Annapolis residents and candidates are going in and out of polling booths Tuesday as the city’s Democratic primary is underway.
Voters in every ward are picking between mayor candidates Rhonda Pindell Charles, the Ward 3 alderman, and Jared Littmann, a former alderman and hardware store owner. The winner of the primary will face Republican Bob O’Shea in the November general election.
Ward 1, 3, 4 and 6 have competitive alderman primaries Tuesday for four-year terms on the city council.
Polling booths and ballot boxes are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Capital Gazette journalists are deployed throughout Annapolis on Tuesday to cover the city’s primary election. Keep coming back throughout the day for updates.
Gas leak reported, fixed in Ward 3 precinct, Mt. Olive Community Center
Annapolis avoided a crisis in Ward Three after a gas leak nearly prevented residents from casting ballots.
It was a sleepy morning with a dangerous disruption at Mt. Olive Community Center where Ward Three Democrats cast their votes.
In the Ward Three primary, teacher Keanuú Smith-Brown and former Annapolis Recreation and Parks employee Debbie Odum are competing for the seat currently held by Rhonda Pindell Charles, who is running for mayor and endorsed Odum.
“It’s been very slow,” said Odum, who had been sitting and waving to voters from a lawn chair since a little before 8. “I haven’t heard about many issues. It’s been quiet.”
Roughly 30 people had voted by 9:30 a.m.
Dan McDowell, a retiree who has volunteered as an election judge for the past five years, said a few election volunteers noticed a smell creeping into the voting room from the kitchen.
The open setup contains a kitchen with a gas stove. Three pilot lights were out, indicating a leak.
“It’s just amazing to see them in action for something like this,” said Smith-Brown, who eagerly waved to passersby with the help of two volunteers.
BGE was able to secure the leak, according to Lt Tony William from the Annapolis Fire Marshal’s office.
Three people were evaluated by Emergency Medical Service and declined to be transported for further treatment. The building was evacuated for 10 to 15 minutes.
The fire department, whose union endorsed Smith-Brown, evacuated the building, ventilated the space and then allowed people back in, according to Williams.
Just one person was delayed from voting, but according to McDowell he waited patiently and cast his ballot when the building was cleared.
— Bridget Byrne
Ward 1 voters cite flooding, the environment as major concerns
Shepherd White, a 27-year-old Ward 1 resident, said when deciding between alderman and mayoral candidates, they were looking for candidates who seemed open, accountable and who had a plan related to food resiliency.
“A huge deal for me is having politicians who are in Annapolis who are very eco-conscious and prepared to make changes to the infrastructure of the city to make sure that it is ecologically sustainable, that the flooding won’t continue doing so much economic damage downtown,” White said.
Ward 1 residents Mary Morgan and Mark Schweitzer also mentioned flood resiliency as a top issue this election, as downtown has experienced frequent flooding in recent years.
Other issues for voters in the ward, home to the most competitive city council primary, included property taxes and short-term rental policies.
— Katharine Wilson
Rainy weather in the forecast
Very light rain was felt across the city this morning, as candidates were making their final efforts to get residents off the street and into the polling booths.
The National Weather Service is predicting possible showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, but candidates say they’re still planning to be out at polling locations.
— Katharine Wilson
State politicians make their way to the polls
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Rep. Sarah Elfreth and Del. Dana Jones were spotted at the city hall polling station in Ward 1 early this morning.
“I encourage you to exercise your right to vote in this really important primary election where everyone is on the ballot,” Elfreth said in a video posted to her X account.
— Katharine Wilson
Ward 3 Residents weigh in on the mayoral election
Denise Vauls, a 74 year-old Ward 3 resident, said she voted for Pindell Charles because she grew up in the Parole neighborhood with the candidate and because of Pindell Charles’ work in her community as an alderman.
“Rhonda is really a hard worker; she’s fair to everybody,” Vauls said.
Vauls said she wants candidates to discuss ways to add more police patrols in the neighborhood around the Mount Olive Community Life Center, where the Ward 3 polling place is located.
Henri Abrams, a new resident of Annapolis’ Ward 3, said he was voting for Littmann because of his track record owning a store and being on the board of True Value Hardware, adding that these experiences show Littmann understands contracts and budgeting.
“It goes back to what you’ve done,” Abrams said. “The man has a body of work.”
— Katharine Wilson