Earlier in October, I wrote about Frederick, Maryland Alderman Green Candidate Joanne Ivancic:
Frederick, Maryland and Greens
More on Joanne Ivancic, Frederick, Maryland
Ivancic Media Coverage
Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 1st, is the election there.
You can read her answers to questions at:
Views on red light cameras
Positions on slots
Answers on ADA issues
Answers on infrastructure
Joanne has put me on her mailing list and she sent this out this week:
Dear Friends and Supporters:
We are in the final week before the election and I am getting excited and a bit sentimental.
I’m thinking of all the work that has gone into this campaign and want to thank you all. From the Sunday nights Baker Park concert petition drive to the walks through the neighborhoods delivering literature; remembering the brainstorming sessions and expertise given as we prepared position papers and got ready for the candidates’ forums; from the creative T-shirt design and “manufacturing” to the punching of holes and threading of rubberbands so we have doorhangers that stay in place and don’t mess up the lawns.
There’s been a lot of important work accomplished. And, special thanks, too, to those who have contributed financially. We would not be here without each and every one of you.
I know many of you on this list are out of town and unable to join us in person doing lit drops and helping people make up their minds to vote Ivancic for Alderman as they walk into their polling places to vote. I wanted to include you, to join the excitement and the nervousness as we work toward a WIN this final week.
News Article:
Frederick News-Post
Oct 12, 2005
Candidates address biggest local issues
By LIAM FARRELL
News-Post Staff
lfarrell@fredericknewspost.com
FREDERICK— Growth and taxes were the biggest topics when aldermanic candidates addressed the Frederick County Builders Association on Tuesday.
Candidates were asked to identify the three largest issues facing Frederick during a forum at Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant.
A common thread among the candidates, both mayoral and aldermanic, has been support for an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to prevent development from outgrowing the city’s infrastructure.
At Tuesday’s forum, several candidates expressed the need for caution in creating an APFO. Incumbent Marcia Hall (D) said an APFO must recognize the necessity of growth for the economic future of Frederick as well as the need to provide adequately for expansion.
“I think we need an (APFO) that strikes a balance,” she said. Donna Kuzemchak-Ramsburg (D), the other incumbent candidate, agreed.
“Growth is not only inevitable, but desirable,” she said. “We need to grow, but we’ve done it in the wrong way.”
Alan Imhoff (R) came out against an APFO. He said most houses sold in Frederick are not new; the bulk of property purchased is already developed so an APFO would not address the infrastructure needs in an efficient way.
Mr. Imhoff said updating the city’s master transportation plan and recognizing and preparing for Ft. Detrick’s impending development would better serve the Frederick community.
Candidates also addressed the tax concerns of Frederick residents.
Ken Berlin (D) advocated a system to lower property taxes and increase land value taxes. Mr. Berlin said property owners would pay less because land value assessments, which are far lower than property value assessments, stay fairly stagnant from year to year, only increasing if unused land is developed.
Mr. Berlin said this system is used in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pa., and other cities such as St. Paul, Minn., are discussing it.
“I think we need a discussion to see if the city can do this,” he said.
David Koontz (D) and Ms. Hall both said tax problems figure into the larger picture of Frederick’s economic development, and the continued buildup of Carroll Creek, East Street and Monocacy Boulevard could bring great improvements to the city’s financial health.
“We must continue to move forward with the building up of Carroll Creek,” Ms. Hall said. “Carroll Creek and Monocacy Boulevard offer potential solutions to (tax and economic development problems).”
C. Paul Smith (R) said Frederick’s economy needs to continue to establish an identity independent of larger cities such as Washington. Mr. Smith said the city needs to bring a diverse economic base including hi-tech jobs into the areas being developed.
Randy McClement (R) said Monocacy Boulevard could become a valuable business corridor with high paying jobs to keep Frederick residents in Frederick.
Also crucial, Mr. McClement said, would be the revenue from increased tourism after the Carroll Creek project is completed.
“We need to be able to bring people to Frederick for a certain reason,” he said.
Joanne Ivancic (Green Party) said builders in Frederick should be held to Green Building Standards which focus on the efficient and environmentally sound use of resources.
“(Green Building Standards) use our resources more prudently. It will help (the builders’) bottom line and the bottom line of your customers,” she said. “It’s looking down the line, 25 years, 50 years, and asking what city we want to live in.”
The need for a new approach to Frederick’s water problems was also discussed.
Mr. Koontz and Ms. Kuzemchak-Ramsburg both advocated constructing a reservoir for Frederick.
Ms. Kuzemchak-Ramsburg said leak detection in the city’s water system, brought up in the campaign by Republican mayoral candidate W. Jeff Holtzinger, and the building standards supported by Ms. Ivancic, would help the city.
“Your green space, your use of the environment, those are all things you need to consider when you’re building,” she said.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 