Ijamsville’s Colleen Cusimano (at right), a FCPS’ BOE candidate, chats with fellow Ijamsville resident Shirley Shanton at the UVFD after telling attendees why she is running for a spot on the Board.
Urbana Civic Association (UCA) President Linda Ropelewski was pleased with the turnout at Urbana’s candidates’ forum. “There are a very large number of candidates in this year’s field,” she said about the nearly 50 candidates and approximately 80 concerned voters who gathered at the Urbana Volunteer Fire Department (UVFD). “Residents need to make important choices, and they need to get all the information, and this is the best place to do that.”
Each primary candidate was given one minute to talk directly to audience members.
Many attendees brought with them their specimen ballots they had received in the mail, placing check marks near a candidate’s name when they liked what they heard.
A crowd favorite was Democratic Frederick Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) candidate Michael Kurtianyk for his remarks about PATH.
“As a county commissioner, I would use the powers of my office to work with the local citizens in order to stop this from occurring. Together, we would protest, testify and rally all parties, both locally and statewide, to stop this,” he said.
Over on the Republican side, BOCC candidate Billy Shreve asked voters, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” He was met with a grumble, then thunderous applause.
One VOU resident who moved to the county two years ago from New York said she was interested in the BOCC race. “I always listened to Blaine Young on the radio ever since I’ve moved here. He really is my main attraction. I really wanted to hear what he had to say,” she said about Monrovia’s incumbent commissioner running for reelection.
Current County Commissioner Kai Hagen wants one of five Democratic spots on the General election ballot but expressed his concerns over those who would ultimately be elected to the next BOCC. Hagen, who helped author The Comprehensive Plan, one that he touted as a “smart growth” plan and not “no growth,” believes the plan must be kept intact.
Roy Taylor of Urbana shed his typical “coach” title for the night, becoming a Republican candidate for county commissioner. “I know too many people who have had their house foreclosed,” he said. “The economy has to get better.”
Some residents said they are losing confidence in Frederick County Public School’s (FCPS) Board of Education (BOE), primarily because of its math curriculum and also because of a lack of transparency when it comes to the budget. Appearing on behalf of her colleague, BOE member Jean Smith, who is running for reelection but was absent due to health matters, BOE member Bonnie Borsa defended the record of the current board.
Ijamsville’s Colleen Cusimano disagrees with Borsa’s assertions and wants to win a seat for herself. “I keep hearing the same concerns from parents over-and-over: The Board and management team continue to put themselves first and our kids last,” she said.
Cusimano said she has enjoyed her run for the Board thus far and all the attention it brings with it. “A lot of moms are saying, ‘Thank you for doing what you are doing.’ They feel that they don’t have the time to run, so I feel like I am their voice.”
VOU’s Barrie Ciliberti is also a BOE candidate. His concerns lie with other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, overpowering American children when it comes to mathematics. As far as he is concerned, the controversial TERC Math must go.
Both Republican candidates for District 3B’s House of Delegates’ race were in attendance.
Brunswick’s Michael Hough spoke about his continued promise to vote against any tax increases. His opponent, Charles Jenkins, reminded voters about his strong ties to the Urbana community: his work improving area roads, ensuring that more ball fields are built for area youth to play on, and supporting the UVFD’s quest for new emergency vehicles.
“I do know Urbana,” Jenkins said.
State Senator Alex Mooney, a Republican from Urbana, asked voters to review his 12 years in office as a state senator from District 3, during which, he said, he chose not to raise taxes.
Jonathan Broadhurst of Urbana was glad he came to the forum. His goal was to learn if he would be voting for a person or a politician on September 14. “I want to see if they are talking around the truth just to appease everyone,” he said.