Annapolis Capital Punishment

As it is May 1, two weeks since the first campaign activity rating, I again grade the candidates as to the level of campaign seriousness exhibited. A means candidate is ready to be mayor, B means candidate really wants to be mayor, C means candidate wants to be mayor but we'd like to see more conviction and D means if you want a decisive person in office, you'll probably have to find someone with a higher rating than this person. In order to get an "A", the candidate must have filed with the city clerk, made a public announcement, have an active campaign and active web-site. It will eventually become harder to attain or maintain A's and B's with this "system" as the campaign progresses . I will more seriously consider overall activity, public presence, and how they are communicating with CP and other media. These grades reflect my candid observations of the campaigns, and in no way reflect any type of endorsement of any candidate or their positions on issues. I have left the original text of the April 15th post and merely added on new comments and the new grade which I shall continue to do every couple of weeks:

Democrats

Josh Cohen, announced, actively campaigning, active web-site Rating on April 15^th B He has not yet filed but he is out in the public eye, was a guest at Sip N' Blog, did not gather many votes on CP's online poll, and he is about to open an office. Once he files, he will likely move to an A if he remains active. Rating Today remains at B.

Sam Shropshire, announced, actively campaigning, active web-site Rating on April 15^th B (has not filed) . He still has not filed, but he is making the rounds and remains in the public eye. I have to downgrade him for not responding to repeated inquiries as to whether he supported putting the city manager petition on the city's website. Rating Today down to B minus.

Trudy McFall, announced, actively campaigning, papers filed, active web-site Rating on April 15^th A. I would like to see more activity on web-site, but she did get the most votes on CP's online poll and remains active on issues and testifies at city council. Rating Today A.

Zina Pierre, announced, active campaign and web-site Rating on April 15^th C Has not yet filed but her announcement was well organized and attended and she got a close second place finish on CP's online poll. Plenty of campaign material but still not much writing of substance or positions on issues. Still not well known outside of core support group but is showing momentum. Was guest at Sip N Blog. Rating Today Upgraded to B. (NEWS-UPDATE The candidate informs me that she has filed with the city clerk, but I have not yet confirmed this. This would upgrade her to an A if she remains active.)

Wayne Taylor, announced, actively campaigning, inactive web-site Rating on April 15^th C His web-site is still a big nothing, he has held some public meetings and knocked on doors. Where's his literature? Upgrade to C plus this time because he's making the rounds with public meetings.

Gil Renaut, I believe he has announced perhaps not with a public presence or kickoff party, but he has not filed, and his web-site is hardly active, so I'm gonna have to go with Rating of C on April 15^th. Renaut got a respectable third on our online poll, he is seen at Sip N' Blog and was a guest but his web-site is still barely adequate and I don't see any literature. I'll upgrade him to a C plus/B minus.

Independent

Chris Fox, detailed but not recently active web-site, collecting signatures to be on ballot Rating on April 15^th B minus Fox has been at Sip N' Blogs, at other events and people are beginning to talk about his candidacy with some seriousness but he hardly got any votes on our online poll. If it were not for his frankness and seriousness as demonstrated to me and through his web-site, I would not know how else to grade him, but I am waiting until we see some more sustained and public activity. He did attend Scott Bowling's kickoff and he plans an official announcement in a week so this grade may improve quickly. Upgrade to B

Republicans:

Dave Cordle, announced, actively campaigning, papers filed, active web-site Rating on April 15 A minus (has not knocked on my door yet) UPDATE: How come no activity on web-site for two months? Did attend Scott Bowling's kickoff. Where is the public outreach? The man is a busy alderman and has a full-time job, but how about some news or web activity? Rating Today downgraded to B.

Mike Pantelides, removed

Frank Flyntz, announced at a party that a few people knew about but was never placed n his own web-site, Rating on April 15^th C (inactive web-site, inactive campaign, not filed) UPDATE again because he did not adequately announce his announcement, we cannot find a phone number or email for him and he only got three votes on the online poll. I have not seen any sign of campaign activity nor is he known to have a treasurer, which is a must for raising money. Downgraded to C minus

I am still giving out extra credit for having knocked on my door which Trudy McFall has done and which Wayne Taylor did through a supporter.