Dougherty for mayor in Havre de Grace; Craig, Correri and Wagner for city council
An editorial from The Record
Some years, voters in Havre de Grace face the prospect of going to the polls with relatively few realistic options when it comes to picking a mayor and city council members. That’s not the case this year.
Two well-established local political figures are running serious campaigns for mayor.
The six people seeking the three seats on the city council when voters cast ballots May 3 includes owners of prosperous small businesses, a scientist, people with corporate management experience, city natives who have chosen to stay as well as people from elsewhere who have chosen to call Havre de Grace home. It’s reasonable to argue there’s not a dud in the bunch.
But there can be only one mayor and three council members elected to serve this time around, and those of us who have had a front row seat to the city’s political comings and goings suggest voters stick primarily with the incumbents.
In the mayor’s race, while Mitch Shank offers a lot of experience in government and a lot of good ideas, over the years he has shown more of a legislative temperament, that is to say he’s been a rather forceful advocate for his positions. This works when you’re one of six, as on the city council where Shank currently serves, but such an approach doesn’t work particularly well when you’re an executive trying to accommodate the needs of department heads and fellow elected officials.
Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Wayne Dougherty has established himself as someone who is able to advocate for his positions while also realizing the need to negotiate to get at least a majority of his agenda approved.
For this reason, and because he has shown himself to be effective in the job, we endorse Dougherty for mayor.
Similarly, on the council side, we see the incumbents as part of a rather smoothly operating government. Randy Craig, the latest member of the Craig dynasty to serve in city government, has done a good job in his time in office. And John Correri, most recently appointed to fill a council vacancy, has re-established that he functions much better as a councilman than as a mayor. His experience serves the city well.
The seat Shank leaves vacant to run for mayor will be filled with a newcomer. While any of them could probably do a decent job, we recommend Barbara Wagner for the position.
As co-owner of Bahoukas Antique Mall with her husband, she brings a small-business perspective, that’s also tempered by her having a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and experience in the corporate world of pharmaceutical sales. While unproved politically, she does bring a lot to the table.
When voters cast ballots on May 3, we recommend they vote for Wayne Dougherty for mayor, and for council, John Correri, Randy Craig and Barbara Wagner.
Two well-established local political figures are running serious campaigns for mayor.
The six people seeking the three seats on the city council when voters cast ballots May 3 includes owners of prosperous small businesses, a scientist, people with corporate management experience, city natives who have chosen to stay as well as people from elsewhere who have chosen to call Havre de Grace home. It’s reasonable to argue there’s not a dud in the bunch.
But there can be only one mayor and three council members elected to serve this time around, and those of us who have had a front row seat to the city’s political comings and goings suggest voters stick primarily with the incumbents.
In the mayor’s race, while Mitch Shank offers a lot of experience in government and a lot of good ideas, over the years he has shown more of a legislative temperament, that is to say he’s been a rather forceful advocate for his positions. This works when you’re one of six, as on the city council where Shank currently serves, but such an approach doesn’t work particularly well when you’re an executive trying to accommodate the needs of department heads and fellow elected officials.
Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Wayne Dougherty has established himself as someone who is able to advocate for his positions while also realizing the need to negotiate to get at least a majority of his agenda approved.
For this reason, and because he has shown himself to be effective in the job, we endorse Dougherty for mayor.
Similarly, on the council side, we see the incumbents as part of a rather smoothly operating government. Randy Craig, the latest member of the Craig dynasty to serve in city government, has done a good job in his time in office. And John Correri, most recently appointed to fill a council vacancy, has re-established that he functions much better as a councilman than as a mayor. His experience serves the city well.
The seat Shank leaves vacant to run for mayor will be filled with a newcomer. While any of them could probably do a decent job, we recommend Barbara Wagner for the position.
As co-owner of Bahoukas Antique Mall with her husband, she brings a small-business perspective, that’s also tempered by her having a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and experience in the corporate world of pharmaceutical sales. While unproved politically, she does bring a lot to the table.
When voters cast ballots on May 3, we recommend they vote for Wayne Dougherty for mayor, and for council, John Correri, Randy Craig and Barbara Wagner.
