Vote By Mail Wrong For The City of Frederick

George Wenschhof

Scheduling, a city workshop on an issue as important as a city election a few days before Christmas should raise voter's eyebrows.

Spending money to implement an unproven ballot by mail election, fraught with fraud possibilities and vote manipulation would be folly for The City of Frederick. Particularly, when only a small per cent increase in voter turnout would result.

The city election issue is not a new one and discussion should focus on increasing the city's anemic voter turnout.

I have advocated for some time the need to move the city election to coincide with the presidential election cycle.

This move, by The City of Frederick would result in tripling the 24 per cent voter turnout in the 2009 General Election.

An added plus could be the cost savings to city taxpayers resulting from combining the Frederick voting with the presidential election. The ability to use the same polling locations would put an end to the city’s questionable and awkward move to use primarily churches; as polling locations in the 2009 election.

What further obfuscates the issue, is discussion by various interests suggesting nonpartisan elections and the blather; “voters would not be as informed if the city election was held at the same time as the presidential election”.

Unaffiliated voters are a significant and growing segment throughout the country and have valid concerns to ballot access. Unless, open primaries (all voters allowed to vote for any candidate in any party) are held, unaffiliated voters are unable to participate in primary elections.

The reasonable counter argument by political party operatives is; primaries are for political parties to determine their candidates in the general election and it makes no sense for non-party voters to determine who their candidate will be.

The suggestion to move to nonpartisan elections is another attempt to deal with the dissatisfaction of the Unaffiliated voter. However, numerous independent studies have shown the result is lower voter turnout, illustrating that this is not an answer to increasing the vote in The City of Frederick election.

A more reasonable approach would be to allow a much easier process for an unaffiliated voter to run for office, thus creating an opportunity for all unaffiliated voters to vote for their candidate.

The silliness surrounding the notion that moving The City of Frederick election to coincide with the presidential election would result in less informed voters is without merit.

The ridiculous argument that city issues would be lost in the clamor of a presidential election has no basis in fact.

First, how does one determine who an informed voter is? The voters who made up the twenty-four percent who participated in the 2009 city election were most likely informed by the candidates who won that election.

There was a time, mostly prevalent in southern states, when efforts were made to determine informed voters, resulting in restricted ballot access. Thankfully, due to legal rulings, these efforts were eventually discontinued.

Interestingly, there has never been a complaint of uninformed voters from the candidates for numerous county elected positions who appear on the ballot in the state of Maryland election.

Additionally, local media do not cover the Presidential election, relying on national news reports to keep their readers abreast. Local media reporters would be available to cover the city election at the same level they do at present in an off election year.

In reality, the excitement of the national election will result in more attention to the local city election.

Keeping voter turnout low is a control issue for those in power and it is way past time for this to come to an end in The City of Frederick.

If the goal of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen is to truly increase democracy, the answer is to move the election date to coincide with the Presidential election cycle – city voters deserve no less.

Stay tuned….

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Democrats Win Super Majority on Board of Alderman

George Wenschhof

Yesterday, less than one out of four registered voters went to the polls in the City of Frederick, Maryland election with Republican Randy McClement becoming the mayor-elect. While the mayor has always been the prize in the city election, four of the five aldermen-elect are Democrats ensuring a strong check and balance between the executive and legislative body. you can read the unofficial results here and the unofficial results by precinct here.

The election was extremely quiet and the low voter turnout further illustrates the need to make changes to the existing election process in the City of Frederick. I have long been a proponent of moving the election date to coincide to the presidential election cycle and you can read many of the columns I have written on the subject by clicking on the links provided in the right hand margin of my home page.

Anne Leffler; President of the City Board of Supervisors of Elections also wants to explore the idea of a mail-in election which promises to increase voter turnout. Let's hope the new mayor and board appoints a committee immediately to study and given a charge to recommend changes to the existing city election process to increase voter turnout.

Ms. Leffler did an outstanding job at city hall last night as she relayed the results to the folks who had gathered at city hall. All indications are the election went smoothly as the election judges at the polls continue to exhibit their professionalism. Final unofficial election results were provided to attendees at city hall "in print" by 9:45 PM.

Some pundits will say the Democratic party loses in the governor races in Virginia and New Jersey and the Democratic lose by Mr. Judd in the City of Frederick mayoral race was due to a trend of dissatisfaction with President Barack Obama. One only needs to look at the individual candidates to see that is a hopeful stretch by Republican leaders who are trying to rally a fractured party for the 2010 mid term elections.

Jason Judd was unable to close the deal as he did not capture all the Democratic support nor does it appear he won many Republican cross over votes or "Others" in yesterday's election. This is similar to what happened four years ago when Democrat Ron Young lost to political newcomer Republican Jeff Holtzinger. The continued low voter turnout also further skewers election results.

The remaining three Incumbents; Donna Kuzemchak (D), Paul Smith (R) and Alan Imhoff (R) were all shown the exit by this small number of voters who clearly wanted new faces in city hall.

The incoming board of alderman promises to be an extremely strong board surely capable of questioning and standing up to any ill fated proposal presented by the mayor. It appears unlikely a fiasco such as the approval of the city employee early retirement "buy-out" approved under the Holtzinger administration will happen under the watch of the incoming board.

Karen Young (D) is talented and a hard worker and is set to become mayor pro-tem on the board. Michael O'Connor (D) also worked hard and earned his second place finish by showing his compassion for the voters and his dedication to the position. Carol Krimm (D) finally broke the curse of the local Democratic Central Committee by becoming the first member to be elected to public office in twelve years. Ms. Krimm is very knowledgeable of the inner workings of government and will be a big plus for the board. Kelly Russell (D) also worked hard across party lines to win election to the board. The only change likely to occur after the absentee ballots are counted on Thursday is the order of finish between Ms. Krimm and Kelly Russell as only 14 votes separate them between fourth and fifth place. Shelley Aloi (R) did extremely well as a new comer to politics, finishing a strong third. She also worked very hard and enjoyed support across party lines.

The write-in campaign championed by Neal Wirth fizzled as ex-mayor Jennifer Dougherty only received 81 votes and these votes would not have altered the outcome of the election.

An interesting aside to the city election was the lack of impact Frederick County Commissioner Kai Hagen (D) had on the final results. Mr. Hagen had actively campaigned for Jason Judd and was holding signs for him at the polls on Election Day. This is the third major local issue he has been on the losing side over the past year. The first two were his opposition to the Waste-to-Energy Incinerator and his support of the city petition to force a referendum of the recent annexations into the city. Whether his support of Judd is strike three for Mr. Hagen remains to be seen as the county election next year is rapidly approaching.

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Democratic Alderman Candidate Andrew Kotkin to be Guest Tonight

George Wenschhof

Andrew Kotkin will be the sixth Democratic candidate for alderman in the City of Frederick, Maryland election to be my guest on Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof. He will appear live online from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET.

Democratic voters will chose five aldermen from nine candidates and one mayor from three candidates on September 15 to move on to the general election on November 3.

Previously, all three Democratic candidates for mayor; Jennifer Dougherty, Jason Judd, and Chris Simpson have appeared as my guest and links to their interviews can be found in the right hand margin of my Home Page.

You can also find the links to the conversations with aldermen candidates; Donna Kuzemchak, Kelly Russell, Michael O'Connor, Josh Bokee and Karen Young located in the right margin of my Home Page. Carol Krimm will join me this Friday while incumbent David Koontz and John Daniels will be my guests next week.

I encourage you to read all of the interviews before you go to the polls on September 15.

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Wenschhof Interviews City of Frederick, MD Alderman Donna Kuzemchak

George Wenschhof

Welcome Donna, I am pleased to have you as my guest today. Just so the readers know, we are communicating via computer from different locations in the city.

I have not shared with Ms.Kuzemchak any of the questions I will be asking and this will be a live online discussion. If you are reading this live, remember to hit "Refresh" on your computer every ten minutes or so to make sure you see the more recent questions and answers.

We will place the link to this conversation in the right hand margin of our home page so our viewers can read at a time convenient to them.

Before we get started, I want to remind everyone the voter registration deadline is August 17 prior to the primary on September 15. So, if you have not yet registered, go do so!

GW - Let's start out with asking a question many voters have and that is why are you running for a fourth term? I have not checked out the city election trivia but I would guess if four terms is not a record, it has to be near the top in the history of the City of Frederick aldermen.

Also, as a follow up, have you noticed any differences in campaigning since you won your first term in 1997 and what would you say is your proudest accomplishment during your 11 1/2 years as aldermen?

DK - George, Thanks for having me as a guest today.

I'm running for a fourth term as Alderman because I believe I still make a difference. There are many residents who will attest to the fact that I actually return phone calls and emails and follow up on their issues. I got involved in government because I knew I could help people get through the bureaucracy of government. I had done it and it was exhausting! Helping others through that maze is my proudest accomplishment. I am also well known for proposing new legislation when the laws don't seem to be working well for the citizens. It's all about helping everyone who lives, works and plays in the City of Frederick.

As for changes in campaigning, I have seen some. Everything has gotten more expensive and that makes it difficult for everyone to get their message out to the public. Running for office is now controlled by media sound bites. This is even more prevalent with so many people in a race. However, I think the general public understands the need to look beneath the surface and find out what the candidates actually do instead of just seeing or hearing little sound bites on them in the news.

GW - As you are currently the longest serving city elected official, you have seen different personalities among the make up of the mayor and board. During the Dougherty administration, it seemed Republican aldermen were constantly battling at public meetings with the Democratic mayor.

During the current Republican Mayor Holtzinger administration, there have been less public displays of disagreement. Some voters feel as a result, Mayor Holtzinger was given too much rein by the aldermen during the last four years. What do you say to these voters?

DK - I have dealt with three different administrations and certainly feel that I have finally learned how to remain calm in the face of adversity. I completely agree Jeff has had it much easier than Jennifer - or even Jim Grimes, if you go back to my first term. We all made a conscious decision to work together at the beginning of this term. Unlike my last term, this Board of Aldermen have tried to work with the Mayor.

As long as we're working on the agenda he's created, Jeff also works with us. That makes things look good on the surface. The trouble is getting the Mayor to move forward on our issues. I have presented pieces of legislation on changing the Charter, Rental Licensing and Oversized Vehicle Parking in the last year. However, I'm not an attorney and our Legal Department needs to be on board while moving legislation forward. The Mayor controls the work assignments of all departments, so it is easy for him to keep those bits of legislation from being brought to a vote.

There are times I have felt so strongly about something I brought it up at a public meeting without his previous knowledge. He found out and attacked me at the meeting. Then he continued to attack me in the press for days afterwards. Yet he didn't get labelled negatively. Neither Jennifer Dougherty nor Jim Grimes was given the leeway Jeff has been given by the media. I can't explain it. I just have to deal with it and hope people dig deeper for the 'real story.'

GW - I have written aldermen candidates rarely publicly state their support of a mayoral candidate in a contested Democratic primary. Even though, behind the scenes, aldermen often favor one mayoral candidate over another.

You are one that does not back away from who you support and have publicly stated your support for Jennifer Dougherty for mayor. Your straight forward approach has helped you win three terms in office. Tell the voters why you support Jennifer Dougherty for mayor.

DK -I don't back away from my beliefs and feelings. You can sometimes change them, but hiding them is simply not part of who I am. With me, what you see is what you get. I don't parse words and I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. That gets me in trouble as often as it gets me support, but it is who I am.

Part of who I am is a person who absolutely loves Frederick. I want what is best for this place I call home and plan to live for the rest of my life. Should I be lucky enough to be elected, I will work with whoever sits in the Mayor's office. Having said that, I worked with Jennifer as she sat in that office. I've also worked with two other people who sat in that office. Neither of them held a candle to Jennifer. She worked hard under very trying circumstances and we got so much more accomplished in her term than either of my other terms.

I admit, there's another side to this. Jennifer works so hard at her job and thinks people should see what a good job she does, so she doesn't publicize what I consider a very important part of her. She is a caring, compassionate person who honestly worries about the welfare of all. She honestly cares about those she works with, and she showed me that caring many times over the years, especially when it came to my stepdaughter, Ashley.

Ashley was extremely handicapped and I was blessed to have the time to care for her so her parents could go to their full-time jobs. I would bring Ashley to City Hall sometimes when it was necessary. Jennifer always spoke to Ashley as though she were just like any other child. She always asked about Ashley when she was in the hospital and when Ashley passed away, Jennifer was sure to let us all know how sorry she was. Her caring made a huge difference in my life and the lives of those connected to Ashley. I will never forget. Nor will they.

GW - The early retirement buy-out fiasco for the City of Frederick employees is one event that happened during Mayor Holtzinger's term that left city voters confused and angry. After all, working men and women are not offered two years of salary to retire early and then hired back.

I believe you missed that vote due to health issues.
Ron Tobin, the executive assistant to Mayor Holtzinger was one of those who took this buy out and was hired back by the mayor.

What do you feel about how this program was approved and whether or not Ron Tobin should still be working for the City of Frederick?

DK - Interestingly enough, this could be a dead issue. If Ron Tobin had never entered the Mayoral race, it would be a dead issue. But since it has reared its ugly head, I would like to ask everyone to visit the City's website at www.cityoffrederick.com and view the June 6, 2009 Mayor and Board meeting to see what REALLY happened when I had the gall to question the implementation of this vote. The timing of this was controlled by the State's Attorney's office because they answered a request from Alderwoman Marcia Hall to look into this by saying this was a local issue. I was forced to bring it to a public meeting, which I did on June 6, 2009. The rest is history(Seriously, for the real history, go watch the meeting). As for Mr. Tobin, do we really want someone in office who will take close to $200,000 from the retirement fund and then come right back to work while knowing that was not the will of the Aldermen? If he has that much contempt for the will of the Aldermen while he is only a staff member, I shudder to think what he would do as Mayor.

I believe ERIP (or 'the buyout,' as it is commonly called) was pushed through while I was recovering from cancer surgery. It was announced, discussed, and forced into a vote in less than 8 weeks! Eight weeks for something as serious as a change to the City Retirement Plans! As we've noted, the Mayor has control of the Agenda, not the Board of Aldermen or City staff. He could have slowed everything down, as he has for much other legislation. He chose to push ahead quickly. He chose to force a vote that night instead of allowing the Aldermen more time to look at the issue. I won't speculate on his reasoning to do so.

GW - moving on to what promises to be another controversial decision by the current mayor and board pertains to annexation of three properties to the north of Frederick known as the Summers, Crum and Thatcher farms. These annexations are set to be voted on by the current mayor and board.

You have indicated on your campaign website; http://www.kuzemchakcampaign.com/, you cautiously favor the annexations of Thatcher and Crum. Tell the voters why you favor these annexations and why you do not include the Summers property.

DK - Finally, an easy question! :-) I cautiously favor the annexations to the north of the City because the property owners are agreeing to mitigate anything and everything they can. The Thatcher developers are agreeing to pay toward a new interchange, build completely to Silver LEED certified (VERY green) standards, implement the Historic Highway Overlay and the Scenic Monocacy River Overlay AND not receive any occupancy certificates until the traffic has been mitigated by the new interchange on Rt. 15.

They're building by Smart Growth Principles (next to a municipality, where infrastructure already exists instead of plopping development in the middle of nowhere). They're being environmentally sensitive. They have agreed to keep the roads safe by not bringing in more cars until the interchange is built. They're bringing mixed-use growth to the city, which helps keep the City financially viable. I will only support the Crum annexation if it agrees to all the same conditions. What's not to like?

As for the Summers farm on the south side of the City, I just haven't seen that dedication to making sure the City is a better place. The neighborhood has already vehemently opposed the annexation and I see no reason to grow just for the purpose of growing when it doesn't help make the City a better place to live, work and play.

GW - a program you tried to move forward during this term was the implementation of Rental Licensing in the City of Frederick.

First, explain this program and why you feel this is needed and second, why do you feel you have not received the support to pass this legislation?

DK - Rental licensing would force all property owners who rent their property to be held accountable for what happens on that property. It allows the City to physically go onto the property to check that codes are being enforced - something our Code Enforcement Department has no way to enforce without this law. I wish it weren't necessary, but unfortunately, laws are often force into being because there are those who simply have no interest in being good neighbors. Absentee landlords are a problem that was brought to our attention by numerous NACs and this is an attempt to take care of that problem.

Alderman Imhoff and I are working to put together his proposal for Rental Registration and my proposal for Rental Licensing so we can move forward with this. We asked the Mayor to have the Legal Department do this months ago. We've heard nothing.

This is just another example of the Mayor having control of all staff time. As an aside, one of the other pieces of legislation I brought forward was a change to the Charter that would allow a super-majority(4) of the Aldermen to force the Mayor to direct staff to move forward with the will of the Aldermen. I asked for this change as part of a general look at the Charter and several other changes the Charter Review Committee brought forward. Interestingly, none of that has been brought to a vote, either.

GW - Your last question tonight is why do you feel voters should vote for you over any of the other eight Democratic candidates for aldermen?

DK - I don't believe voters should vote for me OVER everyone else. I believe they should vote for me ALONG WITH other candidates who care about the issues they care about. I am a proven commodity. I will work to help all citizens get through the maze of government when they need and continue to work to make government more understandable to those who don't deal with it on a daily basis. I will continue to listen to all ideas and do what is best for the City. I will move legislation forward that helps citizens' rights. I will fight when they need someone to fight.

I am who you see. I don't pretend to be different. I don't change during an election year. Maybe that's to my detriment, but it is who I am. If you care about the issues, go to the City's website and watch a few meetings. I am the one asking the questions. I am the one who has read the material and knows how one decision might affect another decision or piece of legislation. I am the one who finds a compromise between two sides of an issue when SOMETHING has to happen and no one can agree. I have worked hard for every citizen who has asked for help(and many who haven't) for almost 12 years. I have made a difference. I hope to continue to do that.

GW - Thank you again Donna, for being my guest tonight. I hope to have you back on Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof prior to the primary on September 15.

Before we sign off, I would like to give you some time for closing remarks.

DK - Thank you for hosting this dialogue. I believe you are doing a great service to the community by publicizing information on the Democratic candidates and I appreciate the ability to be a guest.

For those of you who haven't had the time, please visit my website at www.kuzemchakcampaign.com and feel free to contact me about any issue. I first ran for office because I thought I could help make government accessible. I believe I have done that. I love my job and I hope it shows.

Finally, I'd like to ask everyone to take nothing for granted. The City's election is going to be decided by a very small number of citizens, as George has noted on many of his columns. Just a few votes here and there and a person has a very real chance of not getting elected. Don't assume the person you want to run your city will get elected. Work for her or him. Give him or her just a few hours and put flyers on peoples' doorsteps (don't worry, no need to talk with anyone). Tell your friends why your candidates should be elected. Put a sign or two in your yard. Email people reminding them to vote. Don't 'single shot' vote. Vote for all the candidates you want in office. It's the only way we're going to get there

.
Thanks for visiting this interview and thanks again, George, for hosting it.

Donna

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City of Frederick, MD Alderman Donna Kuzemchak to be Guest Today

George Wenschhof

Beginning at 5:00 PM ET, three term alderman Donna Kuzemchak will be my guest. She is the first of the Democratic candidates for aldermen to appear on Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof.

Previously, the three Democratic candidates for mayor appeared and my interview with Jennifer Dougherty can be read here, Jason Judd here and Chris Simpson here.

There are nine Democrats running for five alderman seats in the September 15 primary. I plan to have 2 of them as guests each week over the next month. The schedule so far is as follows:

7-27-2009: Michael O'Connor from 7-9 PM
7-30-2009: Kelly Russell from 2-4 PM
8-4-2009: Josh Bokee from 7-9 PM
8-6-2009: Karen Lewis Young from 5-7 PM
8-11-2009: Andrew Kotkin from 7-9 PM
8-20-2009 John Daniels from 5-7 PM

We will post links to all of the interviews in the right hand margin of the home page so you can access them easily and read at a convenient time.

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City of Frederick, MD Democratic Mayoral Race Has Tongues Wagging

George Wenschhof

It is now only 54 days until the primary on September 15 and the race to capture the Democratic nomination for mayor is one to watch.

Four years ago, former four term mayor Ron Young reappeared to challenge incumbent and first term mayor Jennifer Dougherty in the Democratic primary. It had been 16 years since he had been defeated by Republican Paul Gordon who would go on to serve one term as Mayor.

However, before Mr. Young could appear on the ballot, there was a city charter provision requiring three years of residency which Mr. Young did not meet. The Republican aldermen on the board, frustrated with Mayor Dougherty, proposed and passed a charter amendment changing the residency requirement to one year. Mr. Young, who had lived literally a stones throw from the city boundary before moving back to the city, now met the requirement.

But, not so fast, as Mayor Dougherty vetoed the charter amendment nullifying the change in residency. What followed was a series of legal challenges, the result being Mr. Young was allowed to run for mayor. Along the way, the city charter provision of three years was determined to be unconstitutional, leading Mayor Dougherty to rescind her veto of the charter amendment changing the residency requirement to one year.

Interestingly, when the city three year residency requirement was determined not to be legal, and the amendment was passed changing it to one year, there is a 45 day period before it goes into effect. During this 45 day period there was no residency requirement for a mayoral candidate for the City of Frederick. It was during this period current Republican Jeff Holtzinger, who did not live in the city and another Republican; the late Stanley Mazaleski who resided in Emmitsburg, Maryland filed for the office of mayor.

Incumbent favored Republican alderman Joe Baldi, who was running for mayor and did live in the city, was defeated by Jeff Holtzinger in the Republican primary by 35 votes (1077-1042). How many votes did Mr. Mazaleski receive? - 35.

Mr.Young, after spending a reported record amount exceeding $100,000, went on to defeat Mayor Dougherty in the primary 2218 to 1690. You can read the City of Frederick primary results here.

Ron Young, however would lose in the general election to political newcomer and non-city resident Jeff Holtzinger 4740 to 4382.

Tongues wagged and pundits wrote that a spiteful Ms. Dougherty urged her supporters to vote for Republican Jeff Holtzinger ensuring the defeat of Ron Young.

While many others questioned why Mr. Young had not campaigned with more vigor after winning the primary. This group expressed doubt any candidate would be able to persuade enough voters to vote against the candidate of their political party.

Regardless, Ron Young and the Democratic party suffered an embarrassing defeat in the 2005 election.

The background is necessary as the pundits are writing and the tongues are wagging once more in the Democratic primary race for mayor.

Local Republicans are hoping the same divide that transpired in the 2005 Democratic primary will take place yet again this year. They hope it will lead to another Republican being elected mayor as they realize voter registration does not favor Republicans in the City of Frederick. So, many Republicans are helping to spread rumors of turmoil within the Democratic ranks.

This time, for the Democrats, it is a political newcomer and recent resident of the city, Jason Judd, former mayor Jennifer Dougherty and hometown Chris Simpson who are the candidates for mayor. All three have been my guest on the website and their interviews are linked in the right hand margin of the home page.

Some of the rumors circulating surrounding Mr. Judd who works for the Service Employees International Union and has the support of former Mayor Ron Young is he is just a surrogate for Mr. Young and the Union. In my conversations with Jason, I have not found that to be true. Rather, I see him trying to garner support from different folks throughout the city as he meets with voters expressing his platform while listening to their concerns. However, expect that label to stick somewhat as the race heads to the homestretch.

Others try to label Ms. Dougherty as the former mayor who could not get along with anyone and that is another unfair statement which will likely stick with some voters. I have found Jennifer to be cooperative, fair, and straightforward as to her positions on the issues. She is also busy reaching out to voters across the city.

The label that Mr. Simpson is running to aid Dougherty is another unfair and flat out not true rumor. The chances of Chris Simpson winning the Democratic nomination for mayor are slim due to the lateness of his entry to the race. However, it will not be due to his lack of campaigning. He will receive much more than a token number of votes.

Will Chris Simpson attract the blue collar vote? After meeting with him, I would argue that he will. From Mr. Simpson's perspective, he is not running to pull votes from one or the other Democratic candidate - He is running to win - the same as the other two Democratic candidates for mayor.

The Democratic candidates for mayor know better than to personally attack one another as it would only aid the Republican nominee in the general election. So, expect Dougherty, Judd and Simpson to stick to the issues and what they plan to do if elected mayor.

Instead, it is the Republicans who should be worried; especially so, if Ron Tobin becomes their nominee. He would be a lightening rod to galvinize and unify Democratic voters ensuring a Democratic victory in November. Democratic voters will tie him to the former James Grimes administration and all the turmoil and questions surrounding the last term in office by Mr. Grimes.

Further, the acceptence of a two year early retirement buy-out, only to be rehired by mayor Jeff Holtzinger is an outrage to all the working men and women in the city, regardless of political affiliation.

Republican voters would be better served to nominate Randy McClement as their mayoral candidate on September 15. Mr. McClement is known as a nice guy who has experience working on various city commissions. The most recent being the city charter rewrite committee.

While united Democratic voters will make it difficult for any Republican to win election as mayor, Randy will not act as the lightening rod to unite the Democratic base.

Look to see the Democratic candidates continue to concentrate on the issues important to the voters throughout the remaining 71/2 weeks prior to the primary and for a united front in the general election supporting their nominee for mayor.

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Aldermen Candidates to be Guests on "Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof"

George Wenschhof

Only eight weeks left prior to the City of Frederick, Maryland primary on September 15.

To help you get to know the Democratic candidates, we have published "Meet The Candidates" online forums with Mayoral candidates Jennifer Dougherty and Jason Judd. Their answers to the questions asked by you, the readers of this site, can be found in the right hand margin of the home page. This was held prior to when Chris Simpson filed for mayor.

I also have interviewed live online all three of the Democratic mayoral candidates and the links to those interviews are also located in the right hand margin of the home page.

On Thursday July 23, I will have as my guest, incumbent alderman Donna Kuzemchak as I begin to speak with the nine Democrats running for the five aldermen positions. She will join me online from 5:00 - 7:00 PM ET.

Next week, Michael O'Connor will join me live online on Monday July 27 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM ET and Kelly Russell will be my guest on Thursday July 30 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM ET.

I will keep you posted as additional times and dates are confirmed with the remaining Democratic candidates for alderman.

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Wenschhof Interviews City of Frederick, MD Mayoral Candidate Chris Simpson

George Wenschhof

I am pleased to have Democrat Chris Simpson as my guest today. We will begin at 2:00 PM ET and the interview will last approximately two hours. This is a live online interview and we are communicating via computer from different locations within the City of Frederick.

I would suggest if you are reading live, you hit your computer refresh button every ten minutes or so to see the next question and answer.

My previous guests were Democratic candidates for mayor; Jennifer Dougherty and Jason Judd. The links to my conversations with them are located in the right hand margin of the Home Page. The link to this interview will be added to them to allow readers easy access to all the interviews.

GW - Welcome Chris, I am looking forward to discussing your entry into the race for Mayor of The City of Frederick, Maryland. You were the last Democrat to file for mayor, less than one week prior to the filing deadline of July 7.

I understand you were born and raised in Frederick and currently own and manage "Golden Mile Liquors" located off what is locally referred to as the "Golden Mile". Tell the voters a little more about yourself and how you feel your background prepares you to be mayor.

CS - Hey George thanks for the opportunity.

Well as you said born here live here. I am living in the same house since 1973. I have seen all the changes in 40 years. When my family bought the store in 1976 I can remember the Mall in its prime. Your parents would drop you off with $20. With that money you saw a movie got ice cream at Friendlies and spent the rest of your quarters at Timeout. I live on the north end of town near Staley park were they still have little league.

Over the years I have been involved with the store from stock boy to owner. In fact I am still the stock boy/owner. If I win this election and serve my city for a period of time I will return to being the stock boy/owner.

I have had the good fortune traveling with bands for a few years so Ive been to 46 of the lower 48 states and I was an avid tourist. Still play guitar when I get the chance. My neighbors can tell that. I feel I have a vested interest in the race because everything I do will affect my neighbors, friends, family, and me. I am going to live in Frederick for the rest of my life so why not try to make it as good as it can be.

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GW - I spoke to you the night you filed for office and the first thing you mentioned as to why you were running for office was the decline of some of the neighborhoods on the west side. You indicated you were also concerned in regard to the safety of these neighborhoods. If elected mayor, what would you propose to help revitalize these areas?

CS - Yes George I am very concerned about the west side. Working out there every night for the past 5 years I have seen a rapid decline in the area. Crime is up in every way. I cannot tell you how many times my store has been broken into.As well as most stores have been. Kidnappings ,assaults, muggings, Cars stolen or broken into. I had a friend who's car got stolen 2 weeks ago and got it back.They found it 6 miles away.It doesn't have to be that way in such a great city.

I am looking into ways for a greater police presence.Talking with local police and former police officers for a better view.Trying to get a better understanding of what could be affordable and helpful to the area.

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GW - as a follow up, when I sat down with you last Friday, you indicated City of Frederick Police Chief Kim Dine had already reached out to you. I found this to be a very proactive move on his part. Chris, you had indicated to me previously, you felt a police substation located within the Fredericktowne Mall would be helpful. What did you find out in your conversation with Chief Dine?

CS - Yes Chief Dine did give me some of his time. I mentioned the sub-station idea. He explained that a sub-station would in fact take officers off the road.The police cars are high tech these days. Gone are the days of sitting at a desk filing paper work. The computer in the car takes care of all that. So I asked what is a good solution.Would an office in the mall help.

I am currently looking into alternatives such as the bike patrols .I would like to see pairs of officers on both sides of route 40. I believe there is enough activity that it would keep them busy on a regular basis.Chief Dine also informed me of an improved hot line residents can use anonymously (301)-600-tips or email fpdcrimetip@fredco-md.net.

So there are things out there, just need to get them known.

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GW - You obviously feel you can offer as mayor something different and better for the voters than Democratic mayoral candidates Jason Judd and Jennifer Dougherty. What is it that you feel you offer the voters they do not? I also understand you have been contacted by both Jason and Jennifer and that you invited both of them to lunch. Did they say why they contacted you and why did you invite them to lunch?

CS - Jason and Jennifer are life long politicians. I am your neighbor and always will be. They both have expressed an interest in going to Washington. What happens to Frederick then. Everything I do in office will affect me. I offer the voters the guy that does understand because I am that guy. I have seen a lot of this country and I chose to always come home. Frederick really has everything going for it. I would like to keep it going in a positive direction -you know shine it up a little.Yes they did give the hi Chris call and had questions. I figured it would be easier over lunch. I am not even sure if the is a law or ethics code about opponents meeting. Hope not.

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GW - You are quick to say you are not a politician type of guy and you are new to politics. In our conversation last Friday, you indicated you had a less than enjoyable experience when you and a friend visited the local Democratic Party headquarters to introduce yourself.

You informed me they asked you why you were running for mayor when they already had a candidate. After your response, they said if you wanted to run for mayor, why didn't you run as a Republican.

In all likelihood, these individuals at the Democratic Party headquarters were volunteers and not speaking on behalf of the local party. Did this experience sour you on politics or make you more determined to run for office?

CS - I am sure they were volunteers and meant no harm. George you called me within 2 hours of me filing at city hall. Impressive by the way. This event happened 2 days after I filed. I introduced myself foolishly thinking my name would spark interest. I thought they would have at least seen my name somewhere by that time, but maybe not.

I am still learning everyday how politics work. As far as souring me on politics no way. I am not running to argue red and blue. I am running because for me the time could not be better. I am running because I believe I have all my neighbors backs and they have mine.

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GW - I noticed you not only already have a campaign website, you have two of them! One of them is www.simpsonformayor.com and the other is www.mayorsimpson.com.

You mention on one of the websites, you want to cut wasteful city spending. With the national, state and local economy ailing, what would you do to reduce the city budget and in what areas do you feel there has been wasteful spending?

CS - Where is the wasteful spending is the question. I have a copy of the 25 page budget on my desk now. I've been reading it. We have all heard the stories of old fleet vehicles that have too much money put into them to keep them running and than sold at auction for pennies on the dollar. This is where the business man comes in. How much does it cost can we get it cheaper. How can we get it cheaper. There has to be way to slim the budget. With the help of the aldermen it is possible.

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GW - on the same campaign website, you also mention the need for "Better communication between residents and local businesses with city hall". Share with the voters where this has not worked as well as you would like and what you would propose to help in this area.

CS - Does it say city hall. Supposed to say city agencies. That's what happens when your working full time running for an office and have 2 web sites.That "better communications" come from my experience with building a garage. I was warned by friends that building the garage was easy getting the permit was impossible. It took 7 months to get the go ahead. I meet everybody in the permit office and was on a first name basis with them. It shouldn't be that hard.

My biggest problem was lack of information and a way to get it so I could better understand what was required and expected of the project. This is where I think the Internet could help. If I could have had more access to the information I could have been better prepared.

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GW - Let's take some time to talk about the proposed annexation of three farms located north of the city. The current administration is presently in the process of approving these annexations and the mayor and board meetings are scheduled to be held prior to the election.

It is likely; these annexations will become an election issue. Some feel it is necessary to add to the city boundaries at this time to plan for the future, while others feel it is premature and the infrastructure is not there to handle the additional growth. What is you position on these annexations?

CS - Curbs and gutters infrastructure. I live very near to the proposed site. Yes my 3 mile commute will be affected. But maybe my taxes will go down a little with the new taxes collected. I don't want Frederick to ever lose it's charm, but growth is coming. I have talked to a lot of people and this is a hot issue.

I have learned the we have a water capacity of 15 million gallons of water a day and we are currently using 6 million gallons. Can we sustain another development? yes. Will the traffic increase? yes. How much can only be estimated. I understand it will probably be voted on before the next Mayor is in anyways. So whoever is next will have to make the best of it.

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GW - One of the questions I asked the other two Democratic candidates for mayor pertains to the upper level administrative positions in city hall. These positions are often referred to as "at will" positions. They may be replaced by the mayor with the consent of the aldermen.

Have you given any thought to these positions and if elected, would you be making any changes such as hiring a city manager?

CS - City Manager? I thought that was the Mayors job. If I could hire someone who had the experience with Frederick and the knowledge of what has been happening here yes. Information like that would be priceless. Offering someone a job who has the ins and outs of Frederick and could make the transition and continued progress of Frederick easier for all Yes.

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GW - Voter turnout in city elections has been a concern for me for well over a decade as I have watched the city grow in size while only 30% of the voters participate in the general election.

I have proposed the city election date be changed to coincide with the presidential election year which would result in more than doubling the voter turnout and most likely save taxpayers money. What is your position on changing the city election date to coincide with the presidential election cycle?

CS - I hope to change that 30% this election. I am out there with voter registration cards in my hand. I go to Winchester Hall every other day for more cards. I want the people to actually vote for me not against somebody else. Some of the districts have 15% turn out because they think their vote will not make a difference. I am trying to convince them it will. Changing the cycle could just get a guy with a funny or cartoon like name voted in by accident. I think the timing is fine we just need to get the people to understand how important it is to them, how it directly affects them.VOTE.

We have 32,000 registered voters in a population of almost 60,000.Of those 6,000 are unaffiliated and have no voice in the primaries. I have already registered 30 or more people (all democrat) and will continue to do so. I have always voted since I turned 18. I believe if the people see someone they like they will come out.

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GW - I want to thank you for being my guest on Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof today. I will be inviting you and the other Democratic candidates to be my guests again prior to the primary election on September 15 and hope you will participate.

At this time, I would like to give you an opportunity for some closing remarks.

CS - I will not be just a west end Mayor. I will not be just a Democratic mayor. I want to be the Frederick Mayor. Win lose or draw I will always be a Fredericktonian. From what I have learned in the less than 2 weeks in politics 1 guy can make a difference. I will be around in politics for a long time. I am proud to be a part of the system and stirring it up. I want people who care about their neighbors and will do anything they can to help. If it is helping you push your car up a hill or lowering your taxes if I can help I will. I am hoping for 5 Aldermen who will work with me. I am trying to meet with all 20 candidates. Together there can be a difference.

Thanks George for the time I gotta go to work. Stop by sometime. Any Frederick residents that want to meet me please check out the web pages for info. Town hall meetings coming soon to the Cellar door downtown and Doc Geisers on the Golden Mile.

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City of Frederick, MD Mayoral Candidate Chris Simpson to be Guest Today

George Wenschhof

Beginning at 2:00 PM ET today, Democrat Chris Simpson will be my guest. We will be discussing his entry into the race for Mayor. The other two Democratic candidates for mayor of the City of Frederick, have previously been guests on my website Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof.

My interview with Jennifer Dougherty can be viewed here and my interview with Jason Judd can be viewed here.

The Democratic field of mayoral candidates is now set at three as the July 7 filing deadline has passed. One of these three candidates will be chosen by the voters to be the Democratic party mayoral nominee on September 15; the day of the primary election.

The general election will be held on November 3.

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Simpson Joins Mayoral Race for City of Frederick, MD

George Wenschhof

Chris Simpson makes the third Democrat to file for Mayor of the City of Frederick. The other Democrats to file are Jennifer Dougherty and Jason Judd. Randy McClement and Clint Hoffman are the two Republicans who have filed to run for Mayor.

Mr. Simpson is a born and raised resident of the city and is currently the owner of the family business; Golden Mile Liquors located off Route 40.

At the age of 40, he has seen many of the changes the city has gone through and wants to address the concerns of the every day working man and woman. He readily admits he is not a politician kind of guy, but rather one who wants to make decisions that are best for the city as a whole.

His Treasurer is John Junkins who is a close friend and adviser. He realizes there is just ten weeks to go until the primary on September 15 and intends to go after it hard; meeting and talking with voters while listening to their concerns.

I will be sitting down with Mr. Simpson next week to learn more about his positions on various issues and will have him as my guest live online in the near future.

The deadline for filing for office in the City of Frederick election is July 7.

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Wenschhof Interviews City of Frederick, MD Mayoral Candidate Jennifer Dougherty

George Wenschhof

I am pleased to have as my guest tonight, the former mayor of the City of Frederick, Democrat Jennifer Dougherty. The interview will begin at 7:00 PM ET and last approximately 1 1/2 hours. I will first publish my question and then wait for her response. Upon receipt of her response, I will publish it along with my next question. We are communicating via computer with each other from different locations within the city. I have not shared with her any of the questions I may ask beforehand.

I would suggest you hit your refresh button on your computer about seven to ten minutes after you see a published response from Ms. Dougherty and my next question. This will ensure you see her more recent published answer and my next question.

On Monday June 29, I will be interviewing the other announced Democratic candidate for Mayor, Jason Judd. The links to the interviews will be placed conveniently in the right hand margin of our Home Page so readers can easily access and view at a later date.

As far as I know, this is the first time a candidate for Mayor of The City of Frederick has agreed to be interviewed live online. I hope city voters find this to be of benefit to them as they decide who they will support in the September 15 primary.

GW - Welcome Jennifer, let me start off with a question pertaining to your one term as mayor of the City of Frederick. While I am sure there are many accomplishments you are proud of, one memory that has stuck with the voters is the many acrimony filled mayor and board of aldermen meetings. Whether or not it was you or Republican aldermen Bill Hall and David Lenhart who caused the acrimony is not the question. You have been quoted recently by a local columnist as having changed and you once mentioned to me in an interview you had learned from the past. Tell the voters what you have learned and how you feel you have changed since the 2002 - 2005 term you served as mayor.

JD - Thanks for the chance to answer some questions George. Your site is a good opportunity for people to get the "inside scoop" on local politics.

You are right, I am proud of our accomplishments, but I am equally proud that I have taken the time to listen and learn. Since I love Frederick and think I have something to offer the local political scene, I did examine what I can do better in the future. I realized that part of my frustration with some members of the Board of Aldermen was due to not understanding how quickly they understood the issues or the possible solutions. People come at problems from different perspectives. Perhaps some things were more clear to me and I just needed to slow down and consider their observations more. I know everyone wants to contribute something to the solution, so I just have to wait for them to voice their suggestions.

And, I will take my share of responsibility for the lively debates, but it takes "two to tango".

Politics is a funny business, when you tell people the truth or stand up for your City's interests, you can be considered fair and tough or...something less favorable. Since it's a City worth fighting for, I really work on listening through the conversations...it helps me make better decisions too.

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GW - One of the areas a mayor has considerable sway in is the hiring with the consent of the aldermen, "at will" positions. As you know, these are upper level management positions, some of which have been added by amendment to the Charter. A new mayor, with consent of the aldermen, can add to and/or delete these positions. Have you given any thought to how you would like to structure upper level management? Specifically, do you feel there is a need for a city manager, a public information officer, and a director of intergovernmental relations?

JD - I have not given a lot of thought to changing the structure of government, I am focused on winning the Primary and then the General Election. When I took office in 2002, I made a few changes and there were some vacancies available for me to fill. I hear on a daily basis that one of my best recruits was Chief of Police Kim Dine - I agree. I also avoided making unnecessary changes and kept most existing civil servants on board.

A city of our size needs a public information officer to get the public and press meaningful information in a professional a timely fashion. It should not be someone's side job since the demands of the position are full time and possibly more than that if an emergency occurs.

Given my experience, I oppose a City Manager at this time. It is the Mayor's job to be in touch with the big issues and to have qualified Directors who handle the details. I have not given any thought to a new position of Intergovernmental Relations, so right now, I would not add that position.

The next Budget is going to be tough and cannot see adding too many spots. I want to focus on the essential positions first - Police, Finance, Public Works, Planning & Engineering. There are many talented people currently working for the City and I hope to be able to work with them again.

Finally, I tried to make the hiring of top managers based on a contract during my first term. I would like to have a conversation with the Aldermen about creating a system and allows the employment contract to come to them for approval. It might outline key performance issues more clearly.

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GW - During your administration, you established the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NACs) through executive action, as a way to receive more input to city hall from citizens from different areas of the city. Some voters have complained the current Republican Jeff Holtzinger administration has not worked well with the NACs and at one point some voters expressed concern he was trying to eliminate them. How do feel the evolution of the NACs has gone in the 3 1/2 years since you were in office and is there anything different you would do in this area if elected mayor?

JD - The Neighborhood Advisory Councils (NACs) were part of my platform and I passed legislation creating them. The NACs were further strengthened in the Land Management Code and Planning process. It required that residents get a presentation in the NACs for new projects. The system still needs to be fine-tuned, but it is working. (We might need more presentations on Historic District guidelines and processes.)

I won't speak to what Jeff has or has not done with the NACs - the fact is, they are still in place. I hope we can return the NACs to their original purpose and that is to serve as a "soapbox for residents". I am glad the police beat officers and often the Chief attend the NACs to listen and learn about neighborhood problems.

I will use the NACs for the Comp Plan, Budget and new initiatives presentations because people always like first-hand information. It is where I will start the Capital Projects and Budget reviews once the Aldermen get a chance to review the priorities.

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GW - One of the most important responsibilities a mayor has is to prepare yearly, a balanced budget for approval at a mayor and board meeting prior to the end of June. This year's budget of approximately 80 million was just approved at the last mayor and board meeting. As one who prepared four balanced budgets, are there specific areas you would have budgeted differently and if so, what were they and why?

JD - The Budget is no easy task in a tough fiscal environment. This year's Budget has some opportunities for further cuts in spending -- non-police overtime, part time positions, travel, professional service agreements. The Contingency Fund was way too high - $ 750,000. It came down to $500,000 which is plenty. It also put a lot of General Fund money into Capital Projects, specifically Monocacy Blvd. that perhaps should be spread over more years.

The other side of the equation is revenue. While everyone realizes property owners are taking a beating, all other revenue sources need to be closely examined. Grants were down, revenue trends for some of the funds have really slipped over 4 years. It does not appear to be related to the economy.

I would make a proposal to the Aldermen to reduce the burden on homeowners and cut the Homestead Property Tax Credit from 5% to 3% over the next 3-4 years. It would mean capping the rate their property taxes would increase at 3% vs. the current 5%.

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GW - The Frederick County government procedure known as "Tax Equity" popped up in discussions again this year during budget preparations, primarily due to the nationwide economic downturn, which caused the county to reduce the level of reimbursement to municipalities as they struggled to adopt their budget. A somewhat convoluted process, it is a means used by the county to reimburse municipalities for overpayment by taxpayers for duplication of services. Back in 1997, I called for this process to be examined and changes made. If elected, what would you do in this area?

JD - The current tax equity system is not really equitable because the formula is really up to the Board of County Commissioners. They had a tough year too, but the burden should not have been placed disproportionately on all municipal residents.

If elected, I will work the Board of Aldermen and other municipal leaders to present the best case to the Board of County Commissioners that repayment should be guaranteed. The money is collected for specific purposes, it's not optional.

If a new formula cannot be developed, we will keep talking and come up with another good plan to avoid placing a heavier burden on municipal residents.

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GW - The Frederick Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) regularly makes news headlines as they make decisions on actions by owners who restore property within the designated historic district. A recent flap pertained to Mayor Holtzinger allegedly instructing staff to disregard fines imposed on the property owner of the building many of us refer to as the "Professional Building" in downtown Frederick due to what he must have felt was a frivolous decision on the part of the HPC. Do you feel this was a proper move by the mayor and if not, what would you have done in this case?

JD - Federal, state and local laws guide how we implement and enforce the guidelines for the Historic District. The existence of the Historic District actually helps preserve buildings and history, but also their value. Since Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission actions have an appeal process, the Mayor should not have ignored the process - it makes it confusing for everyone.

While I may agree with the spirit is Jeff's intervention - everyone has a story in the Historic District--the process could have been handled better. He cannot tell staff to ignore the law and I don't know if that is what happened. He could have brought in the appropriate staff to evaluate the problem and hold the fines in limbo until the correct legal process was followed.

Jeff is right, we want a welcoming business environment, but part of that is making sure everyone plays by the same rules and the process is open and transparent.

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GW - Future growth of the City of Frederick is a concern of many voters. The current city administration is currently considering annexing three properties north of Frederick known as the Crum Farm, Sanner Farm and Thatcher Farm. Do you favor all of these annexations and if not, why?

JD - It does not matter what any candidate says about the proposed annexations, the Board of Aldermen will vote soon and the next Mayor and Board probably won't have anything to do with the land.

My record on responsible growth is clear: I placed a moratorium on building and annexations when we exhausted our water and I would do the same thing if the circumstances required it.

The land owners are making their case through a legal process and the City and County should follow our respective processes.

I will support the provisions of Smart Growth, encourage infill development and protect resouces with needed legislation like the Water Allocation Ordinance.

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GW - Existing and new development impacts all areas of infrastructure and services provided by government such as roads, water, sewer, police, hospitals and schools. We do not have the time to talk about all the impacted areas in this interview. However, could you briefly touch on your position on the 3-2 vote taken today by the Frederick County Commissioners to move forward and build a waste-to-energy plant (Incinerator) to handle future waste disposal.

JD - The WTE Incinerator issue keeps on ticking! Please go to my website www.jenniferformayor.com for more information, but the short version is - I oppose the incinerator and have been on the record for more than a year. I oppose it for the site, the environment, the technology and the cost.

I know the choice for the County Commissioners was a tough one. While the current Mayor and Board support the WTE, I hope we can have a complete conversation about the City's participation in the current plan. The share for City residents is about $100 million - almost $1600 per person.

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GW - There are many questions I want to ask, but we only have so much time. Hopefully, you will agree to be interviewed again prior to the election. I want to now specifically ask you about a few proposals you discuss on your website: http://www.jenniferformayor.com/ . One proposal pertains to the restoration of the Golden Mile Task force. That area has changed significantly since I was young and it was a farmland and after the mall was built when I was a teenager. What do you intend to be the charge of this task force?

JD - Thanks George, I will come back anytime.

The Golden Mile Task Force can be the driving force for the needed re-development of the area. Much like the Carroll Creek Task Force worked to bring a good plan to the table for the elected officials to support, we can take a new look at Route 40.

When in office, we adopted the Golden Mile Tax Credit District that helped many property owners make improvements to their commercial sites without hurting the City revenues. Those credits expire soon and it can be the starting point for the first meetings.

I also think re-development has to go beyond the traditional retail development options and we could include my proposed Veteran's Rehab facility for the Golden Mile - the people are there, the space is there, the transportation and infrastructure are there -- it could be the perfect anchor.

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GW - Another proposal on your website speaks of developing a Civilian Conservation Corps 2.0 to manage the 7000 acre watershed. This is interesting to me as it was the original CCC that funded the many picnic tables and grills that are still present today. In fact, when I was a young lad, my family would go to the Fishing Creek Reservoir City Park on a regular basis to picnic. Tell the voters what you envision here.

JD - The Civilian Conservation Corps 2.0 is a way to recruit recent college grads back to the area for meaningful work, to preserve and protect the City Watershed and to experiment with an employment idea that could be used in other areas of the City.

The City Forest Rangers would work for 2 years under contract with the City for a salary and college loan repayment plan. They would get a place to live and a vehicle. Their mission would be to work with interested groups and individuals to rebuild trails and mark areas for recreational uses and protect against over-use. After 2 years, they move on and we get 2 more recent grads -- same base salary, fresh energy!

It's been a long time since anyone has been able to spend meaningful time in the Watershed, but this plan can work because the money can come from existing federal grants to protect watersheds and recreational areas. Please read the whole plan -- www.jenniferformayor.com

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GW - I want to thank you again for being my guest on Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof . The time has flown by and we have spent over two hours in this conversation. So, at this time I would like to give you an opportunity for a few closing remarks.

JD - Thanks again George, I look forward to the next installment!

This is an election that transcend political parties. It does not matter what political party picks up your trash or plows the snow from the streets, but it does matter what understanding and experience your candidate brings to the job.

My 22+ years in business and my term as Mayor make me uniquely qualified to handle the job of Mayor again. I would not be running if I did not think I could fix what is broken. The next Mayor will have to deal with tough issues. We need someone who has been a manager, an executive and decision maker. We need someone who can make the tough call when necessary. Leadership requires choices.

Compare all of the candidates' records and choices. I hope it will help clarify your decision as a voter.

In 2002, I started a change in City government that needs to be completed. We need a government that is open, transparent, fair and progressive. It's really a simple promise -- Good Government, No Secrets!

Actions By Frederick Mayor Raise Questions

George Wenschhof

It was reported in the last Thursday edition of the "Frederick Gazette", Mayor Jeff Holtzinger had instructed staff to disregard a decision made by the (HPC) Historic Preservation Commission. You can read the story here.

It appears the decision made by the commission may have been somewhat frivolous in that it pertained to the removal of lettering that would not have been visible after approved new signage had been installed to the building.

However, the commission disagreed and fined the owner for removal of the lettering spelling out "The Professional Building". For many longer term residents, that is how we always referred to that building and where Mom took us to see the Doctor when we were sick. In fact, when I fractured my foot playing volleyball when I was in my mid twenties, the late Dr. Pilgrim whose office entrance was in the lower right of the building took care of me.

The question is not so much that the decision made by the HPC was reasonable, but more as to what the consequences of the Mayor's actions may be to the city. First, is the question does the city charter provide the mayor with the authority to instruct staff to disregard commission decisions. Secondly, does Holtzinger's actions open the city to lawsuits from property owners who adhered to previous HPC decisions and paid fines when issued or filed appeals, unaware they could appeal directly to the Mayor. A third issue is does this set a precedent pertaining to decisions made by other city boards and commissions.

If the Mayor requested guidance from the city legal staff, it would be interesting to see their opinion. If legal guidance was not requested by the mayor, perhaps the city legal department could provide justification for his actions. If not, the aldermen would be well served to request a legal interpretation of a Mayor's ability to override a city commission's decision.

Another confusing action by Mayor Holtzinger, who recently withdrew his candidacy for reelection, was his veto of a vote by the aldermen to investigate the early retirement pension plan. The Frederick News Post has a story on his veto last Thursday night here.

It certainly appears the motion was somewhat politically motivated as the motion was made by Democrat Donna Kuzemchak and received a "yes" vote by fellow Democrats David Koontz and Marcia Hall. The two Republicans; Alan Imhoff and Paul Smith voted against the motion.

Again, while the motion might not have been necessary or without political motivation, it flat out looks bad to the average voter who is already questioning why so many city employees received early buy out funds, only to be rehired back by the city.

While I do not question fraud or corruption played a part in the decision by the city mayor and alderman to pass this plan, the mayor would have been better served to allow the motion to pass. Mayor Holtzinger could have even pointed out some aldermen who voted for the investigation also voted for the plan they were committing scarce city funds to investigate. He could have finished with how he felt this was a fools errand but was confident no evidence of corruption or fraud would come to light from the investigation.

However, that was not what he did and by issuing a veto, the mayor keeps alive questions voters have on the whole process surrounding the approval and implementation of the early retirement buy out plan.

The decision by Mayor Holtzinger not to seek reelection certainly changed the dynamics of the race. While both Democratic and Republican candidates could have previously railed about his poor decisions on various issues and how they will do better, now they will have to point out what they stand for and the reasons to vote for them as opposed to why not to vote for Holtzinger.

Many would argue that back in the 2001 election, due to the lingering "Black Book" scandal and other issues, the voters were more against Mayor James Grimes than they were "for" Jennifer Dougherty who would go on to win that election. Interestingly, in the world of politics and voter opinion, later the Dougherty administration would take a similar stance as the Grimes administration had taken in regard to the release of information in the "Black Book" scandal but received no immediate negative fallout from city voters from doing so.


And so it goes.... Stay Tuned.

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