Mayoral Election

Baltimore is one of a few jurisdictions in the entire country, not to mention within the state of Maryland, that has a separate mayoral election where only four positions are voted for. Those positions are mayor, city council president, comptroller and city council member. What a significant waste of time, money and manpower. Baltimore should combine its mayoral primary and general elections with either the presidential election or, preferably, the gubernatorial election. There would be significant savings of money and, as demonstrated several years ago when Barack Obama was elected, an increase in the dismal voter turnout that we are experiencing.

Election officials predict a record low turnout for the Maryland presidential primary election ("Key races, little interest in primary," April 2). Meanwhile, the state legislature just passed a law that would move the election of Baltimore's mayor to coincide with presidential elections on the theory that the turnout would improve. What's wrong with this picture, and why do all other jurisdictions hold their leadership elections to coincide with election of the governor, not president?

Today's mayoral election in Annapolis may hinge on how many voters go to the polls.That's the analysis of supporters of the three candidates, Democratic incumbent Alfred A. Hopkins, Republican Laurance Vincent and independent Dennis M. Callahan.All three candidates promise to have volunteers on the streets encouraging registered voters to cast ballots and providing transportation to those who need it."In the end, it will come down to who is the most organized and gets their people to polls," said a Hopkins campaign worker.

I believe our elected officials have possibly misunderstood the essential purpose of moving the Baltimore City mayoral primary and general election. The purpose is to increase voter turnout. Elected officials "having their cake and eating it too" by giving state officials a free shot at state office and vice versa discourages voter turnout. Initially, proponents of moving Baltimore elections onto the presidential cycle justified their position by claiming turnout in presidential primaries in the city far exceeded turnout in gubernatorial primaries.

A court challenge to Mount Airy's recent mayoral election - in which the incumbent was declared the winner despite claims that a write-in candidate garnered more votes - has been set for trial this summer. Mayor Gerald R. Johnson was sworn in for a fourth term Thursday, the day that two supporters of write-in candidate James S. Holt filed a civil lawsuit in Carroll County Circuit Court. Plaintiffs Michael Boyer and Constance S. McKain are asking that all ballots containing the name Holt be counted - which would give Holt the election, they said.

DETROIT -- Even death could not put this city's contentious mayoral race on hold. The incumbent, Kwame M. Kilpatrick, stood before mourners at civil rights activist Rosa Parks' funeral here last week and spoke of the need to empower the people. Outside the Greater Grace Temple, as hundreds huddled around Parks' white hearse, challenger Freman Hendrix campaigned - shaking hands, signing autographs and talking about his plans to deal with Detroit's unemployment rate, the second-highest in the nation.

Mount Airy's Board of Elections reaffirmed yesterday its decision to award last week's mayoral election to incumbent Gerald R. Johnson, despite discarded ballots containing the last name of write-in candidate James S. Holt. But the decision has exacerbated discontent over election results. Town resident Michael Boyer said he planned to file suit today or tomorrow in Circuit Court asking for an injunction to prevent Johnson from taking office Monday and for all ballots containing the name "Holt" to be counted as votes for James S. Holt.

Campaigns for some of the 27 candidates in Baltimore's mayoral race began to simmer yesterday with endorsements handed out, promises made and the first angry racial exchange. Candidates Carl Stokes and Martin O'Malley started the morning shaking hands at a breakfast fund-raiser for state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer. Schaefer, the city's former mayor of 16 years, said he will not endorse a candidate until after July 16 -- the deadline for candidates to drop out of the race.

The outcome of Mount Airy's mayoral election is now in a judge's hands. Carroll Circuit Judge Raymond E. Beck Sr. promised yesterday a decision by the end of next week on the fate of 240 discarded ballots that, if counted, would overturn the result of the May contest. Supporters of write-in candidate James S. Holt are arguing that the ballots, which said only "Holt," should count. "I represent citizens who feel they have a right to have their votes counted," lawyer J. Brooks Leahy said yesterday.

MIAMI -- More than 100 felons -- muggers and con artists, drug traffickers and a few killers -- voted in Miami's close mayoral election in November even though they had lost their right to vote.A pot-smoking jailer voted. He helped two inmates escape. A convicted former Miami detective voted. He covered up the murder of a drug dealer. And a homeless, crack-addicted thief voted. His voting address: the apartment next to the place he burglarized.The Miami Herald counted 105 ineligible felon ballots in November's mayoral election.

Democrat John Delaney's campaign for Maryland's 6th Congressional District has brought a new manager on board a little more than a month out from the April 3 primary, the campaign confirmed in a statement Tuesday. Justin Schall, who has previously run campaigns in Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York, will replace Max Cummings. Delaney, a Potomac banker, is running in a feisty nomination contest against State Sen. Rob Garagiola and three other Democrats. “Our campaign has grown significantly and rapidly across the Sixth District," campaign spokesman Will McDonald said in a statement.

As a handful of undecided Maryland delegates wrestle over their position on same-sex marriage, they've received calls from national leaders trying to move them one way or another on the bill. Prominent figures dialing Maryland area codes include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and Cardinal-elect Edwin F. O'Brien — who called from Rome — according to delegates who've received messages from them and sources familiar with the calls.

As city administrator, my position serves "at the pleasure of" the mayor who appointed me, Craig A. Moe. I understand my position may end next month; and I accept that. However, one of my most important duties and responsibilities is to protect the city's exceptional employees. City employees provide the services that make our city a great place to live, work and do business. I believe I must speak out for our valuable employees to share the feelings they have expressed to me and their co-workers.

Baltimore is one of a few jurisdictions in the entire country, not to mention within the state of Maryland, that has a separate mayoral election where only four positions are voted for. Those positions are mayor, city council president, comptroller and city council member. What a significant waste of time, money and manpower. Baltimore should combine its mayoral primary and general elections with either the presidential election or, preferably, the gubernatorial election. There would be significant savings of money and, as demonstrated several years ago when Barack Obama was elected, an increase in the dismal voter turnout that we are experiencing.

Baltimore's only televised mayoral debate wasn't much of an event Monday night. In fact, it was so flat and empty in terms of providing citizens with any insights into the candidates that all of us in the media should probably be a little ashamed that this is as good as Baltimore TV can do in a mayoral election. Some of the blame surely falls on Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who clearly did not make it easy for any station to herd her and her challengers in front of the TV cameras more than once.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her predecessor Sheila Dixon have shared a lifetime of politics together. Dixon became the first African-American woman elected City Council president and then mayor. Rawlings-Blake followed in her footsteps. For them, the political has always been personal. And on Monday it got really personal. The former friends and political allies took turns expressing disappointment in each other during separate interviews. The comments shed new light on the relationship between two of Baltimore's most prominent political figures - and could provide a preview to a possible grudge match between the two women in a 2015 mayoral election.

I was all ready this weekend to pull together a diatribe complaining about just how tepid the marketing for the mayoral election has been. But then I saw the above photo. With the exception of Otis Rolley's polished branding campaign, everyone else in the field has failed to put out anything that transcends a project in Microsoft Paint. Enter BlueManBmore. What mayoral candidate Jody Landers has lacked in dynamic advertising, he's certainly made up for in ... well, I'm not sure.

As Aberdeen prepares to kick off its race for city council and mayor, the election will feature at least one newcomer and may include some familiar faces from the past. Patrick McGrady, the Republican Central Committee member who ran unsuccessfully for state delegate last year, announced Friday he will run for mayor and try to unseat two-term incumbent mayor Mike Bennett. He sent e-mails to supporters at noon Monday formally announcing his candidacy McGrady launched his campaign with a news release in which says he plans to reduce red tape at City Hall, create Aberdeen jobs and fight against higher taxes.

Last Tuesday, Baltimore had its first live on-air mayoral debate among all the candidates, including incumbent Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. WMAR (Channel 2), Baltimore's ABC affiliate, didn't cover the event at all. WBAL (Channel 11), the city's NBC affiliate and one of the area's most powerful news stations, covered it, but all week had video of a different debate (one that didn't include Rawlings-Blake) mislabeled on its website as being Tuesday's mayoral forum. Less than one month out from the Sept.