Annapolis Capital Punishment

We can add Republican Frank Flyntz to the list of mayoral candidates who have filed, which is to say McFall and Cordle. Flyntz has told me that his campaign treasurer is Terra McCann....On April 17^th I first gave subjective ratings of the mayoral candidate's web-sites based on having regularly observed them since they've been up. I continue to monitor their sites. I don't provide the site addresses, but if you wish to visit them, click on the ads of the candidates who are supporting me in my effort to promote each every campaign. Clicks or impressions do not in any way increase revenue as ads are on a flat monthly rate. I do enough by providing this information, so candidates who wish for CP to display their address can buy an ad which will automatically link.

I originally gave a letter grade each for:

Design
Writing/content
How well I get to know the candidate from the site
How often it is updated
I then give an overall grade.

I again rate the websites, this time with a modified and reduced criteria including: writing/content
candidate profile
frequency/substance of updates
overall grade
I also added a grade for knowledge of and treatment of issues.
Newest grades and notes shown in RED. As the campaign progresses, the grading will get tougher as well:

Josh Cohen-Well done and full of photos, videos and clearly shows momentum and organization. Links to Facebook site. Needs more information about voting record and accomplishments as elected official. If anything, this is too well-done and too slick.
design A -
writing/content B B
candidate profile B A
how often it is updated A A
issues B plus
Overall A A Very good biographical information and photos. I'd like to see more writing about the issues, updates and current events, perhaps some testimonials etc.

Frank Flyntz-Although it has been up for perhaps the longest of any candidate, there have been no updates for months and it's pretty much just thin gruel. As mentioned before, the picture of Flyntz in his navy uniform and his cartoon-like navy jet logo is a bit much. It's the only picture of him and he remains mysterious as reflected by the fact that there is no phone number or email and local activists don't seem to know the man. Of the three other photos on the site, one is Main Street with gold and blue "N" flags for Navy, a shot of the Academy and one of the State House. Is he running for mayor or captain of the port?
design B minus
writing/content C C
candidate profile C D
how often it is updated D D
issues C minus
Overall grade C minus. D Flyntz appears to have an impressive background with the navy and maritime affairs but he is virtually unknown in Annapolis and his web-site certainly does him no justice. Nothing has changed since it was put up a year ago. He still does not list a campaign treasurer, phone number or email. I was likely to stop monitoring and reporting on this site and his campaign except he did just file.

Gil Renaut-It's clear this site is done on the cheap, but even so, the candidate could easily put in more text for us to learn about him. There is a headshot of him at a site definitely not in Annapolis and an interior headshot but nothing with him and neighbors, family or friends--except there is one of his grandson, but c'mon--this is a web-site for a political campaign, not an ad for baby food. He does link to CP but this site has a long way to go before it reflects the experience, and complexity of this candidate, a longtime civic activist and federal trial lawyer.
design C -
writing/content C C
candidate profile C C
how often it is updated C C
issues C
Overall grade C C Renaut understands the issues and is a longtime civic activist, but to the extent there is anything at all on the site, he tends to pontificate rather than describe his goals and vision for being the next mayor. He recently put up the video about the fascinating mayor of Mississaugua, Canada (and credited CP for posting it first), but on HIS SITE I think we want to know about what kind of mayor Gil Renaut will be for Annapolis, not about another mayor in another city.

Dave Cordle-In a word--uneven. Too much bibliographical information in a long list, but not enough about his platform, voting record and issues. A resume does not really tell us about the candidate. For example, we learn that 16 years ago he was an Outstanding Young Annapolitan Finalist and that he is an Expert Witness in various areas of law enforcement, but I'd like to see him show his record as alderman and provide more in his own words. No updates for two months.
design B -
writing/content B B
candidate profile C C
how often it is updated C D
issues B minus
Overall Grade C. C Yes he is a very busy man as a fully-employed professional and an alderman, but certainly after announcing nearly three months ago, there should be something new on the web. He's having a fund-raiser breakfast today and it was not even mentioned on his own web-site, which makes me wonder about his campaign organization and coordination.

Trudy McFall-Well done, and full of information, details, photographs and even a video. Well organized, active, easily navigated and links to Facebook site. Could be improved with some more testimonials or information about supporters and campaign updates.
design A ---
writing/content A A
candidate profile A A
how often it is updated B A
issues A A
Overall grade A A McFall posted a video of her recent testimony on the city budget. No other mayoral candidate testified in any way, other than of course the sitting aldermen in the race, Cordle and Shropshire. As with Cohen's site, I'd like more news and updates.


Sam Shropshire-Looks good with lots of photos, testimonials and heavy on the issues, including a really nice video laying out Shropshire's vision for Annapolis. It has been updated a lot and includes information about volunteers, supporters and testimonials. Could use more information about voting record and accomplishments as alderman. sport an image of the city seal-- the royalist thorn and crown thing that Ellen "O" loves so much.
design A -
writing/content A A
candidate profile A A
how often it is updated A B
substance and written content. A A
issues B
Overall grade A. A Sam has some nice, new photos--maybe even professionally shot, but without more updates and activities, he'll likely be downgraded next time as I make the grading more competitive.

Zina Pierre-It looks good, but sizzle is one thing and this site needs more steak. The cover page sailboat photo may not even be from Annapolis. There are way too many head-shots of the candidate which appear to be professionally posed and modeled and a lot of photos of her with big-wigs and muckety mucks including one of her reading the Bible with President Clinton. Her "issues" portion is mainly platitudes and the "facts" about Annapolis are cute but not terribly pertinent and I don't feel I get to know a lot about the candidate.
design A -
writing/content C B minus
candidate profile C B
how often it is updated B B
issues B
Overall C. B There has been new activity and updates but photos of the candidate walking around a public event are just, well, ho hum...I think that viewers want Issues....Issues....Issues please! We want to get to know the candidate and what she is doing now and wants to do if elected.

Chris Fox-This site features what is perhaps the best writing and content of any site, but the site only looks good, not great. I don't like the use of stock photos and the local shots of the candidate could be improved. It is unique in that it has a section in Spanish and that section is well written too. He links to Facebook and MySpace and also to CP, in addition to a lot of inactive blogs.
design B -
writing/content A A
candidate proifle A A
how often it is updated C B
issues A
Overall grade of B. B I expect with his forthcoming announcement and fund-raiser, there will be more activity. Let's hope so...He did have some recent updates, but again, as the grading curve steepens, we'll be looking for more.

Wayne Taylor-After he finally took down his initial disaster, he replaced it with something almost as bad. The only thing it has are dates and places for his public meetings (still without the times posted) and that huge and awful photo of the candidate graced by the flag on a large cross in the background. Huh? Flag? Cross? Huge photo? Is this an ego thing?

design D -
writing/content D D
candidate profile D D
how often it is updated D D
issues D
overall grade of D. D If this is an indication of what's to come, I'm going to stop monitoring the web-site. "D" was being charitable.

Readers will note I have given overall grades of A to Cohen, Shropshire and McFall, B's to Fox and Pierre, C's to Cordle and Renaut and a D to Frank Flyntz and Wayne Taylor.

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