An analysis by The Capital of candidates' finance reports shows that campaigns are overwhelmingly financed by people who live outside city limits, businesses and developers.
For Democratic candidate Zina Pierre, slightly more than 11 percent of her campaign money comes from Annapolitans. In Democrat Josh Cohen's bank account, dollars from developers outnumbered dollars from city residents 3-2.
So far, Democrat Trudy McFall has raised the...
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YES, READ the reports - 2009-08-31 19:39:09
I just read the campaign funding reports.
[You need to go to the City page; then the right column re. elections; then the left column re. primary elections]
I couldn't find a smoking gun, anywhere.
BUT, I have learned that most of the money -- for every candidate -- is from outside Annapolis, and that most of the over $500 contributions are "involved" folks. That is, they want to do some business in Annapolis. Jobs, development, etc. This is not a surprise. And, no candidate is able to run a campaign without these donors.
Please tell me which ones bother you. I am certain that everyone can point a finger at your and my candidate.
Unless you read the reports . . . don't assume that you know that my candidate is worse than yours.
Paul
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Paul R. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Phony Baloney - 2009-08-25 14:47:37
I hope the voters aren't as gullible as Josh Cohen thinks they are. His material brags about how anti-development he is, with a cartoon of him holding off a bulldozer. But look where all his money comes from !!! A full ten percent of his war chest from one very big special interest. Plus $2,500 from a labor union planning to develop an inner West Street property. Take heed, Presidents Hill. That's your neighborhood on the line. Josh Cohen doesn't want a city manager any more than Moyer. When you see who is behind him you understand why.
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altha b. - annapolis, md - Karma: Excellent
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Jeff Collins ... Is he back? - 2009-08-25 13:16:08
Is this Jeff Collins aka Alderman Sam Shropshire?
I thought the Jeff Collins identity was retired when Alderman Sam was convinced to run for public office. I think there was actually a party bidding farewell to Jeff Collins. Hmmmmm, makes you wonder.
I guess the identity of Jeff Collins; like other things in our great City will live in
Infamy.
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Scott Bowling - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Campaign Fund Reports - 2009-08-25 09:03:34
I urge everyone to review the campaign fund reports for themselves (http://bit.ly/ioHZA. They reveal a great deal about the candidates (their supporters, how they handle money, etc.). This is particularly apparent in Mr. Shropshire's personal loans or who Josh Cohen is backed by. The information is all there. Be an informed voter!
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Jeff Collins - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Paul R's Thoughts - 2009-08-24 21:57:21
Paul R is correct that we need more discussion, less ranting in this campaign. I dont agree with his assessment of the comparison of Cohen and Moyer. (The comparisons are real and relevant.) Nor does he give reasons to support Mr. Cohen for mayor.
Josh Cohen was elected to City Council. Barely into the term he sought was elected, he left his constituents cold, ran for and was elected to County Council. (Fool me once.) Now, without completing his term on County Council, he again disappoints his constituents, and seeks the office of Mayor. (Fool me twice) In my business, we consider this job-hopping. This candidate has more interest in building his resume, and increasing his income than he does in fulfilling his commitments.
Further, like our current mayor, Mr. Cohen has no executive experience. We are concluding eight years under a mayor who has been more expert at planting flowers, then in leading a city and managing a budget. Mr. Cohens education and career experience give him no credibility or recommendation for an executive position. And yet, despite these shortcomings, Mr. Cohen is amongst the candidates most resistive to a City manager form of government, where a less qualified mayor can more easily be successful.
Mr. Cohen with Ms. Moyer and Mr. Busch, both who are rooted in machine politics, those politicians that make decisions based not on the good of the people, but on their own and their partys best interest. I believe that in this sense, too, a Cohen administration will parallel the Moyer administration. This will continue to provide a disservice to the citizens of Annapolis.
I strongly encourage voters leaning toward Mr. Cohen to carefully study the competing candidates. In my opinion, several are more qualified, and stand head and shoulders above him as a qualified leader for Annapolis. They are all more worthy of the office than Mr. Cohen.
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Dave Miller - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good
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Moyer Legacy? - 2009-08-23 17:21:36
Josh Cohen has been away from the City Council for years. He is not on Moyer's team any more than I am.
But the silly ranting of Cohen=Moyer is akin to the anti-Obama health care agitators and screamers. All noise, no thinking, and certainly not a understanding of the issues. Folks, we need rational discourse not bumper sticker sound bites.
Josh is probably the best choice for Annapolis. He'll get my vote.
But, if you vote otherwise, at least know why, and be certain that you know it will be a better choice for Annapolis.
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Paul R. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Cohen - 2009-08-23 10:33:46
I am not going to be so quick to say that Cohen = Moyer. I'm sure Cohen will be his own candidate with his own agenda when he is elected to office.
However, the amount of money he has taken from developers is disturbing. If he really wanted to send the right message, he wouldn't take ANY developer money, but I guess that is asking too much from a machine politician.
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R. Black - Churchton, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Cohen's Core - 2009-08-23 09:05:42
". . builders, zoning lawyers, architects, engineers, real estate companies and developers. . ." The Moyer campaign, supporters, and positions (anti-city manager, pro-union, anti-tax cap)have guided Cohen from the beginning. Now the Moyer contributors are on board. Anyone who votes for Cohen should know exactly what they are getting. More Moyer.
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B. Bolder - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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