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Q & A: O'Connor and McClement


Frederick city’s mayoral candidates dig into questions posed by The Frederick Extra. Democrat Michael O’Connor is a two-term alderman who bested former Mayor Jennifer Dougherty in the Sept. 12 primary. He faces off with two-term incumbent Republican Randy McClement in the Nov. 7 election. McClement beat out challenger and former alderman Shelley Aloi in the primary. Early voting is Oct. 27 and 28. For more information on the upcoming election, visit the City of Frederick website.

The candidates will debate at Frederick Community College on Monday, Oct. 23, following the aldermanic debate. Find out more here.

Michael O’Connor

How would a Michael O’Connor administration be different from a Randy McClement administration?

The biggest differences would be reviving a sense of urgency and responsiveness at City Hall and increased policy engagement with the Board of Alderman in public meetings. It is important to not just preside but also to help facilitate board discussions. The Mayor should be a strong advocate for City policy and moving it forward.

What are your plans for your first three months as mayor?

We will be launching almost immediately into the public budget process, so I will need to quickly work on understanding the staff level priorities, a part of the process the Aldermen don’t experience, while building the different (from being Alderman) relationships with department heads, directors, and employees. In my goal to transform the way the City engages with the community, we will begin laying the foundation for expanded community outreach.

What were some of your biggest frustrations as an alderman for two terms? Your most shining moments?

I am most proud of the working relationships with my colleagues on the Board, most notably sharing an office for 8 years with Alderman Russell. She has been a great sounding board for ideas, and I hope I have been the same. The collaboration with Alderwoman Kuzemchak and Alderman Bokee in this term and Aldermen Young and Krimm, along with Alderman Dacey and Aloi, have been highlights. The Board has been the driver of so many issues including sustainability, pension and OPEB reform, blight and vacancy, bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, adequate policing, Carroll Creek park, poverty and homelessness, and Westside Regional Park (among many). That’s the policy direction. The action must come from the Mayor’s office.

Give your short-term vision of the City of Frederick – as in the next four years. Long-term, as in next 20 – 30 years?

Frederick is a thriving City that celebrates inclusion and provides a high quality of opportunity for all residents and businesses. In 20-30 years, we’ve expanded our business and commercial core, mitigated transportation struggles with a true live-work community, and eliminated poverty and inequality as we know it today. Frederick is a City that acts.

What are the top three challenges facing the City of Frederick today, and how would you address them as mayor?

Civic engagement, economic disparity, and sustainability. We need to improve communication between residents and City Hall, taking advantage of 21st century technology to transform the way our residents participate in their government. We need to address the economic disparity throughout our diverse neighborhoods in terms of both the City’s economic investment in infrastructure like sidewalks, crosswalks, and beautification, as well as poverty elimination strategies to allow all residents the opportunity to achieve. Finally, to be the model city I envision, we must tackle our energy consumption, protect our land, water, and air, and begin implementation of the sustainability plan we’ve adopted.

Would you pursue a “sanctuary city” status for the City of Frederick? Why or why not?

No one has proposed it. It’s not being talked about by anyone that I talk to, so there is no debate. It’s a non-issue. The simple answer is no.

What the top issues facing Frederick’s west end, and how would you tackle them?

The underperforming asset that is the former mall property, the unrealized potential of the former Hargett Farm, and the general lack of transportation connectivity the frustrates residents and visitors. We will sit down with the Mall’s owners and work through the challenges of development. The task force I proposed in now meeting to explore the appropriate structure to make the Westside Regional Park a productive City asset. As redevelopment moves forward, transportation enhancements will accompany they. The City must be the catalyst to realize the vision. It is a culturally diverse area and an important component of the City’s tax base. We need both of those elements to work for City to be successful.

Randy McClement

How would a McClement administration be different from a Michael O’Connor administration?

I don't want to speculate about what another administration would or wouldn't do, I can only tell you what my administration will be like. My commitment to the residents of Frederick has been and always will be to serve by providing sound judgement, fairness, and professionalism. I am not one to toot my own horn, I don’t think of myself as a “politician”, I prefer to keep my head down and work efficiently and effectively for the betterment of our City.

What are your plans and goals for the first three months if reelected?

One thing we know for sure is that in December, the Board of Aldermen will have at least three new members. If reelected, my initial focus will be to make sure the new Board of Aldermen have the information and support they need from staff to prepare them for their Legislative duties.

In addition, I will immediately continue my efforts to facilitate the Downtown Hotel at Carroll Creek, and finalize the site selection and next steps for the creation of a new police headquarters facility.

What are some of your biggest frustrations as Mayor for two terms? Your most shining moments?

My greatest frustration has been balancing the needs of the City with the revenues available to get things done. This has required prioritization of spending at every level and I have been incredibly impressed with staff and the way they’ve embraced this in their departmental budgeting and spending.

As a result of this element of frustration, it has made the approval of each annual budget – without raising taxes – feel like a shining moment.Some other accomplishments I’m incredibly proud of include: standing alongside previous Mayors’ and opening phase II of the completed Carroll Creek Linear Park, the addition of the Community Health Center to the Community Action Agency, acquiring the highest bond rating in the City’s history, and hiring Ed Hargis as Chief of Police.

Give your short-term vision of the City of Frederick – as in the next four years. Long-term, as in the next 20-30 years?

My short and long-term vision for Frederick is to make sure it remains a vibrant city, as renowned as it is today. I will continue to bring this vision to life by completing projects that ensure the City’s future success. The Downtown Hotel at Carroll Creek with large meeting space and onsite parking, for example, will be a game changer for downtown and fill a huge need in our community. Infrastructure improvements, like the completion of Monocacy Boulevard and Christopher’s Crossing, and the development of the Westside Regional Park on Hargett Farm are all elements of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Comp Plan is the long-term vision for the City, and I will continue to implement that plan strategically as part of my long-term vision.

What are the top three challenges facing The City of Frederick today and how would you address them as Mayor?

I know no one enjoys paying taxes, so I have – and will continue to – work hard to reduce the tax burden for business owners and residents in the City, while maintaining the level of services they depend on. We are phasing out the Business Personal Property Tax, have restructured water/sewer tap fees, and I have not raised the overall taxes in the City in the past 8 years. I believe we need to improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity throughout the City. We recently adopted a Complete Streets policy that creates standards for roadways and shared use path connections. Our efforts in small area planning, in the Golden Mile and East Street corridors also encourages this connectivity.

The City recently received a grant from the State Highway Administration to complete the East Street Rails to Trails project, and we are working with the state to expedite that project. I have also looked at each development project that has come forward and worked with staff and City commissions to find the best options to create these connections. The City owned property on Patrick Street, known as Sites J and K are a great example. I am working to ensure the Linear Park is completed on these sites to connect downtown to the Renn Farm concurrent with the completion of the residential development. I will work with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the City’s traffic and transportation experts to continue to improve this connectivity.

While many elements of our regulatory processes are necessary, I believe there is still some room for improved efficiencies across the board. Over the past 8 years, we have enhanced programs like the City’s “one stop shop”, and increased administrative approvals for the HPC. My direction to staff has always been to emphasize customer service, and to provide guidance to those residents or business owners navigating City processes. I will continue to identify efficiencies and together with City staff, hope to make the regulatory process more helpful and predictable.

Would you pursue a “sanctuary City” status for the City of Frederick? Why or why not?

I would not pursue a sanctuary city status for The City of Frederick. For one reason, there is still much debate about the definition of a “sanctuary city."

Throughout the City, it is not our policy to ask anyone to provide immigration status, it never has been, and it is not my intention to start now. Even our Police Department does not ask anyone for proof of citizenship when making any type of stop or arrest.

We work closely with many Federal agencies and apply for many Federal grant programs annually. I will not pursue a status that could put those resources at risk. As an example, our Police Department works directly with Homeland Security and the FBI to address gang related incidents. This year, the Department applied for the federally funded “Community Oriented Policing Services” (COPS) grant to provide School Resource Officers for the high schools located within the City limits. Initiating a sanctuary city designation may compromise both the current partnerships and the potential funding.

What the top three issues facing Frederick’s west end and how would you tackle them?

The primary issues I hear from the west side of town are safety, development, and giving the area a “jewel” to attract people to the west side of town.

Public safety is a concern throughout the ENTIRE City, not specific to one area, and it has been one of my top priorities for eight years. We have increased police presence over the years with an emphasis on community policing, and I intend to continue and expand on that program to make sure our residents are comfortable with our police, so crimes are reported quickly and even prevented.

Residents on the City’s west side are anxious to see development, and the Frederick Towne Mall site is one on the top of everyone’s list. I have an excellent relationship with the current property owner and have met with them several times about the future of the site. Knowing what a pivotal element this site is to the City’s west end, we have been engaged since the sale of the property early this year. I directed Economic Development and other staff to work closely with the owner as plans for the property begin to materialize.

Finally, the west side of the City needs a draw, and I believe that is the Westside Regional Park. I created a Task Force to determine the specific elements to be included in the park that would benefit as many City residents and visitors as possible, and to identify partnerships, user groups, and sponsors to assist the City by providing the necessary funding to make this project into a reality. I am committed to creating a regional park on this site that will be a jewel in our City’s already impressive park system.

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