As we continue to review mayoral campaign websites, we note that Wayne Taylor has finally taken down his original one-pager that was scathingly reviewed by CP. While I am concerned it took so long for Taylor to get the message, his site is under reconstruction at www.waynetaylor.us and we eagerly anticipate improvements.
Alderman Dave Cordle's site, like the candidate himself, is clean-cut, straightforward, and unadorned. He has a contribution's page, a news page (not much for now), a volunteer sign-up page, a biographical page and an issues page. While I find it interesting to know about Dave's family history, I just don't think it's relevant enough to deserve top-billing. Perhaps a footnote would be more fitting. He has an issues page and not surprisingly the lawman's and fiscal conservative's first two points are to:
- Make Public Safety a Priority
- Trim the Fluff and Favors from the City Budget
A smiling and avuncular photo of Sam Shropshire invites the reader into his attractive site www.friendsofsam.com that includes an impressively produced 11-minute video about his vision for Annapolis. Some of it seems to be an ad for the National Sailing Hall of Fame and his focus on bringing the USS Constellation to Annapolis is...well....unworkable and ill-advised and not likely on anyone's priority list for a "vision" except Sam's list. Would Baltimore even consider lending us their ship? "Let's bring the boat home" says Sam. I question the appropriateness of him displaying the official city logo. He gets good marks overall for a site that is second in development and depth only to that of Trudy McFall's site (see below) and demands some time to review.
Gil Renaut's page www.gilbertrenaut.com can be described as a work in progress, albeit uninspiring for now. He has the standard donation page, but his home page consists of an honest but perhaps overly cerebral piece about environmentalism. Renaut may be the most philosophical candidate but I am not sure what he is getting at here or how it relates to his campaign. His "about" page is bare bones but solid. His five main points are presented clearly and simply....and they are meaningful. I expect more issues-oriented and thoughtful copy soon.
Trudy McFall's site, as with her campaign, has been up the longest and is by far the most developed and updated, even when compared to Shropshire's site. It includes a video, a recording of her announcement speech, and a lot of photographs that shows us more about her than any of the other sites tell us about the other candidates. She lists her many priorities as mayor and provides plenty of her thoughts about issues. Interesting, most appropriately, and to her credit, she has a "Facts Check" page which I cynically expect every candidate to eventually have. Expect to take more than a few minutes to visit www.trudymcfall.com .
Frank Flyntz officially announced months ago and while he has a reasonably designed web-site, it's thin gruel. There has not been anything of substance added since it was put up and like the candidate, remains obscure. There is a photo of him in his navy uniform, which I find odd and troubling as there are no other pictures. His logo is of a navy jet streaking across stars and stripes which I also find odd and troubling. His issues page is simple and straightforward, perhaps too much so, and I wonder what he means by "Improve the parking issues." One of his top priorities is to "strengthen partnership" with you guessed it--The Naval Academy. I am not sure if he is running for Commander in Chief Naval Operations Spa Creek (CINCSPA?) or mayor of Annapolis. He may not be sure either. Take off, soar upward and land at www.frankflyntz.com but you won't stay long.
CP will review sites of other putative or rumored candidates when they officially announce. But if you are really curious....Chris Fox has a lot to read at www.foxformayor.com and Josh Cohen has but a splash page www.cohenformayor.com while Zina Pierre's site www.zinapierre.com , though attractive, seems to be all about Zina, who as of now, has but only an "exploratory committee." Sorry, but I can't find anything anywhere about Mike Pantelides though not from lack of trying to reach this "maybe" candidate.
These are my observations as of March 22, so as the sites change, please keep that in mind.
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