Congressional candidate speaks

Larry Hollin, the Republican challenger for the 2nd U.S. Congressional District seat, spoke to about 15 students at the 18th floor lounge of High Rise East Wednesday night. Hollin, who graduated from the College and Wharton in 1981 and from the Law School in 1984, spoke for about an hour, answering questions and taking every opportunity to blast his incumbent opponent, Democrat Lucien Blackwell. Hollin bills himself as "the solution to Lucien." He called Blackwell "arrogant" for not wanting to debate him, and for not appearing at community events. "It's a pretty sad commentary when you've got someone in office who won't debate on any issue," Hollin said. "He's so arrogant, he won't tell anyone where he stands on the issues." "I asked him to debate, and he called me a liar," he added. "I don't know where that came from; I just asked him to debate." He also alleged that Blackwell's election last year may have been abetted by election fraud. "I think that in every race [Blackwell has] ever been in, there's been substantial voter fraud," Hollin said. Tommy St. Hill, Blackwell's director of communications, said yesterday that he would not comment directly on Hollin's allegations of arrogance, instability, or election fraud. "We don't respond to idiotic allegations or to idiots," St. Hill said. "There are too many important issues facing Americans for us to respond to an idiot who is not even a blip on the political scene." Prior to Hollin's arrival, his campaign field manager passed out forms for students who wanted to volunteer for the campaign. Hollin said he considers himself to be different from the average Republican - economically conservative, but socially liberal. He said he supports universal access to higher education, with the tuition in the form of a trust fund. "You've got to pay it back; it'll come off your income tax," Hollin said. He also said he supports legislation that would allow people to directly sue polluters, treating pollution as any other form of property damage. Hollin said his support for President Bush in the upcoming election was lukewarm. "I'm not happy with either candidate," Hollin said. "Bush really doesn't have a clue as to what's happening, and that's really sad." "Clinton has his own baggage," Hollin added. "I have a lot of problems with his integrity . . . I'd lean towards Bush, but it's not an enthusiastic endorsement." Hollin has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Abortion Rights Action League, and he said he expects the endorsement of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hollin cited grim economic statistics for Philadelphia, and said Blackwell was part of the problem. Hollin said he would support a 12-year limit on Congressional service. Students afterward said they were impressed with Hollin. "I think Larry's a strong candidate, and I'm looking forward to working with him," College junior Greg Gioe said. "It's a change we need." "I think Larry is clearly the obvious choice, simply because he knows the issues and he will talk about them," said College junior Dana Lynch, chairman of the College Republicans. "He's not trying to hide from his constituency."

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