Extra Buzzz, Vol. 6
Extra Buzz is the word on the street from credible sources. Sometimes you have to guess, but other times I just lay it out for you. If you have something to share, anonymity guaranteed, send me an email: thefrederickextra@gmail.com.
Who's running, who's walking and who's taking a powder in the Frederick City 2017 Election? Well, we already posted the formal filings here, including Jennifer Dougherty and Michael O'Connor as Democratic mayoral candidates, and Kris Fair and Alderman Kelly Russell in the Democratic primary for alderman.
We're hearing lots of different names for alderman, including two 2013 candidates: Katie Nash (Republican) and Derek Shackelford (Democrat), and newcomer Roger Wilson (Democrat) who previously ran for delegate in District 3A, and who works for Frederick County government as a legislative liaison. Incumbents Josh Bokee's not sure, and Donna Kuzemchak appears to be going for it again. Not sure about Phil Dacey, who's had some trouble meeting his work and aldermanic obligations.
Galen Clagett is staying elusive, but word is he's had a team picked out for months to help his second run for mayor. The former delegate ran in 2013 in an ugly mayoral primary with Del. Karen Lewis Young (D-Dist. 3A), and lost. He then endorsed Republican nominee Randy McClement in the general election. Dems booed and hissed. Could he win them over again?
And where are all the Republican nominees for mayor? Word was that Blaine Young would take a crack at it. He was responsible for ginning up $30,000 in campaign contributions for Mayor Randy McClement in 2013. [Some folks were very invested in thwarting Lewis Young's mayoral ambitions!] But Blaine's enjoying stirring the pot and keeping his name in the public eye. "Keep 'em guessing," as he likes to say. Now he's threatening a run against "mommy dearest," aka his stepmom Lewis Young in the 2018 delegate race. Let's just take a wait and see on Blaine Young resurfacing on the political scene for now.
BUT, if not the former controversial commissioner, then who will challenge Mayor McClement, should he choose to run for a third term? The former "lunch pail" mayor Jeff Holtzinger went after the position again in 2013 and got spanked, with only 5 percent of the vote. Could be folks wanted a mayor who actually lived in Frederick? Former alderman Shelley Aloi is turning up at public events a lot lately, and whispers are out there about her tossing in again. She, too, lost to McClement in the 2013 primary. I have reached out to her, but not heard back yet.
When asked if he was considering another run, Holtzinger, always the comedian [unless he's just plain pissed off] had this to say: "Yes, I live in Jennifer's basement so I can run for Mayor and have to wash dishes at her restaurant for rent! We have debates on city issues every night at her kitchen table, but she cheats and puts on MSNBC so I will be distracted by those idiots. Make the City of Frederick Great Again will be my slogan."
His serious response is that most people don't want to talk about the issues that are important to him, like roads, water, sewer, parks, the zoning ordinance and the Historic Preservation Commission. Talking about those last two will get you "demonized," Holtzinger said, but conceded that those are "huge issues in my opinion." No, he said HUGE, not YUGE.
Ahem. Ok. BUT, in other news, Holtzinger was named chair of Frederick Area Committee for Transportation, replacing Paul Smith, a former city alderman and county commissioner. Holtzinger got the top job even though he never attended FACT meetings. He said he's learning on the job and starting slowly, but has been at the meetings since the end of last year, and looks forward to working on local transportation issues.
