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Thursday February 9, 2006
Line forms for mayor's post

By PEPPER BALLARD

HAGERSTOWN

pepperb@herald-mail.com

A former mayor, a former councilwoman, an innkeeper, a liquor store manager and a customer support supervisor have applied to be Hagerstown's mayor, a position vacated last week with the resignation of Richard F. Trump.

Robert E. Bruchey II, Carol N. Moller, Bharat Patel, Edward F. Hood II and Patrick "Dean" Holik have submitted applications.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 15. Applications may be picked up at City Hall and dropped off at the Law Offices of Urner, Nairn and Boyer at 207 S. Potomac St.

Richard F. Trump, 60, a Republican, resigned as mayor Feb. 1, submitting a two-sentence letter without stating his reasons. He has since told The Herald-Mail that he quit over irreconcilable differences with the City Council, an all-Democratic five-member body.

According to the city charter, since Trump is a Republican, his replacement must be a Republican. Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a city resident for at least one year preceding an election and a qualified voter in the city, according to the charter.

The City Council will appoint the new mayor.

Those who have applied for the position are registered Republicans.

Bruchey, who was mayor from 1997 to 2001, ran again for mayor in 2001 but lost to Democrat William M. Breichner. He lost the March 2005 primary to Trump, but filed as a write-in candidate in the general election, finishing behind Trump and Breichner.

Bruchey, 47, of 905 Woodland Way, works in sales at Hagerstown Ford. He submitted a five-page resume with his application. He wrote, "Leadership by listening and consensus building, managing people, inventory, perseverance, quick study, great written and verbal communication skills," among the tasks he does best.

Moller, 70, of 1744 Edgewood Hill Circle, served on the city council from 2001 to 2005. She chose not to run for re-election in 2005. As a councilwoman, Moller helped develop and implement the city's rental licensing program as a fully staffed operation, helped get the Jonathan Street police camera system installed and helped implement a new bulk trash program, according to a list of accomplishments she submitted with her application. Moller was the founder and former owner of Carol & Company at 25 W. Washington St.

She wrote on the comments section of her application: "The council was elected by the citizens to do a "job." — I want to help them do it. I have great respect for the Employees of the City — and County — State. I would enjoy working with them again."

Patel, 45, of 1801 Dual Highway, has owned Best Value Inn on Mason-Dixon Road for the past 10 years and owns three other hotels in the Virginia area, he said in a phone interview.

He wrote on the comment part of his application: "Experience leadership with various organizations. Strong interest in cleaning up drug/prostitution problem in the area."

Hood, 37, of 128 N. Locust St., is manager of Market Lot Liquors, at 54 W. Church St. He wrote on his application that he was born and raised in the Hagerstown area and has lived within city limits since 2000, working at his family's business for 26 years.

"I know there is great potential for the revitalization of Hagerstown with great projects in motion and some landmarks completed," he wrote. "I have, since high school, read the Hagerstown newspaper every day. I am in touch with most of the issues the city has been dealing with and have a good idea what we, the city, will face in the next 3 1/2 years."

Holik, 33, of 133 E. Lee St., is a customer support supervisor at MICROS Systems Inc. in Columbia, Md. He wrote that he has more than five years of experience in management, including "departmental budget, staff and project" management.

"I would welcome the opportunity to better serve the city as mayor," he wrote.

He has a computer/electronics diploma from Herald Technical Institute in Fresno, Calif., he wrote.

Want to be mayor?

The deadline to apply for Hagerstown mayor is Feb. 15.

Applications may be picked up at City Hall and dropped off at the Law Offices of Urner, Nairn and Boyer at 207 S. Potomac St. Applications also may be downloaded at www.hagerstownmd.org.

Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a city resident for at least one year and a qualified voter in the city, according to the city charter.

Please add one more option: NONE OF THE ABOVE

Yea I would agree we need a NONE OF THE ABOVE option.

HOW ABOUT ADDING THE OPTION OF " OTHER, INSERT NAME """

I WANNA SEE WILLIE MAYS ON THE BALLOT !!!!!!!!!!!!

unfortunately, as of right now, this is what hagerstown is stuck with. a vote for Yossarian would count as "none of the above".

Thank goodness I cannot vote for any of the 'winners' shown here. I live in the county, thank you very much.

HELL, IN THAT CASE YOUR GONNA GET ALL THE VOTES, GOD HELP US !!!!!!

I rarely post on here but do view these threads fairly regularly. I don't live in the City anymore and I am no Bruchey apologist, in fact the way he handled many things when he was mayor were not to my liking. But, I would have to say that Bruchey is certainly the most qualifed out of the list so far. Someone said in another thread that the citizens didn't want him back in 2001 and that's why he was voted out. Fair enough, a loss is a loss is a loss. But it was a very close election that really IMHO hinged on two key events. Keep in mind the spread between Breichner and Bruchey was something like 68 votes or so I believe. First, Don Munson did not get along with Bruchey, particularly after Bruchey made the infamous comment about "shutting Munson up" concerning the University System of Maryland location. Munson asked his allies to vote for Breichner and cross party lines. The other event was a very unpopular rezoning vote on property at the corner of Eastern Blvd. and MD 60 (across from the old Sears store). The Council voted to rezone the land to commercial and the neighborhood was steamed. Although Bruchey didn't have a vote, he was a vocal supporter and it was close enough to election time that people remembered and he paid for it. I also think it's why Al Boyer was not re-elected either. I looked at the precinct numbers at the time and both Bruchey and Boyer did very poorly in that area. That's my $0.02. As if it mattered! lol

Well folks looks like we need to update the list with one of our very own, no names though...remember the forum rules, but I'll just say, wait to show some initiative.

Although scrambler and I don't agree on a lot, I agree with his recollection of events, but I think the difference was 63. It does not however, explain the other losses to Trump by 42 and the write in by hundreds. More importantly and I know Bob will kill me for this, but facts are facts....the loss to Donoghue the other year when republicans won every State seat in Washington County but that one. It was relatively close and if it would have been up to the kids vote, he would have had it in the bag, but the parents thought otherwise.

Regardless there are still days before the deadline, and many thoughts to consider before formulating an opinion on the most appropriate choice.

Where is B to save the day?

Kid, the council can choose basically anyone though, correct? Does the person you tap on the shoulder need to have applied?

Kid, my guess is you were talking about Tom Immer.




Well, I guess no one can be worse than trump.

I like what Immer says about being a referee at the council meetings!

He's got my vote!

Unfortunately Naomi, you don't have a vote. The 5 "enlightend" Democrats on the city council will make the decision with little or NO input from the community. Yes, they will appear to be "listening" but unless you find 5 volunteers to stand by them and plug one ear on each, the input they receive will go straight through.

Lets see, 5 Democrats looking for one Republican, hrm, I see a wet noodle Republican being found, so that the "Council" can run roughshod over them.

I would love to be a fly on the wall during the "interview" process.

I was j/k about voting for the ref. But I agree c, the residents of the city should be the ones voting in the new mayor!

TAKE THAT KID!!!!!!



Assassins!! Tom Immer is no longer one of us despite kid's constant assertions that I am Tom. I can assure you that Tom is not a cross dresser unlike some here.

Gee Wiz Naomi I AM SO HURT us ladies need to stick together.

I have no problem with the public being allowed to vote, especially given that the term has more than 75% left. However, the charter does not allow for this, which I'm sure will be discussed as part of the charter reform review. Also, I believe that a special election would cost approximately 25,000 to conduct. Yes we could select anyone, but they must apply as has been very publicly stated. And FYI ful, democrat and republican or any party affiliation at the local level, in my opinion, has not affect on how I conduct the City's business, nor is any seat but the Mayor a partisan election process.

I think this is a positive sign for Hagerstown. I truly didn't expect to see this many people apply for mayor, but maybe its because they didn't have to campaign. Were there even 8 people that ran in the election? I'm sure a few more will throw their names in the hat... will be interesting to see who they are.

I would stick with you Looky, but I think I'm one of the few that honestly doesn't know who you are, or Kid for that matter! I can't keep up with who's who on these political threads unless they use their real name!

I votes for Yoss. He and his sidekick (.357 Sig) would be a... calming influence -- and free security for McBean all in one!!

Run Yoss, Run! (Bet you heard that before!)

Well, i'd run, but unfortunately I don't live in Smithsburg...

I JUST HAD A TERRIBLE THOUGHT ,

if c. moller is appointed to be mayor that would put four women running the city ,

what would metzger do being the only male on the council ?????

OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD,




Naomi,

i'll try to clear up one name for you ,,,,,,, MY REAL NAME IS WILLIE MAYS //////////



I HAVE A BRAND NEW BLACKHAWK 44 SUPER MAG I'LL LOAN YOU AS A BACK UP ....

And that's a problem because? Careful how you answer this one.

PMSX4 Yikes OH please please by a man that replaces The Trumpster.

After reading all the rants about the City Council, I thought the problem is that none of its current members have any balls! X5!

AT MY ADVANCED AGE MY MEMORY IS FAILING ,

ARE WOMEN SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEM ???????

i think rowdys comments were to call me a girl, and since there 5 council and 1 mayor that total is 6, which if metzner were the only male would be 5 women...dumba$$

btw...i've been mistaken for a female many times b/c of my name, so try and think of somet ing more original next time.

Kid, from what Ive seen you are very competent and on top of your game. A true beacon of hope for good old Hagerstown. Keep up the good work.

Kid I hate to say it the firstt time you ran my girlfriend said "vote for all the women" so when I saw your name I voted for you. Maybe your name is an advantage who knows.

Have a good weekend

Tony

DID EVERYONE SEE THE CAT AND MICE POLITICAL CARTOON IN SUNDAY'S MAIL??

And that benefits the community how?....oh, I know, the writer actually makes a difference,and knows what is going on in the community. You know what they say about opinions, its just uninformed expressions of them smell a lot worse

KID---Well there are usually 5 different opinions on the council, does that mean it really stinks?

Are you telling us that unless a writer sits on the council they have no idea what is going on in our fair city? Whose fault is that? An uninformed public unable to hear a full and frank discussion of the problems facing the city can only blame those who try to obfuscate the facts.

hello looky ,

i really enjoy your writings but i dont know the meanings of some of the words you use ...

could you please bring them down to my sixth grade reading level ??? thanks

[quote name='ROWDY' post='48927' date='Feb 13 2006, 10:29 AM'][quote name='LOOKY LOU' post='48915' date='Feb 13 2006, 08:34 AM']
[quote name='Kid' post='48907' date='Feb 12 2006, 07:27 PM']
And that benefits the community how?....oh, I know, the writer actually makes a difference,and knows what is going on in the community. You know what they say about opinions, its just uninformed expressions of them smell a lot worse [/quote]

KID---Well there are usually 5 different opinions on the council, does that mean it really stinks?

Are you telling us that unless a writer sits on the council they have no idea what is going on in our fair city? Whose fault is that? An uninformed public unable to hear a full and frank discussion of the problems facing the city can only blame those who try to obfuscate the facts.
[/quote]

hello looky ,

i really enjoy your writings but i dont know the meanings of some of the words you use ...

could you please bring them down to my sixth grade reading level ??? thanks
[/quote

OBFUSCATE to confuse as in blowing smoke up your wazzoo

LOOKY,

OH , NOW I UNDERSTAND ,,,, YOU MEAN LIKE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL DO ALL THE TIME .

AND MCBEAN IS THE MAIN obfuscateR

I still vote for Yoss.

Clint did it -- you can too!

Kid - so now what, all of the application are in. Any timeline for a decision on when you guys will hand the throne to Bruchey?

I find it doubtful that Bruchey will get in. There are 13 other people to choose from (more than I thought there would be), and the city needs a positive change.

I hope Bruchey does not get in, but he seems like a safe choice (NOT THE BEST CHOICE)

I agree that he is a relatively safe choice because of experience, but I'm hopeful that some of the candidates will have some candor about them that the council members find warming.

Don't expect that candor will win over the council one of its members is already shredding documents or so she says

No to Bruchey! There is a reason he has lost twice in the past. To put him in now would be a slap in the face to those of us who did go out and vote.

Since Mr. Bruchey is reading this thread, I just thought I'd say that I have nothing personal against the man. Other than that bit with the cell phone and the lobbying to get the University System in downtown (which in my opinion was an absolutely terrible idea, I might add), he's probably a good guy.

However, the city needs a positive change. Please don't fill the spot with someone just because they've done it before... put a qualified individual in there that can work with the council and make good things happen for this city.

Well said Phluux. My feelings exactly.

I beleive that you will find that the list will be less than the 14 that have applied simply because some may not meet the minimum City elligibility requirements.

I'm sure you threw out the one that hasn't been a resident for a year. My goodness, she (if I recall correctly) might have been over qualified, and taught the "esteemed" council something.

what can i say, rules are rules

just like laws are laws, except for certain members of the council. hrm?

Want to try again?

you weren't asking me about that, which I have already state my opinion in the paper, in session and in other threads here, you were asking about the appt rules

i guess though you would see if differently if we would have changed the charter and simply appointed another democrat...

I'm sure that was discussed.

Your statements to the media, on discussion boards, etc, are nice for your self-esteem, I'm sure. Impress the residents and put your statements into action.

So come on already Kid or Cromer who did you guys pick last night in your secret little meeting????? Please tell us that you did the RIGHT thing and agreed with the public and the folks in this forum and did NOT just hand over the Mayor seat to the Bruchey.