Best candidates for Annapolis environment
Annapolis voters care deeply about the environment. As a result, Annapolis has been a leader in protecting the environment.
In past elections, Annapolis voters have received advice about candidates in endorsements from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and the Capital. It appears that neither Maryland LCV nor the Capital will publish endorsements this year. The Sierra Club made some endorsements before the Annapolis primary but none, so far, for the general election.
The most important criterion for endorsement is a candidate’s record of support for environmental legislation. While this criterion inherently benefits incumbents, a voting record is a better predictor of future votes than the most sincere promises. Another criterion is the priority assigned by the candidate to environmental issues in their campaign materials.
For the 2021 Annapolis elections, some of the candidates chose to appear in nonpartisan videos produced by and viewable at actionannapolis.com. Some candidates also have given interviews to the Capital, which appear at: capitalgazette. com/politics/elections/voter-guide.
On Nov. 2, only the mayoral race and four of the City Council seats are contested.
Steve Strawn will oppose incumbent Gavin Buckley for Mayor. Strawn has not held public office. He has been elected chair of the Annapolis Republican Party. His curriculum vitae filed with the Election Commission makes no mention of environmental concerns. He does not appear to have a campaign website. His campaign materials focus on taxes, spending, public safety and other issues.
Gavin Buckley was elected mayor in 2018 with the endorsement of the Sierra Club and the Capital. Though he had no voting record, he made the environment a centerpiece of his campaign. His record on the environment, while in office, has been strong. His website has a long list of environmental accomplishments.
In Ward 5, incumbent Brooks Schandelmeier faces Monica Fenton Manthey. Manthey’s curriculum vitae makes no mention of environmental issues. She does not appear to have a campaign website.
Perhaps because she moved to the area in 2019, she has no local record of environmental associations or accomplishments.
Schandelmeier was nominated for the Ward 5 seat by the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee. He does not have a campaign website. He has been a reliable vote in favor of environmental legislation that has come before the City Council and has particular interest in climate change, public water access and smart growth. He sponsored a bill to limit the use of singleuse plastic bags.
In Ward 6, incumbent DaJuan Gay faces George Michael Gallagher. Gallagher does not appear to have a campaign website. His curriculum vitae mentions his prior service on the board of a land conservancy.
Gay defeated Gallagher in a special election for this seat in 2019. Gay does not have a campaign website but other campaign materials reflect a strong interest in and understanding of environmental issues. He also has been a reliable vote in favor of environmental measures before the council.
In Ward 8, incumbent Ross Arnett faces Rock Toews. Toews unsuccessfully ran for this seat in 2009. His campaign materials show no evidence that the environment is a priority. His main concerns seem to be with budget issues.
Arnett has a long and strong record on environmental issues and has supported most environmental bills before the council.
The environmental commitment of incumbents Gavin Buckley, Brooks Schandelmeier, DaJuan Gay and Ross Arnett, documented in the record of their service on the council, makes them the clear choices for environmental voters.
In Ward 2, Karma O’Neil and Scott Gibson for an open seat. Neither has held office before. Their websites give passing mention of environmental concerns but not as priorities. Both appear in actionannapolis.com videos. Voters may find them helpful. Because Gibson’s emphasis on cutting taxes and spending may be equated with the false choice of protecting the environment or a strong economy, O’Neill is the best choice for environmental voters.