3rd District

Date of birth: Nov. 17, 1969 Party affiliation: Republican Professional background: President of an international health care nonprofit (www.depression.org). Chairman and CEO of local small business (www.compassmarketinginc.com); named a Future 50 award winner by Baltimore Smart CEO magazine. Educational background: MBA, University of Baltimore; bachelor's degree, accounting, Towson University. Personal: Married to Kathryn Goetzke White; enjoys reading newspapers; Annapolis resident.

The serpentine contours of Maryland's 3rd Congressional District gave Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin enough friendly voters to hold the job. But the scrum of big-name Democrats eyeing a run for the seat now that he's trying for the Senate shows that while the district gives the edge to his party, it doesn't help any Democrat in particular. The district runs from northwestern Baltimore City and county through the northeastern part of the city, southwest to Catonsville, across the Patapsco into eastern Howard County and southeast through Anne Arundel County to Annapolis.

The three candidates for a seat on the Baltimore County Council representing the 3rd District agree that a key issue is controlling development in the county's largest geographic district, but they part ways when talking about how to accomplish it. With no Democrats running in the Sept. 10 primary, one of these three Republicans will win the seat on the council representing the northern part of the county. The incumbent, Councilman T. Bryan McIntire, 72, of Glyndon, a practicing attorney, has represented the 3rd District since 1994.

Robert R. Tousey, a 35-year-old Baltimore lawyer who lives in Elkridge, announced last night that he will seek the Republican nomination for the 3rd District seat held by Democratic Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin."

Date of birth: Dec. 30, 1940 Party affiliation: Democrat Professional background: Nurse; state senator since 1987; member of House of Delegates representing district in Baltimore County, 1979-86 Educational background: Mount Sinai School of Nursing Personal: married; mother of three; grandmother of seven 1. Why are you running? I'm running for Congress because I have the experience and expertise to make a difference for Maryland in Washington. Our Congress is paralyzed by inaction.

When residents of Baltimore's 3rd District elected two new City Council representatives, many thought at long last they would have a troop of elected officials who would work together to benefit the city's northern neighborhoods.But nearly a year later, Martin O'Malley is calling his former running mate and council colleague Robert W. Curran a traitor, a liar and an obstructionist in a three-page letter that threatens to break up the already shaky union of 3rd District representatives.The rift provides a glimpse into the internal politics of a City Council in the middle of a tug-of-war between Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and President Lawrence A. Bell III, each of whom wants a voting majority.

Date of birth: Feb. 17, 1947 Party affiliation: Republican Professional background: dentist, licensed in Maryland; colonel, Air Force (retired); systems engineering manager; Maryland business owner (electro-optics and robotics company); inventor and scientist. Educational background: Bachelor of Arts, biology, Brooklyn College; D.D.S., Temple University School of Dentistry; dental residency, Eglin Air Force Base; Air War College, Air Command and Staff College. Personal: Married to Ruth; has three children and three grandchildren; member of Jewish War Veterans Organization, MOAA, American Legion and American Mensa; amateur radio operator (general class)