In Maryland's 5th District, two political newcomers, a self-declared country boy or a local libertarian, are ready with fresh ideas, but winning the congressional seat will mean ousting longstanding House heavyweight Steny Hoyer.

The highest-ranking member of Congress from Maryland in history, House majority leader Steny Hoyer is serving his fourteenth term in Congress and he's hoping for a 15th.

"Clearly I've been very successful over the years as you may know over the 28 years I've been in Congress in making sure that our district, the 5th congressional district, gets its fair share in building our counties well being," said Hoyer.

Hoyer has a long standing reputation of bringing home the bacon for the fifth congressional district, which includes Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties, as well as part of Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties.

"I enjoy this job. It's a tough job, but I deem it a great honor to represent the 5th congressional district in the Congress of the United States."

He's fought to bring IRS jobs to New Carrolton, kept and added more jobs at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, pushed to keep open the naval center at Indian Head and blocked attempts to close Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt.

He's also helped secure more funding for the Chesapeake Bay, staunchly supported federal law enforcement efforts and was integral in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act nearly two decades ago. "I think they'll make that judgment. Has Steny Hoyer done that job? If they think I have, then they'll rehire me. If they think I haven't, then they'll do another choice."

This election cycle, voters have two other choices. One choice is Libertarian Darlene Nicholas, who wants to eliminate taxes. "Mr. Hoyer never met a tax he didn't like," said Nicholas.

She thinks Hoyer's 14 terms on the hill have distanced him from his constituency. "The Maryland people have had about enough of the professional politician. I believe it is time that we can get some new blood in there."

Republican contender Collins Bailey shares the same sentiment. "I think the American people and the people in the 5th district deserve a good discussion."

A self-made lumber broker, Bailey has lived his whole life in Charles County where he's currently serving a fourth term on the local school board. "We're trying to prepare our youth for the future and the future is being dimmed by the action and inaction on the federal level."

Bailey is an advocate for a more humble foreign policy and says he has a plan to fix the federal budget in a day by reeling in spending. He points to congressional approval ratings that have dropped to historic lows as proof that people are ready for a change. He blames Washington for the current economic upheaval.

"Unfortunately if you take the rules away, the referee off the field, the game becomes chaos and that's what we've seen."

Hoyer blames that on the Bush administration. "I think the Congress has been acting. The administration philosophically simply did not believe regulation was appropriate."

Meanwhile, Bailey says help for Wall Street shouldn't come from the pockets working Americans. "To bail out large companies while the taxpayer and individual suffer is just wrong."

Some fear the bailouts will deplete funding for local projects, such as ongoing military base realignment and closures in the 5th district.

"I think I can continue to be successful in that effort, but I don't want to kid anybody the first things first. We've gotta make sure that our economy and our national security are taken care of and then clearly I will be right there insuring investment in our district," said Hoyer, if he is reelected.

While his opponents are running relatively low profile campaigns, Hoyer says he isn't taking a win for granted.