George Wenschhof
Already,
seven Democrats have or will be announcing they are running for one of the five
seats on the board of aldermen.
The
deadline for filing for election is July 2, 2013 with The City of Frederick
primary election held on September 10, followed by the general election on
November 5.
Incumbents
Michael O’Connor and Kelly Russell, based on a solid record over their first
term in office, will be favorites to win reelection.
One
of the other two incumbent Democratic aldermen; Carol Krimm, will not run for
reelection as she hopes to replace retiring state delegate Galen Clagett (D), who
is running for mayor. Galen has let it
be known, should he win election, he will request from Governor Martin O’Malley
(D), the appointment of Carol to his seat, to serve the remaining one year of
his term. If, this would take place, it
would give Krimm a leg up in the 2014 election.
The
remaining Democratic incumbent alderman; Karen Young, has already announced her
candidacy for Mayor. Interestingly,
should Clagett win the mayoral race, look to see state senator Ron Young (D) ask
O’Malley to appoint his wife Karen to the vacant Clagett delegate seat, setting
up an interesting dilemma for the Governor.
Derek
Shackelford called me several months ago, when I was still in California, to
speak with me of his intention to run for alderman. Shackelford, who is the only African American
running for city office at this time, spoke with me about his desire to engage
people in the political process and to groom others for political office.
His
experience in working for the reelection of President Barack Obama, particularly
serving as one of “One Hundred Leaders for Obama, will be of help to him as he
campaigns for his own election. His
professionalism and campaign experience was illustrated by his well attended
campaign announcement recently at the Bernard Brown Community Center.
Josh
Bokee, who fell short, by only a few votes, of moving on to the general
election in 2009, is running again, and will be a strong candidate to become
one of the five aldermen elected in the general election on November 5.
His
five years of experience of service, including time as vice chair, on The City
of Frederick Planning Commission, provides him with excellent qualifications to
serve as alderman.
His
reasoned platform includes economic opportunity, safe neighborhoods, strong
fiscal responsibility, healthy sustainable community and twenty-first century
infrastructure.
John
Daniels, a well liked man, whose heart is with the city, will also be running
again for alderman. He is the type of person who is able to bring people
together.
Since
losing in the last city election, John has served the city, with distinction,
as chair of Mayor Randy McClement’s ad hoc recycling and solid waste committee.
Fiscal responsibility is important to Daniels,
who has followed the serious discussion surrounding the $93 million unfunded
liabilities The City of Frederick is facing with their pension plan and other
post employment benefits (OPEB).
Jack
Lynch, who ran briefly for mayor in the 2009 election, before dropping out and
endorsing Jennifer Dougherty, who would lose the primary election to Jason Judd,
is now running for alderman.
Jack,
in a recent email to supporters, said “I want to see leadership and changes and
public officials asking the questions that should be answered instead of
cheerleading every scheme for private interests. I want our community to be a
whole one, an engaged place, where citizens feel empowered - One Frederick, one
for all.”
In
an email to me, Lynch added “My focus is upon how Frederick continues to remain
one close knit community and extends the great benefits of this place, both
past and future, to all our citizens. It includes designing our communities to be
interconnected not just by a map and roads, but by a shared purpose and shared
successes from all sides of town. We have a vitality and diversity and valued
institutions and committed citizens.”
Former
two-term alderman Donna Kuzemchak is heavily rumored to make a run to win reelection
to the board after losing in the 2009 general election. An out spoken woman, Donna is sure to add
excitement and strength to the Democratic primary.
Between
now and the July 2 candidate filing deadline, it is entirely likely a few more
Democrats will venture forward in the alderman contest.
Already,
city voters can be assured of a very strong slate of Democratic candidates for
alderman.
Stay tuned, the city election promises to be one to watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment