All five candidates for two seats on the Chestertown Town Council are expected to take part in a forum Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The forum is sponsored by the Kent County League of Women Voters, and will be held at Chestertown Town Hall, 118 North Cross Street, second floor.
Seats for Wards 1 and 3 will be decided in the local election November 5, as well as a new mayor.
In Ward 1, Jim Gatto, the incumbent, is being challenged by Liz Gross. In Ward 3, a multi-term incumbent, Mabel Mumford-Pautz, has two challengers – Samuel Shoge and Alex Smolens.
The forum will be moderated by Dick Hawkins. After opening statements, the candidates will each answer two League questions that they have received in advance, and then the floor will be opened to questions from the audience. There will be time limits on all responses from the candidates. The Town Charter forbids mention of political party affiliation.
The Kent League of Women Voters asked all contenders for brief biographies of no more than 25 words. Below are their responses, in alphabetical order.
Ward 1
Jim Gatto (Incumbent) Education: architecture, planning, community finance. Professional: planner; community, economic developer. Council: established job descriptions; standardized salary scales; rewrote zoning ordinance; committee appointments, accountability; budget accountability.
Liz Gross (Challenger) Active in community, 15-year resident. Retired scientist and COO: financial, analytical, organizational skills. National Music Festival treasurer; established FoodLink program for Kent County needy.
Ward 3
Mabel Mumford-Pautz (Incumbent) As part of a very active Council, I have been able to keep moving Chestertown forward in spite of the economic downturn in the past four years.
Samuel Shoge (Challenger) Degree in environmental studies with a focus in public administration and policy. Member, Chestertown Planning Commission. Employee of Washington College. Lover of all things Chestertown!
Alex Smolens (Challenger) 19-year resident; KCHS, Goucher College, public policy. Interned U.S. Senate, Tom Daschle. CEO, Atlantek Computer Systems, Inc.; Board member and communications chair, Kent Youth.
For more information on the Kent LWV, see3 the website www.kent1.lwvmd.org.
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