Business owner Deppa running for mayor

Laurie Sears Deppa is a small business owner who used to be in the Navy, two careers she said have prepared her for the city's highest elected office and that will drive her decisions and policies.

"We need to run this place more like a business for sure. More like the military and more like a business," the Democratic candidate said.

And those two experiences are what brought her to Annapolis and are behind her decision to run for mayor.

A disabled Navy veteran who worked in personnel, she came to the city to manage a hotel after she received an honorable discharge for medical reasons. She opened a spa at BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport and eventually expanded her business to other airports and downtown Annapolis. But it was her unpleasant experiences on Main Street that drove her to run for mayor.

She said she became frustrated with the obstacles she faced with city government when she tried to run her business downtown and what she saw as a lack of concern for merchants there.

When she opened her spa, Destination Relaxation downtown, she struggled to get the city's help with what she thought should be simple processes, like making improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. When her rent jumped from $7,500 to $10,000 per month she decided to relocate, moving to Westfield Annapolis mall.

"It's a mix of frustration over business, like the Market House," she said.

If elected she would create incentives to encourage businesses to stay in Annapolis, she said.

She said she believes she would work well under the city's current form of government, but does favor the city manager position that would be created under a proposed charter amendment.

"I think I like the city manager style. I haven't read enough about other cities" with a city manager, she said.

She's against another proposed charter amendment that would limit tax increases to 4.5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

Sears Deppa, 42, and a step-mother of two, lived in Philadelphia until she was 18 when she moved to Maryland. She made Annapolis her home 12 years ago and has resided in Eastport, off of Forest Drive, as well and near the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where she lives today.

She has a bachelor's degree in international studies from Towson University and a masters degree in international management from University of Maryland University College and is also a certified massage therapist.

She's been involved with the Rotary Club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Maryland and other civic organizations.

She said that she's a political newcomer who initially considered running for state delegate before deciding to run for mayor. But she pointed out that experienced politicians are responsible for the issues that the city faces today.

"A lot of these people seem to have experience but we still have these problems," she said. She compared the city to a "non-profit that's losing money."

Sears Deppa joins a field of six other Democratic candidates, five of whom have officially filed. The other candidates in the party are County Councilman Josh Cohen, Trudy P. McFall, Zina C. Pierre, Gilbert T. Renaut and Wayne M. Taylor. Alderman Sam Shropshire of Ward 7 has announced his campaign, but had not yet submitted the appropriate paperwork to the city as of press time.

Republican Alderman David H. Cordle Sr. also is running for mayo.

Another Republican, Frank J. Flyntz,, filed for mayor but withdrew from the race on Friday for unspecified personal reasons.

Chris Fox has filed as an independent candidate and will only appear on the general election ballot.

Today is the last day for candidates to register. The primary election is Sept. 15 and the general election is Nov. 3.