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Despite two unsuccessful campaigns for county and state offices in eight years, Robert "Bo" Newsome said the third time will be the charm as he seeks a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in District 14.

The 53-year-old Laytonsville resident sought the House seat in 2002 and an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council in 2006.

Like other District 14 candidates, Newsome's campaign is driven by creating local jobs, notably within the biotech sector.

"With the expansion of the [Food and Drug Administration], there's a great opportunity to create a bio-science quarter on the east side of the county," he said. "We have to start investing and creating local jobs."

District 14 voters should expect the word "sustainability" to come up often in Newsome's campaign. Aside from wanting the community and state lawmakers to be "mindful going toward the budget," he said he also believes in environmental stewardship and conservation.

"Sustainability shouldn't be a trend," he said. "It should be a way of living."

Aside from supporting Montgomery County Public Schools, Newsome also supports local colleges, including Montgomery College and The Universities at Shady Grove, as well as continued investment in student financial aid, citing the success of the Leveraging Financial Aid Partnership Grant for Washington, D.C. residents seeking higher and vocational education.

As he reflected on his failed 2002 and 2006 campaigns, Newsome said this one is more focused on community outreach and building coalitions. He is also more confident this time around, he said.

"I'm not running for my ego, I'm running because of the times," Newsome said. "It's my time, I think."

District 14 is comprised of all or parts of Ashton, Brinklow, Brookeville, Burtonsville, Calverton, Cloverly, Colesville, Damascus, Fairland, Goshen, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, Olney, Sandy Spring, Silver Spring, Spencerville and Sunshine.

Newsome will run against incumbent Anne R. Kaiser and challengers Vanessa Ali, Neeta Datt, Jodi Finkelstein, Eric Luedtke, Gerald Roper and Craig Zucker in the Democratic primary election Sept. 14. The top three vote-getters will square off against Republic candidates Maria Peña-Faustino, Patricia Fenati and Henry Kahwaty for the three District 14 House seats in the general election Nov. 2.

-Residence: Laytonsville

-Age: 53

-Party: Democrat

-Education: Master's degree, George Washington University; Bachelor of Arts degree, political science, Columbia University

-Work experience: Director of outreach and state relations, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

-Family: Married to Prim Newsome. Formerly widowed

-Top three issues: Local job creation, fiscal and environmental stewardship, and education

-Campaign funds: $10,000 raised

-Previous political experience: Democratic candidate for the Montgomery County Council in 2006; Democratic candidate for a District 14 seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002

-Other affiliations: District 14 Leadership Team, United Way Regional Advisory Council of Montgomery County; past member, East County Citizens Advisory Board; Leadership Montgomery Board; past first vice president, African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County; past member, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce; past board member, Freeman Foundation FACES grant program; NAACP; National Urban League; World Wildlife Federation; League of Women Voters

-Website: www.bonewsome.org