Believe it or not, the voters in the City will select a new mayor in a mere seven months!
Thank
goodness elections only come but once every four years.
But after the nastiness of the 2013 battle of the titans, some may wish that the coming of the candidates would come less often … maybe such events should be timed in sync with the seventeen years emergences of the cicadas.
Less stress, maybe? Like it or not, the declarations have begun!
The first announcement came from Alderman Michael O’Connor on Friday, January 6th. While Mr. O’Connor is a familiar face in the local political scene, he is taking his first stab (with saber in hand, because he will likely need it) at running for mayor. His announcement came as no surprise to many, as he seems to have been in campaign mode for the last couple of years.
The next announcement came about 6 weeks later. This may have raised a few eyebrows, because yes, former mayor and persistent candidate Jennifer Dougherty is back once again with fire in her eyes to recapture her elusive crown. In the last election, Democrats saw her as a spoiler, as she jumped ship on the party, having garnered enough signatures to earn her the right to hoist an independent banner, making the general election a three way race.
For those who don’t know her well, they may have thought that that was her last battle. But, no, this time the more confident than ever local restaurateur has chosen to return to the party of JFK with enthusiasm to take on O’Connor and whomever else choses to duke it out in the September 12th primary with her.
At the dawn of the 3rd month of this election year, the current two term Mayor Randy McClement officially let it be known that he will seek a third term. The “steady as she goes” captain of the good ship Frederick, as we labeled him in a MacRo Report Blog post back in 2013, has enjoyed his time in office and believes that he has earned the right to continue at the helm.
Now we are wrapping up the month of April and no new announcements have been made public, but yes, there is at least one more familiar face who will very likely find his way to filing as a candidate before the July 3rd deadline.
Well, heck, he has already picked up his Certificate of Candidacy for Nomination…so it is just a matter of time before Galen Clagett jumps feet first into the primary contest with Dougherty and O’Connor.
Does he seek redemption for the mayoral primary loss he suffered in the bloody fight he had with Karen Lewis Young? Now Maryland Democratic Delegate representing District 3A, Young has no plans to return to City politics.
Will others surface? Probably so…but stay tuned here at the MacRo Report Blog, as we will highlight each candidate, the issues they will pronounce as critical to the future of the City.
What do think the issues are with this campaign?
Who else should run?
Who will win?
Rocky Mackintosh is President of MacRo, Ltd., a Land and Commercial Real Estate firm based in Frederick, Maryland. He has been an active member of the Frederick, Maryland community for over four decades. He has served as chairman of the board of Frederick Memorial Hospital and as a member of the Frederick County Charter Board from 2010 to 2012. He currently serves as chairman of the board of Frederick Mutual Insurance Company. Established in 1843, it is one of the longest enduring businesses in Frederick County.