERYBODY WHO LISTENS TO SPORTS RADIO THINKS THEY KNOW MORE YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW MORE THAN EVERYBODY, YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE THAN THE AVERAGE BETTER AND THINK YOU HAVE AN INSIGHT OR EDGE WHERE IF YOU GO TO THE ROULETTE TABLE, NOBODY HAS AN EDGE.

IT'S JUST NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS ARE RIGGED AGAINST YOU.

>> UNFORTUNATELY A PROBLEM GAMBLER CAN SEE NUMBERS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE ANY.

A PROBLEM GAMBLER CAN SIT AT A ROULETTE TABLE AND SEE WHAT NUMBERS HIT REGULARLY AND FIGURE THIS NUMBER IS DUE AGAIN OR THIS NUMBER IS DUE AGAIN.

AND THE SAME THING WITH BLACK JACK IF YOU GET ON A RUN YOU START PUSHING YOUR BETS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY OBVIOUSLY.

AND SO WE CAN SEE PATTERNS OR BELIEF THERE ARE PATTERNS THERE THAT DON'T EXIST.

>> Jeff: THERE'S SOMEBODY WATCHING US WHO HAS A PROBLEM OR I AFAMILY MEMBER OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS A PROBLEM WHO IS WATCHING US.

LET'S START WITH THE FAMILY MEMBER.

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

DO YOU CONFRONT SOMEBODY YOU OFFER TO HELP?

YOU DON'T WANT TO INSULT THEM.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

>> NUMBER ONE, YOU START A CONVERSATION WITH SAYING THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON SOMETHING'S HAPPENING CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

YOU'VE BEEN ANXIOUS AND IRRITABLE.

THEY MAY NOT WANT TO SHARE THAT IS THE REALITY.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE FAMILY MEMBER IF THEY ARE NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN ENGAGING CAN'T GET HELP FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT IS WHAT WE TRY AND LET FAMILY MEMBERS OR CLOSE FRIENDS KNOW.

THEY CAN CALL 1-800-GAMBLER IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES GETTING IN TROUBLE AND GET SUPPORT.

WE WORK WITH AN AGENCY CALLED THE MARYLAND COALITION OF FAMILIES THEY HAVE A FAMILY SUPPORT PEER SPECIALIST SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND OUR PEERS WORK WITH THAT PEER TO GET THE FAMILY MEMBERS THE HELP THEY NEED.

BUT IT'S DIFFICULT, BECAUSE PART OF THE ISSUES WITH THE PROBLEM GAMBLING IS PROBLEMS WITH RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU KNOW, JOBS GET LOST.

THEIR RELATIONSHIPS START TO BREAKDOWN.

THEY ARE LYING ABOUT THE TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY ARE SPENDING GAMBLING.

AND THEN THAT SPOUSE OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBER IS TRYING TO PICK UP WHATEVER MESS HAS BEEN CREATED.

AND THAT CAN BE BY TRYING TO WORK MORE TO PAY THE BILLS.

IT CAN BE LENDING MONEY TO THE GAMBLER EARLY ON IN THE GAMBLING.

BECAUSE THE GAMBLER IS GOING TO ASK THAT IS ONE OF THE SIGNS THEY KEEP ASKING YOU FOR MONEY AND NOT TELLING YOU WHAT IT'S FOR.

>> Jeff: SOME FORMS OF ADDICTION ARE DIFFICULT TO TREAT.

THINKING OF OPIOIDS.

IS THIS HARD TO TREAT?

DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO GET TO ROCK BOTTOM ARE THERE MAGIC WORDS YOU WISH COULD HELP?

>> I WISH THERE WERE.

THE REALITY IN MY OPINION THE HARDEST THING TO TREAT FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD IS TO REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

BECAUSE EVEN WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS CALL WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY MEMBERS TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL CALL INTO THE HOTLINE.

BECAUSE IF THEY DO THAT, THE INDIVIDUAL WILL TALK TO ONE OF THE FIVE CERTIFIED PEERS THAT WE HAVE.

AND BEING SOMEBODY -- >> Jeff: INCLUDING YOU.

DO YOU CALL AND SAY I WANT TO TALK TO JIM?

>> YOU CAN DO THAT.

BEING IN RECOVERY, I CAN RELATE TO WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S GOING THROUGH.

AND WHAT I USUALLY WILL DO IS LET THE INDIVIDUAL KNOW LISTEN THERE IS A BETTER WAY OF LIVING.

THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOU CAN RIGHT THIS SHIP AND MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS.

SO I ALWAYS CLOSE WITH THE INDIVIDUAL LET'S TRY THIS FOR A WHILE AND YOU DON'T LIKE IT GAMBLING WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

YOU CAN GO BACK TO GAMBLING THAT WILL BE MORE.

WE ENCOURAGE THE FAMILY MEMBERS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CONFRONTED SOMEBODY JUST SHOW CONCERN LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THIS CAN BE AN ADDICTION JUST LIKE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

>> Jeff: QUESTION FOR EITHER OF YOU.

GIVE ME A SUCCESS STORY.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE FIELD FOR A WHILE.

ANYBODY WHO COMES TO MIND, NO NAMES, OBVIOUSLY, BUT A SUBSET OF PEOPLE WITH GAMBLING PROBLEMS THAT YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY ABLE TO HELP?

>> THAT YOU FEEL THIS ONE FIRST I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, BUT I THINK FOR ME AND IN WORKING WITH THE PEERS AND WORKING IN THE FIELD FOR SO LONG, I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY'VE CALLED, THEY REALIZE THAT THERE'S HELP AND HOPE.

THEY ARE OPEN TO GETTING CONNECTED TO SERVICES.

WE FIND THROUGH THE HELP LINE THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO DIRECTLY TO TREATMENT THEY WANT TO TALK SOMEONE WITH A LIVED EXPERIENCE FIRST.

MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT.

WE ARE NOT PUSHING FOR THEM TO GO IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE FAMILY MEMBER.

THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE PEERS THERE'S SUPPORT GROUPS, THERE'S MANY AVENUES FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE.

BUT WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE MAKE THAT ROAD AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A WHILE.

COULD BE A WHOLE YEAR OF US WORKING WITH THEM IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> Jeff: MARY DREXLER DEMOCRATIC IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND JIM NOWLIN AT THE MARYLAND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Jeff: NOW, OUR CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR THE STATE'S THREE OPEN SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

JOINING US NOW IS KIM KLACIK, SHE IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO I LIVE IN MIDDLE RIVER AND LIVED THERE FOR 11 YEARS NOW.

AND RIGHT HERE IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IT'S HOME TO ME.

AND HOME TO SO MANY OTHERS THAT ONCE SAW THIS DISTRICT, BALTIMORE COUNTY DIFFERENTLY.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.

WE HAVE MORE CRIME AND VIOLENCE WE'RE DEALING WITH ILLEGAL ALIENS ON THE STREETS AND MORE SEXUAL ASSAULTINGS AND RAPES AND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM ISN'T WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

I THINK WE NEED A CHANGE AND TALKING TO SO MANY PEOPLE AS WE KNOCK ON DOORS, PEOPLE ARE READY FOR THE CHANGE.

I DO BELIEVE THERE'S MISMANAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONSIBILITY ON COMMONWEALTH AND I WANT TO BE THAT CHANGE ON THE HILL AS WELL.

I'M HOPING TO MAJOR POSITIVE I IMPACTS IN THE DISTRICT AND COMMONWEALTH AS WELL.

>> Jeff: TWO YEARS AGO DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER WHO IS RETIRING FOR CONGRESS WON THIS SEAT BY 20 POINTS.

FAIRLY DEMOCRATIC LEANING DISTRICT.

WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY TO OVERCOME THAT?

>> YEAH.

SO HE DID RUN AGAINST AMBROSE THE ARTSY COMMITTEEWOMAN AND I DON'T THINK SHE HAD THAT NATIONAL NAME RECOGNITION.

I WILL SAY NOW IT'S AN OPEN SEAT, I THINK THAT IS HELPFUL AND ALSO THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE SOME NAME RECOGNITION SEEING WE RAN IN 2020 AND ABLE TO HAVE THAT CAMPAIGN AD.

KNOCKING DOORS, PHONE BANKING AND PUTTING UP OUR SIGNS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT RECOGNIZE WHICH IS GREAT.

ON TOP OF THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MY OPPONENT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ESPECIALLY COMING UP HERE IN NOVEMBER CONSIDERING THE THINGS HE HAS DONE WHILE HE HAS BEEN THE BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CARROLL COUNTY DO NOT WANT SOMEONE WHO HAS VOTED TO OVERCROWD SCHOOLS.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

SO I LOOK AT IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY LOOK HERE IS A CHANCE TO VOTE FOR CHANGE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH THE SAME OLD SAME OLD.

BUT LIKE ALSO IN 2020 MY LAST RACE WE FLIPPED 20,000 DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE MAKING US NUMBER SEVEN ON THE STRONGEST REPUBLICANS THAT RAN IN 2020.

AND I DO BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN.

>> Jeff: IS THERE ONE ISSUE OR A COUPLE ISSUES YOU WANT TO DRAW DISTINCTION WITH YOUR OPPONENT IN THIS RACE.

>> .

>> IMMIGRATION.

I WANT TO CLOSE THE BORDERS.

IMMIGRATION JUDGES TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THEY ARE BACKLOGGED.

WE HEARD FROM OUR I.C.E.

DIRECTOR ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL WE WERE TOLD IN MARYLAND CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS INCLUDING BALTIMORE THEY DID NOT WORK WITH I.C.E.

ON THE DETAINER REQUESTS ON THE JUDGE DOCKETS THAT COME FROM JUDGES AS THEY ARE BEING RELEASED FROM OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE NOT WORKING WITH I.C.E.

TO I THINK PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE DISTRICT WE LOVE TO SEE THAT BE A MANDATORY WHERE PEOPLE DO HAVE TO WORK WITH I.C.E.

FOR THOSE THAT NEED TO BE DEPORTED THAT ARE CAUSING HAVOC IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS A HUGE DISTINCTION.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, GOING TO OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS IS SOMETHING HE DID RECENTLY.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO OVERRIDE HIS VOTE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYONE IN OFFICE THAT BELIEVES IT IS OKAY TO PACK OUR CLASSROOMS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE TEST SCORES YOU SEE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MARYLAND HAS A DIVIDE.

THERE'S TRUMP WING AND HOGAN WING.

IF THAT'S A CONTINUUM, WHERE DO YOU FALL ON THAT SPECTRUM?

>> WELL, I AM A HUGE TRUMP SUPPORTER.

WE'RE HAPPY TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT IN 2020 AND HOPING TO GET IT IN 2024.

I GUESS I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS THAT DIVIDE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT LOOK AT LARRY HOGAN BECAUSE HE HIMSELF HAS A DISTASTE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK A FEW MONTHS AGO, PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN FOR THE SENATE SEAT.

I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO COME TOGETHER AND BRING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TOGETHER I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT.

>> Jeff: AT OUR TAPING TIME, THERE HAS JUST BEEN A SECOND APPARENT ATTEMPT TO GET TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND THERE WAS AN ARREST IN FLORIDA.

TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RABID NATURE OF OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE AT THIS POINT AND ALSO GUN POLICY AND THIS INDIVIDUAL'S ACCESS TO HIGH POWERED WEAPON?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW HE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A WEAPON.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS ANYTHING IN HIS BACKGROUND THAT WOULD PROHIBIT HIM FROM OBTAINING A WEAPON I'M NOT CERTAIN AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR GUN CONTROL AND I'M ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.

I LIVE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE CITY AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THOSE THAT AREAS IN THE STATE WHERE YOU SEE SOME OF THE GUN VIOLENCE IT IS IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO CARRY.

SO THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN CARROLL COUNTY, THOSE AREAS WHERE YOU SEE LESS CRIME AND VIOLENCE WHERE THEY ARE CARRYING AND PROTECTING THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

I'M NOT CALLING FOR MORE GUN CONTROL I'M ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT WEST VIRGINIA WHEN THEY DO HAVE CARRY, SOME STATES SEEM TO HAVE LESS CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>> Jeff: HOW IS YOUR FUND RAISING GOING?

YOU MENTIONED THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT YOU HAD FOUR YEARS AGO AND BROUGHT IN JUST A TON OF MONEY.

IT WAS OVER $6 MILLION.

HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS TIME?

>> A LOT DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HOPING TO GET THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AGAIN.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

BUT WE HOPE WE WILL GET IT NOW WE ARE PAST LABOR DAY AND IT'S DIFFICULT AND I DO BELIEVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED 0 AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF MONEY GOING INTO WHETHER IT'S TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN OR SENATE SEATS.

SO WE'RE HOPING WITH SO MANY SEATS OPEN ON THE GLETIONAL LEVEL WE'RE HOPING TO SEE THAT AS WELL.

I'M NOT ON THE BOAT ALONE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND WHETHER IT'S HOUSE OR SENATE, THEY ARE WAITING FOR THAT STREAM OF MONEY TO COME IN SO WE CAN BUY CAMPAIGN AD TIME AND THOSE GREAT THINGS.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL COME SOON.

>> Jeff: CAN I AM KIM IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND YOU CAN SEE MORE OF OUR POLITICAL COVERAGE AT MPT.ORG/VOTE 2024.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS ON THE FREE PBS APP VMENT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]