Saying “it’s a good council to work with and that makes all the difference in the world,” Aberdeen Mayor Mike Bennett hopes he and the four incumbent members of the city council will be voted back into office this November 8 and return to work at City Hall – this time without having to worry about re-election for another four years.
The candidate filing period for Aberdeen’s municipal election opened on Friday and so far four of the five incumbents – Bennett and city council members Ruth Ann Young, Sandra Landbeck, and Ruth Elliott – have already filed for re-election. The fifth incumbent – city councilman Bruce Garner – has not yet filed for re-election and could not be reached for comment.
In a recent interview, Bennett said that during his first two years in office, he had to “pick and choose his battles” because he was faced with constant opposition from within the city council, but now he and the four-member city council are working in lock-step and making progress in the city; something Bennett wants to be able to continue.
“I’d be totally OK with just the five of us on the ballot,” he added.
Although he has yet to file, Patrick McGrady, a former candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates, has already announced his intentions of running for mayor. For Bennett, who faced incumbent mayor S. Fred Simmons and city councilman Mike Hiob in his last two mayoral campaigns, he said he’s used to early and intense opposition.
“Some guys luck out, but I guess I’m destined to always face competition,” he added.
Bennett said he tends to tune out any political attacks from opponents, but sometimes it’s impossible to ignore – such as recent comments from McGrady which criticized the mayor and city council for spending about $300,000 to have Harford Cable Network broadcast city council meetings. Bennett said the figure is actually about $12,000.
“He makes statements without finding out whatever the actual facts are. Whatever you say, make sure it’s right,” Bennett added.
“I don’t respond to dirty tactics and do my very best not to get involved in that. If they want to take shots at me, that’s fine. I’ll go on my record.”
Aberdeen will elect its mayor and four city council members on November 8, but the term of office will be four years instead of two years, as was previously set.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, with voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Aberdeen Senior Center at 7 Franklin Street.
The candidate filing period began September 9 and will continue until 5 p.m. on October 7.
The voter registration deadline is Tuesday, October 18 to the Harford County Board of
Elections.
The absentee ballot application deadline by mail is Tuesday, November 1 to the Harford
County Board of Elections .
The absentee ballot return deadline is 5 p.m. to City Hall or 8 p.m. to the Aberdeen Senior Center polling place on Election Day.
The official election results will be certified by noon on Friday, November 11 and the swearing in ceremony for the mayor and city council will be Monday, November 14 at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers.
“Bennett said that during his first two years in office, he had to “pick and choose his battles” because he was faced with constant opposition from within the city council, but now he and the four-member city council are working in lock-step and making progress in the city…”
Please define progress and identify who actually decides if it is progress or personal agenda. I have a little issue with that notion, politics should be full of healthy debate and politicians representing the will of the people, no rubber stamping allowed. Opposition leads to debate and debate leads to compromise, sure there is some lobbying going on too, but that is the nature of the beast.
With that said, if the mayor and the council are so well in tune, then I guess I can’t blame one bonehead decision on the person that said it, I have no choice but to blame all five of them.
Personally, Garner would be the only one I would consider re-electing so I really hope there are others that will be running. We need some real people who have no hidden agendas and who will run the city with ethics and morals.
J.F.C.! I sure hope that other qualified candidates “step up to plate” and file. That stuttering stammering bumble-headed “Pied Piper” of a mayor leading the “Rats” on the council astray for the past two years is an embarassment to the City! Just WHAT have they accomplished? Bennett is quoted as saying “I’d be totally ok with just the five of us on the ballot”. I guess he would with those “rubber stamping” idiots surrounding him. (ever wonder what’s happening under that dais?)
Will some folks PLEASE step forward and actually SERVE your city?
(and please……someone younger than f-ing 70 something!!!!)
The people of Aberdeen will continue to get the government they deserve. Unfortunately the city employees will not. Having been in Aberdeen for some time I’ve seen several councils attempt to balance their budgets on the backs of the employees and it is such short sighted leadership. You lose your best and brightest police, DPW and admin folks to other places that take better care of their employees. Is it any wonder that the majority of Aberdeen city workers don’t live in Aberdeen?
So Mayor Bennett, before you brag too much on a council you claim is in the military term “lock step” with you, remember this; the council is your officers, your workers are your troops and they certainly are not behind you.
Al Thong; I have seen you write the comment about Aberdeen getting the government it deserves before. I agree 100%. When I first read the comment about having a lock step council I thought it was more route step. The fact is the council has to be in agreement with Bennett. He is the sole source of everything and controls all media as well as the agenda for council meetings. Under the new construct of the charter the council has absolutely no authority. They just get to go to Ocean City and other free meals. We could save a lot of money if we simply declared the so called cop the emperor, give him his fancy hat and turn the City over to his handlers.
Better yet (as I heard Mr. Pat Faircloth extoll the virtues of just a couple of years ago), eliminate the entire waste of money and UNINCORPORATE the City of Aberdeen. We’ll all pay lower taxes, and at this point, services would probably improve! (Hell, it works fine in Baltimore County!) Let’s start a movement!!!! 🙂
UPDATE: Challenger McGrady files for mayor and incumbent Garner for city council in Aberdeen. Adolph first to file for town commissioner in Bel Air.
http://www.daggerpress.com/2011/09/21/mcgrady-files-for-mayor-garner-seek-re-election-in-aberdeen-races-former-candidate-adolph-first-to-file-in-bel-air-election/