I have filed my candidacy for Mayor of Chestertown. During my time as a member of the Town Council, I have come to appreciate the deep challenges, as well as the unique opportunities, that confront Chestertown. I have also worked hard to build the relationships that will be so important to the ability of our next Mayor to lead our community forward.
To help prepare me for the challenges of executive leadership in a small town, I have completed 16 Core and 20 Elective training classes through the Maryland Municipal League’s Academy of Excellence in Local Governance from the University of Maryland. These classes, and meeting and sharing information with experts in their fields and elected officials around the State, have given me invaluable insight and ideas that I have shared and will continue to share and network with businesses, organizations, police and emergency responders, and residents.
I think it important that the voters of Chestertown have an appreciation for the agenda I will pursue if I am fortunate enough to be elected Mayor on November 5. There are three primary areas on which I plan to focus. Although promoting Chestertown should be everyone’s job, I believe it falls to the Mayor to create a culture that fosters marketing and innovation. I have and will continue to champion Chestertown at every opportunity, and I will work with our county commissioners to re-launch an economic development office dedicated to advancing our entire region. It has been a privilege to serve as a member of the Chestertown-Washington College Waterfront Revitalization Task Force. The waterfront is one of Chestertown’s most distinctive attributes and enduring competitive advantages. As Mayor, I will work to advance the areas of common-cause that exist between the College and the Town for the advantage of our entire community. Finally, I will focus on economic growth, smart growth, that will shift any future need to grow property tax revenue from present homeowners to expanded growth in new enterprises.
Chestertown has been my home for more than 40 years. It is where I raised my children. It is a place where we all feel connected by a common thread of community. It is where friends and neighbors share small-town values, where each of us recognize and embrace our role as environmental stewards, where we celebrate the artisans in our midst, where we support and encourage local businesses, and where we are committed to neighborhoods that provide amenities and a sense of safety for all under the dedicated protection of our Police Department and Fire and Emergency First Responders. As Mayor, I will work to preserve and extend this legacy. I ask for your vote in the election on November 5.
Thank you, Linda Kuiper
Linda Kuiper
112 Manor Avenue Chestertown, MD 21620 [email protected] (410) 708-4179
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