Plain Speaking: If we ignore party politics, we might get real change in Annapolis

Annapolis will elect a new mayor and City Council Tuesday. Although Annapolis is a relatively small city, its position as the state capital can make elections here more politically charged than would be normal for any other municipality of just 36,000 people.

When it comes to the races for mayor and City Council, partisan politics traditionally take a back seat to the more mundane needs of the citizenry. For the most part, folks are usually focused on simpler stuff, like who's going to fix the potholes in front of my house. That's not the case in Annapolis. Here, the "us versus them" mentality of political parties can carry the fever pitch of a national election.

There often has been talk of holding nonpartisan elections in Annapolis. But I'm not sure that would really alter the nature of how the process unfolds. I suspect it would be somewhat like a T-ball game, where they don't keep score, for fear of ruining some child's self-esteem. There might not be a scoreboard, but you can bet those kids keep score, and so do the parents in the stands.

In the Annapolis election, "change" is what it's all about. Widespread dissatisfaction with the Moyer administration has inspired virtually all of the candidates to latch onto this theme. In looking at the mayoral contenders, the question becomes who will really be an agent of change. On this measure, it's important to separate style from substance.

Democrat mayoral candidate Josh Cohen is talking a good game. He's a genuinely likable guy and well polished as something of a professional politician. But, he has the same campaign manager as Mayor Moyer. Businesses, lawyers and unions account for the bulk of his campaign donations, just as they did for Moyer. And, he advocates the same "strong mayor" system we experienced under the Moyer administration.

Just as many are still waiting for the "change" promised by the Obama campaign, I fear candidate Cohen's idea of "change" might turn out to be little more than a superficial slogan, designed primarily for the purposes of getting elected.

Independent mayoral candidate Chris Fox would surely shake things up. However, as someone who has never been vetted by holding previous political office, he's a bit of an unknown. Furthermore, his lack of playing time on the field could make it difficult for him to implement the policies he endorses. This being said, I have great appreciation for the concept of a candidate who is unfettered by the taint of a political machine. But, given the very difficult challenges in front of us, putting a rookie in the game is risky business.

Republican mayoral candidate Dave Cordle probably offers the most legitimate promise of "change," as well as the ability to actually execute the changes that are part of his platform. Unlike the other two mayoral candidates, Cordle endorses both the city manager and tax cap propositions, and he has already introduced legislation to that effect.

These issues are important to many Annapolitans, as witnessed by the thousands who have already signed the city manager and tax cap petitions. Plus, as a two-term alderman, Cordle is familiar with how to work the system; he knows where all the skeletons are buried. If change is what you want, Cordle most likely holds the best chance of making "change" a reality.

So, regardless of whether you're a Democrat, Independent, Republican or none of the above, try to get beyond party affiliation, the flashy, four-color flyers and all the empty rhetoric.

In the end, it's the issues that matter, and who you believe can truly bring change about. In this election, I will be voting Cordle (Republican) for mayor and Arnett (Democrat) for alderman. As a citizen of Annapolis, that's my best bet on "real change."