Our Say: City Council will get new faces; here are our endorsements

Change is coming to the Annapolis City Council. There are three open seats: Dave Cordle, R-Ward 5, is running for mayor; Julie Stankivic, R-Ward 6, didn't seek re-election; and Sam Shropshire, D-Ward 7, ran for mayor and lost in the primary.

City Council members attend to constituent complaints and are the voice of the ward in government. Because there has been general disappointment with city government, it is critical for voters to select aldermen who have a chance to bring change.

Uncontested elections will return incumbents to the council in three wards: Dick Israel in Ward 1, Fred Paone in Ward 2 and Sheila Finlayson in Ward 4.

Our choices for the contested races:

Ward 3: Scott Bowling. Classie Hoyle, a Democrat, has represented this ward for two terms and has been a close ally of Mayor Ellen O. Moyer. She currently serves as Finance Committee chairwoman and has a good record of constituent service. She has stood up for race and gender rights and has been a voice of the African-American community. Although we have endorsed her in the past, our choice this year is Scott Bowling.

Hoyle would represent the ward competently, but as chairwoman of the Finance Committee she bears some responsibility for the rapid growth in the city's budget and a surprise increase in several fees.

Bowling would bring change and needed fiscal expertise to the council. His background in financial services gives us hope that residents would get tax relief without need for a tax cap. The Republican nominee has campaigned hard for the seat and we think he would serve the ward well.

Ward 5: No endorsement. The two candidates here want to fill the seat vacated by mayoral candidate Dave Cordle, who has established a record of fiscal responsibility. Republican James Conley touts his background as a surety bond writer, but his personal financial difficulties give us pause.

We are also uncertain about Mat Silverman, a Democrat, whose only significant accomplishment is five years as a firefighter and eight years as a police officer. He would certainly bring knowledge of public safety issues to the table.

Ward 6: Greg Stiverson. Kenneth Kirby, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully in this ward in 1993 and now has another chance to be an African-American voice on the council, representing the ward with the highest concentration of public housing. He says he was active in public housing issues while living in Boston.

While we recognize the importance of diversity on the council, our nod goes to Greg Stiverson, a Republican, whose 27 years in Ward 6 have given him a commanding knowledge of the city. He has served on many boards and organizations in the city and should be able to muster strong grassroots support.

Ward 7: Ian Pfeiffer. This ward would be ably served by either of the two promising candidates. Ian Pfeiffer, a Democrat who serves on his party's central committee, was a congressional staffer but now operates a government relations consulting business in Annapolis. Jennifer Monteith, the Republican, is actively involved in her church and owns her own consulting company.

The candidates agree on most issues facing the ward and the city. Our choice is Pfeiffer because his background in government issues would add another dimension to council discussion.

Ward 8 Ross Arnett. Incumbent Ross Arnett has found himself out of favor with his fellow Democrats on the council. He's a professional economist and, unlike the mayor and the Finance Committee chairwoman, saw trouble ahead on budget issues. He has been the conscience of the council and the voice of reason, earning our endorsement.

Republican Rock Toews has campaigned on a platform of fiscal restraint and strikes us as very capable. But with a group of new aldermen joining the council, it is important to keep veterans of proven ability.

We have been very impressed with Arnett, who has grown stronger as an advocate for crime issues in his ward and whose 32 years with the Department of Health and Human Services have given the city professional leadership.