Ward 6 to choose between historian, civil servant

Ward 6 voters must choose between two candidates whose lives began in similar situations, but whose opportunities put them on dramatically different paths.

Greg Stiverson, a Republican, and Ken Kirby, a Democrat, both grew up in poverty, but beyond that, their stories are opposites.

Stiverson, 63, was born and raised in Washington state, worked in apple orchards and the U.S. Forestry Service. After college, he earned a doctorate in history from Johns Hopkins University. He has spent his entire career and much of his volunteer time in positions related to history, preservation or the arts.

He has been in Annapolis since 1975 and is currently retired, but is a member of several historic, academic and performing-arts-related organizations.

"Our neighborhoods are very integrated. … It's really best to have someone who represents the interest of the whole ward," Stiverson said.

Kirby, 54, is a native Annapolitan. He once lived in Eastport and Obery Court. He attended York College of Pennsylvania and left to play professional basketball - he's 6 feet 7 inches tall - in Europe.

When he returned to the United States, he worked for the public-housing authority in Boston and has spent time in Atlanta and Tennessee, passing in and out of Annapolis between taking jobs out of state. He has worked in the Annapolis Housing Authority, but is currently unemployed.

He said most of his career has focused on public housing, particularly programs for children. He has lived in Annapolis for the past four years, he said.

"I intend to tackle things that divide in this city," Kirby said. "And a lot of that breaks down on social and economic lines."

The two are running to replace one-term incumbent Julie Stankivic, a Republican, who is not running for re-election.

During her four years on the council, Stankivic earned a reputation for thorough knowledge on legislation, hard questions and votes against bills, particularly ones that would cost the city monmoney. When she was voted into office she ran as an independent.

Ward 6 is sandwiched between Eastport and Forest Drive and includes nearly half of the public housing in the city. There are 1,229 registered Democrats, 285 Republicans and 291 independents in the ward. The ward's lines were redrawn in 2001 to purposely give an African-American majority there.

Both candidates are focusing on addressing the symptoms of economic disparity in their ward, particularly crime.

They both said they agree the housing authority's banning list policy needs to be changed.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the city in August. On behalf of 11 people banned from public-housing property, the ACLU alleged the list prevented people from visiting family and friends, a violation of their right to assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment. Some of them were banned from the property even though they were not convicted of a crime.

"I have a concern, however, with this banning list," Stiverson said. "I have a fundamental belief that you are innocent until proven guilty."

Kirby said he thinks the banning list is an effective and - considering the lawsuit - pricey tool for addressing crime in public housing. But he agrees with Stiverson that banning people who have not been convicted is unfair.

Public housing

More needs to be done to address the needs of people in public housing, Kirby said. The city can spend money more effectively there and develop a better relationships with residents and the housing authority, he said.

"I can walk into any public housing (neighborhood) in the community and say the tough things … clean your household first," Kirby said.

As a person who grew up in public housing and later worked there, he said he already has a rapport with residents.

Stiverson compared the location of the city's public-housing communities to that of reservations of Native Americans - out of sight, out of mind. As such, these "reservations for low-income folks" have been neglected.

To end the isolation, City Council members, particularly the representative from his ward, should be at the Housing Authority's monthly meetings. And occasionally, the City Council should be brought to them, he said.

At least once a quarter the council shouldn't meet in its chambers as usual, but in a different venue in the wards, he said.

Kirby's liens

Kirby has had several liens filed against him and a drunken-driving charge, records show. In an interview, Kirby said the liens go back to 1986 tax return.

He and his wife had recently separated, but one filed taxes jointly, the other separately. As such, the IRS filed liens, which total around $12,000. Additionally, he didn't pay child support, records show.

Kirby said he has never been a wealthy man and at times could not afford to meet his financial obligations. But he said he has since passed background checks and is a trustworthy person.

The drunken-driving charge occurred in September 2007 after he drank too much after spending the day caring for his ill mother and drove home from a bar. Kirby said he was "stupid" for driving.

A judge gave him probation before judgment, a ruling where a person is not convicted unless they fail to meet certain requirements. Usually people are required to pay a fine and stay out of trouble for a period of time.

Editor's note: This is one in a series of previews of contested races for the Annapolis City Council prior to Tuesday's election.

Tomorrow: The Ward 7 race.