Annapolis Capital Punishment

100,000 Blog Visits and Rising!!!
Candidates McFall, Renaut, Shropshire, Cohen, Fox and Pierre will debate about important issues in our city.
Calvary United Methodist Church 301 Rowe Blvd by the DNR and Taylor Ave.,
Fellowship Hall, downstairs level....7 to 9...arrive early...it will be packed..standing room only...bring binoculars and parabolic antennas...we will be accepting written questions until 7:15.....Meet for locally brewed beer afterward at Rams Head Tavern on West St...I may even read a poem....

There are only a few days left to file so here is where we stand in the wards for now:

1 Incumbent Democrat Israel unopposed (here is where R's need to get busy!)

2 Incumbent Republican Paone unopposed (here is where Dems need to get busy!)

3. Incumbent Democrat Hoyle challenged by Republican Bowling

4. Incumbent Democrat Finlayson unopposed (Finlayson early on endorsed Cohen which might make things interesting for her should Cohen not win the primary. Might the mayoral nominee consider some other options?)

5. Republican Conley versus Democrat Silverman

6. Republican Stiverson versus Democrat Kenny Kirby

7. Democrat Pfeiffer unopposed (What? No Republican?)

8. Incumbent Democrat Arnett unopposed (What No Republican?)

What this all boils down to is that in all likelihood, the next council will consist of Israel, Paone, Hoyle or Bowling, Finlayson, Conley or Silverman, Stiverson or Kirby, Pfeiffer and Arnett.

And for reasonably certain this means:

Four Democrats, including three incumbents Israel, Finlayson, Pfeiffer and Arnett
One Republican incumbent Paone
Three races undecided, only one of which includes an incumbent.
I would give Bowling a very strong chance of defeating Hoyle because she has been closely allied with the mayor and Bowling, who opposed Hoyle before, is running a strong campaign. Some Democrats are still angry at Hoyle for an endorsement of a Republican she made in a previous campaign. Look for that one to be interesting.

Conley and Silverman's ward is currently represented by Republican Dave Cordle. Conley ran against Finlayson in the special election in Ward Four previously and Silverman is a police officer but are relatively unknown. A strongly organized Democratic party may buoy Silverman but Republican nominee Cordle will likely support Conley, although both Cordle and Silverman are in law enforcement. Should be fun to watch.

In Six, Kenny Kirby has been almost invisible while Stiverson has been highly visible and campaigning vigorously. I would not be surprised if Kirby will receive lukewarm Democratic support while some Dems will work quietly for Stiverson, although much will depend upon who gets the Democratic nod in the primary, similar to the situation in the other opposed races.

The central committees may still be able to get people to run where there are no candidates, for example a Dem to challenge Paone in Ward Two.

Hey--who is running in The Ninth Ward? Where is The Ninth Ward?

Let's hope that whatever happens that partisan politics fades away locally...even though I had to mention the parties here...and must note that on the face of it, things do not look good for Republicans, either from an election or an organizational viewpoint--or they believe that Israel and Arnett are unbeatable, and considering they are the two main sponsors of the city manager bill, it makes me wonder.....

AND FINALLY....today is the deadline for filing...In an email, SAM SHROPSHIRE said he is going to file today. Actually I asked him a few questions bout different things and his reply was a simple "yes."

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