Well, the challenges of work and new parenthood have brought me up short...yet again, as such I will not be realizing my full treatment of all the issues at hand nor the various candidates positions on such before tomorrows vote. If you are looking for whatever in depth analyses I was able to format for public consumption, then please peruse my recent diaries. In this diary, I will state concisely which candidates have garnered my votes and a passing approximation of why...
Mayoral Race:
I will be voting for Susan Hoffman and against Phyllis Marcuccio.
Despite being generally pleased with Hoffman's tenure as the incumbant mayor, I none the less wanted to judge incumbant councilmember Phyllis Maruccio's challenge on the merits. Some may be put off by Marcuccio's unselfconscious inquisitive style on the Council, but surprisingly I find much of her criticism salient to the topics at hand. However, I perceive her aims to be primarily obstructionist and usually not striking to the core of the problem. In addition, I feel, Marcuccio doesn't articulate a coherent vision for the future, it seems like more of a longing for the past. In contrast, Susan Hoffman always seems to be pushing for a greener, more efficient city economy and can be found promoting compromise at the heart of the extant conflicts.
Time and again, be it Beall's Grant II, Raises for City Employees or the RedGate Golf Course, I find Hoffman's positions more in line with my own thinking. To be honest, while I have tried to keep an open mind, I have yet to forget Marcuccio's obstruction of the city adopting a once-per-week, semi-automated trash service with single stream recycling. Everything that was wrong about Marcuccio's opposition, and right about Hoffman's support, bear on the candidates ability to govern appropriately.
City Council: Each citizen may vote for up to four of ten candidates for city council. My votes will go to the following candidates...
John Britton: is a one-term incumbant who received my vote in the last election based upon his platfom for increased pedestrian safety and new urbanist development. In the intervening two years councilmember Britton has followed through in promoting these positions while making generally well reasoned, evidence based votes on the city council, ones that generally correlate well with my own. Perhaps, it is vocation as an environmental lawyer that gives him a simultaneously green and bureaucracy friendly facility. Mr. Britton also took the time to answer the questionaire I had sent to all the candidates.
Piotr Gajewski: I will vote for the music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic and King Farm resident with some reservation. During the past two years, incumbant councilmember Gajewski has seemed to have taken over from Bob Dorsey as the councils swing vote, taking pride in his populist accomplishments which seem to reflect similar sentiments to those expressed by Marcuccio but with far more grace and tact. While I remain dubious the value of some of his accomplishments, I feel he brings a much needed North Rockville perspective to the council. Bringing the city attorney to an in house position was a great idea. He did not respond to my questionaire.
Carl Henn: is from my voting district and has demonstrated a knowledge of and similar positions regarding city issues of concern to my neighbors and myself. Additionally, he was the only candidate who came to my door and he spent quite a bit of time discussing the issues. He is very environmentally oriented in his suggestions for moving the city into the future and in response to extant issues. His background in public administration and contracting, as well as participation in a variety of city committees and commissions, indicate that he is well prepared for the duties of councilmember. Like Councilmember Britton, Carl Henn returned considered answers to my questionaire.
Candidate Number Four: Can it be that the day before the election I have yet to decide upon who shall receive my fourth vote? Yes, indeed. Looking upon the remaining candidates, I have narrowed it down to two, Trapper Martin or Max Van Balgooy. Why these two? They both reside east of the Pike in East Rockville and Twinbrooki, respectively. With Marcuccio likely retiring from civic service on Wednesday, the council will be left with no representatives from "the other side of the tracks" and I think it is important for this portion of the city to have a responsive voice on the council. Beyond this point the candidates differ. Martin, as a businessman in town center is well aquainted with the challenges that development faces going forward in our current economy. On the other hand, the Twinbrook neighborhood has a massive housing development looming in their future and I think they need a say in it. Currently, I am leaning towards, Van Balgooy on an issue of integrity, not to suggest Martin doesn't have integrity, but van Balgooy quite rightly in my opinion, endorsed the COLA and step raises promised city workers.
If anyone wants to discuss any of my decision or issues in the current election, please, comment below...