Cohen Wins by Narrow Margin
By Nadja Maril
Strong voter turn-out yesterday to vote in yesterday’s elections propelled the democratic party to a clean sweep victory in the City of Annapolis, Unless the absentee and provisional ballots, that will be counted today, sway the current results, only one Republican will be part of the 2010 city council—Frederick M. Paone, the encumbent who ran unopposed in Ward Two.
Josh Cohen, current Annapolis area County Councilman and former Annapolis Alderman will be the new mayor of Annapolis.
The vote count spread was close between the two top contenders. Josh Cohen received 3,729 votes, while republican Dave Cordle received 3,494. The big surprise was Chris Fox, who ran a well organized campaign as an independent but only received 1,056 votes.
In a town where the voter registration of Democrats to Republicans is approximately two to one, Democrats showed their muscle. While contentions ran high with a flyer aimed at promoting bigotry and anti-gay sentiment against Republican Scott Bowling who challenged the seat in Ward Three held by Finance Chair Classy Hoyle, most candidates and campaigners were amiable on election day as voters visited their various assigned precincts to vote for alderman and mayor. Hoyle garnered 400 votes compared to 270 voted for Mortgage Banker Scott Bowling, Bowling, previously a Democrat, ran against Hoyle in the 2005 Democratic primary and was defeated two to one.
Matthew Silverman, an Anne Arundel County police officer, will be the new alderman for Ward Five, replacing David Cordle and defeating Jim Conley, CEO of Martin Mortgage Associates, 775 to 533, Kenny Kirby who ran on a platform that stressed improving transportation and reducing crime defeated historian and retired non-profit executive Greg Stiverson with 304 votes to 208 votes in ward six, a seat formerly held by Julie Stankovic.
Ian Pfeiffer , a federal lobbyist and Government Relations Consultant, defeated Republican Jennifer Monteith in Ward Seven, narrowly with 492 votes to 439 votes. Surprising was the tight race in Ward Eight between Ross Arnett with 757 votes and Rick Toews with 655 votes. Ross the Incumbent, retired from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been a champion of the City Manager form of government and has been a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility.
Election results will not be official until the absentee votes are counted.
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