The holiday promotion is meant to encourage visitors and city residents to shop downtown this holiday season.

From Nov. 28 through New Year’s Day, the first two hours of parking at metered or kiosk spaces in downtown are free when parkers use the ParkMobile app. Parkers can then extend the time by an hour for the normal parking cost.

At Mills-Hillman Garage during the same time period, the first hour of parking will be free when visitors use the ParkMobile app. Two hours of free parking at the Mills-Hillman, Gotts, Knighton or Park Place garages are available to visitors who shop or eat at one of the businesses that are a part of the city’s Park Shop & Dine program and pick up validation coupons.

On Dec. 4, 11 and 18, there will be $5 parking at the Park Place garage during Midnight Madness, an annual late-night shopping event in downtown, and a free shuttle to downtown and back.

City residents are eligible for two-hour free parking with a resident promo code at any time of the year at four downtown garages: Gotts, Knighton, Park Place and Mills-Hillman. The Calvert Street garage is free from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weeknights.

As of Oct. 31, fines for garage ticket violations have been reduced from $50 to $33.50. The lower fee was approved by the City Council and accounts for hourly rate of $3.50, a $5.25 administrative fee and a $25 violation.

Eliminating unnecessary fines at city garages, and instead charging only for time used, is one of the parking issues presumptive Mayor-elect Democrat Jared Littmann said he plans to work on once he takes office in December.

At the Mills-Hillman garage, these fees have been criticized for punishing visitors who misjudge how long they plan to park in the garage. Visitors are asked to pay for the parking they estimate they will use once they park in the garage, and may be charged a fine if they overstay if they do not extend their stay through the app or text-to-pay.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

This year’s Veterans Day marks 107 years since the end of the World War I.

Downtown Annapolis Veterans Day Ceremony

The Fleet Reserve Association and Mayor Gavin Buckley are hosting a ceremony at the Memorial Circle on Main Street at 11 a.m. Tuesday. If there is inclement weather, the ceremony will move inside the Fleet Reserve Club at 100 Compromise St.

The keynote speaker, according to the Fleet Reserve Association’s website, will be retired Fleet Master Chief Delbert Terrell. Terrell served for 36 years, including as  the fleet master chief to the chief of naval personnel.

In previous years, the ceremony has included a small parade march around the Memorial Circle, speakers and music. Following the ceremony, there will be a veterans’ lunch at 12:30 p.m. at the Fleet Reserve Club.

What is closed and open on Veterans Day?

Large chains are typically open on Veterans Day, but some government-run services and banks will be closed on the Tuesday holiday.

All county and Annapolis city offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.

The U.S. Postal Service locations will not be open and mail will not be delivered on Tuesday. UPS is open for pickup and deliveries on Tuesday. FedEx has modified services, but its offices will remain open.

Collection of trash, recycling and yard waste will not be affected by the holiday, according to the county and Annapolis. Anne Arundel County Libraries will be open on Veterans Day.

While the Stanton Community Center in Annapolis will be closed, the Pip Moyer Recreation Center will remain open during its regular hours, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The county’s Office of Transportation will be using a Sunday transit schedule with four routes in service: 201 Arundel Mills – Pasadena, 202 Arundel Mills – Odenton, 203 Glen Burnie – Parole, and the BWI Express.

On-demand transit, called Annapolis Go Time, will be operating in the city. Rides can be requested through the Transigo app or by calling 410-263-7964 to schedule a ride.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

Littmann had 73% of the vote as of the count Thursday, with only a few mail-in ballots and provisional ballots expected to be counted Wednesday. Robert O’Shea, the Republican mayoral candidate, conceded the race Tuesday.

The presumed mayor-elect served on the City Council from 2013 to 2017 and owns K&B Ace Hardware in Annapolis. Littmann was previously on the board for True Value Co., a role he had when he chose not to run for reelection in 2017.

He is set to be sworn in Dec. 1.

A week ahead of election day, Littmann laid out a plan for his first 100 days as mayor. Here are some pieces of that plan.

Short-term rental yearlong moratorium

Littmann said he would introduce a 12-month moratorium on new licenses for short-term rentals in the city during the first City Council meeting on Dec. 8.

During the moratorium, Littmann said the City Council and staff would look into how they can better enforce licensing requirements and reduce the density and quantity of short-term rentals.

In October, the council voted to cap short-term rentals to no more than 10% of housing units per blockface, or one side of a city block. Current short-term rentals will be able to renew their licenses through November 2027, even if their blockface is over the 10% limit. Starting in November 2027, the city will start a lottery system to decrease each blockface to the 10% limit; it will prioritize existing licensed rentals owned by city or county residents first, followed by city or county residents who do not have short-term rentals, and finally nonresidents who do not already have licensed rentals.

More than half of short-term rentals operating in the city do not have city-issued licenses, which they are legally required to have. As of June, the city had issued 283 licenses, but about 560 units are advertised on any given day, according to an August city Planning Department report.

Ward 1 Alderman Harry Huntley, a Democrat who sponsored the short-term rental cap, said he acknowledges the incoming administration’s intent to pause the issue to address the problem. But, he is currently noncommittal on supporting the yearlong moratorium. Huntley said he is concerned that blocking new short-term rental licenses could make more people open rentals without licenses.

Ward 2 Alderman Karma O’Neill, a Democrat, said she would fully support the short-term rental moratorium. She said a moratorium would allow the city to pause any new rentals and investigate how many short-term rentals are operating.

“I have residents that call me in tears. I had one resident that actually moved,” O’Neill said. “They sold their house and moved because they had a short-term rental on either side of them. They said, ‘We didn’t buy in a quiet residential neighborhood so that we could live next to two hotels that are having parties every weekend.’”

Identifying ‘leads’ for top issues

One of Littmann’s plans for his first 100 days in office is to identify a lead person in city government to tackle each of five top issues: City Dock, permitting, parking, public safety and short-term rentals.

During mayoral debates and forums, Littmann brought up his desire to have a point person in city staff to help people with the permitting process. Littmann has said the current process is slow and expensive, and providing examples of approved permits or someone ready to help could save residents and businesses thousands of dollars.

“My hardware store has been known for our culture. I want to bring that same customer service culture to our city government,” Littmann said during a forum in October. “So that way you get fast responses that you feel like the city cares about you, is professionally run, and that things work the way you expect them to.”

Parking reforms

Littmann said the city will meet with parking vendors to work on clearer signage and removing fines when people underpay in advance, instead of charging for time parked.

He called the current parking systems in Annapolis “anti-customer friendly,” in an interview in October. Littmann has also said that having multiple apps to park in different areas of downtown makes parking too complicated.

O’Neill, who leads the city’s transportation committee, said she is hopeful for Littmann’s proposed changes to downtown parking, but said it would probably take some time to simplify parking downtown due to the multiple parking vendors operating. She supports moving all the city garages into a parking system like Gott’s Court Garage, which charges based on time parked.

“I do believe that there is going to be a change. There can be a change, and it’s just a matter of us working out the negotiations,” O’Neill said.

Budget

One major task Littmann will have to complete in spring 2026 is crafting the fiscal 2027 budget. In his 100-day plan, Littmann says he wants to “further align city resources with residents’ key priorities to make sure the city delivers reliable services that people want.” To do this, Littmann said he wants city staff to track expected outcomes from budget items.

He also wants to audit police and fire staffing, which became a popular topic among candidates from both parties during the election. The police department has 116 sworn officers but is budgeted to have 125.

Littmann said he wants to ensure that both departments have competitive salaries and the right number of staff members for the city’s population.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

Democrats were poised to keep control of every seat on the City Council, if the provisional and remaining mail-in ballots are consistent with the latest tally.

Littmann had 6,312 votes, or 73.01% of votes counted so far, while his competitor, Republican Robert O’Shea, had 2,305 votes, or 26.66% of votes.

One more batch of results will be released Wednesday when officials will count provisional ballots and remaining mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Election Day and arrive before 10 a.m. Wednesday.

O’Shea, who is a consultant in the defense and medical industries, called Littmann on election night to concede and congratulate the Democrat’s win. The Republican candidate had campaigned on lowering property taxes and trimming the city’s budget.

Barring any significant changes with the remaining mail-in ballots, Littmann will become the next mayor of the city on Dec. 1. He will be replacing two-term Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat, who could not run again due to term limits.

Littmann represented Ward 5 on the Annapolis City Council from 2013, when he was appointed to replace Mathew Silverman, to 2017. The expected mayor-elect did not run for reelection in 2017, a decision he attributed to his positions on the True Value Co. board of directors and his own Annapolis Hardware store K&B True Value, now called K&B Ace Hardware.

He has campaigned on improving “basic core services” of the city, such as improving the city permit process and parking. Littmann said his campaign was based on “professional anti-chaos.”

“I’m going to be working really hard to make sure people are heard whether they voted for me or not,” Littmann said to the Capital Gazette on Tuesday night. “I want to be the mayor for all people in Annapolis.”

Littmann’s ability to get his campaign promises done partially relies on the City Council. The Thursday election results show Democrats holding on to every City Council position.

Ward 1

Incumbent Democrat Ward 1 Alderman Harry Huntley, who is vying for his first elected term on the City Council, leads after Thursday’s count with 976 votes. Huntley, who works in agriculture policy, was appointed to the City Council in September 2024 when the ward’s alderman, Eleanor Tierney, stepped down mid-term.

Unaffiliated candidate Tom Krieck, a former business executive and short-term rental owner, had 877 votes.

On Tuesday, in-person Election Day results had Krieck leading by 10 votes. Huntley gained ground with ballots mailed or placed in drop boxes. The Ward 1 election remained the tightest on the ballot, with 99 votes separating the candidates ahead of the final count on Wednesday.

Ward 2

Incumbent Ward 2 Alderman Karma O’Neill, a Democrat and events planner, remained in the lead with Thursday’s results. O’Neill had 876 votes. O’Neill has been on the City Council since 2021 and leads the council’s transportation committee.

Republican candidate Kenneth Vincent, a former FBI agent, had 471 votes.

Ward 3

Democratic candidate Keanuú Smith-Brown, a Wiley H. Bates Middle School social studies teacher, was still in the lead in the Ward 3 election with 567 votes.

The ward’s unaffiliated candidate, engineer Mike Dye, had 164 votes.

The current alderman, Rhonda Pindell Charles, did not run for reelection so she could make a mayoral bid during the Democratic primary. Pindell Charles earned support from about 32.9% of voters in the primary against Littmann.

Ward 5

Incumbent Democrat Ward 5 Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier, who works in health policy, maintained his lead Thursday with 597 votes. Schandelmeier has been on the council since 2020, when he was appointed to replace Alderman Marc Rodriguez.

Republican candidate Jack Papaleonti, a real estate agent, had 326 votes.

Ward  6

Community navigator Diesha Contee, a Democrat, was in the lead for Ward 6 alderman with 403 votes.

Republican candidate George Gallagher, who works in biotech, had 158 votes.

The ward’s current alderman, DaJuan Gay, did not run for reelection. At 22, Gay was the youngest alderman elected in city history when he was first was elected in 2019.

Ward 8

Democrat Frank Thorp, a former U.S. Navy communications officer, maintained his the lead for Ward 8 with 1,043 votes.

Unaffiliated candidate William Cunha, the owner of Oscar’s Coffee, had 612 votes.

The ward’s alderman since 2007, Democrat Ross Arnett, chose not to run for reelection.

Wards 4 and 7

Wards 4 and 7 both did not have competitive elections for their City Council representative.

Incumbent Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge, a Democrat, will keep his seat, and Annapolis political newcomer Democrat Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson, a former Anne Arundel County government employee, will represent Ward 4.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

Littmann, a former city alderman and current hardware store owner, had 4,291 votes, about 70% of the unofficial in-person votes, while O’Shea, a consultant in the defense and medical industries, had 1,798 unofficial in-person votes, about 29.5%.

O’Shea told the Capital Gazette late Tuesday that he didn’t want to drag out the election by waiting for the mail-in votes to be counted before he congratulated Littmann. O’Shea said he appreciated that during their mayoral campaigns, the focus was kept on local issues, not national ones.

Littmann said his campaign has promised “professional anti-chaos.”

“I’m going to be working really hard to make sure people are heard whether they voted for me or not,” Littmann said. “I want to be the mayor for all people in Annapolis.”

The winner of Tuesday’s mayoral election will take the reins of the city as two-term Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat, leaves office. The City Council is also set to have major changes as four members of the eight-member council did not run for reelection.

In the City Council elections, Democrats led in every race except in Ward 1, where 10 votes separated unaffiliated candidate Tom Krieck and appointed incumbent Democrat Harry Huntley.

The winners of the mayoral and City Council races will each serve four-year terms that begin in December.

Ballots that have been mailed or placed in drop boxes won’t be counted until Thursday. The final votes in the Annapolis election will be counted at 10 a.m. Nov. 12, when the final mailed ballots are allowed to arrive if postmarked by Election Day.

As of 6 p.m. on Election Day, 1,928 mail-in ballots from Democrats, 474 mail-in ballots from Republicans and 448 mail-in ballots from unaffiliated voters had been returned, all of which were not included in Tuesday’s results. The thousands of mail-in ballots that have not been counted yet could dramatically change the outcome of the city election.

Hundreds of mail-in ballots have been issued that have not been received by the city. Those ballots could reach election staff by the Nov. 12 deadline for mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day.

Annapolis voter guide: 2025 mayor and City Council races

Ward 1

Unaffiliated candidate Krieck, a former business executive, had a 10-vote lead with in-person votes against Ward 1 Alderman Huntley, who works in agriculture policy. Huntley is vying for his first elected term on the City Council after he was appointed to his position in 2024 following the resignation of Eleanor Tierney.

Krieck had 576 in-person votes, and Huntley had 566.

“This is about putting residents first and listening to the residents, listening to them, making sure that they understand that they have a voice on the council,” Krieck said.

Ward 2

Democrat Ward 2 Alderman Karma O’Neill, an events planner, led Tuesday with 623 in-person votes. O’Neill was first elected in 2021.

Republican Kenneth Vincent, a former FBI agent, had 379 in-person votes.

Ward 3

Democrat Keanuú Smith-Brown, a Wiley H. Bates Middle School social studies teacher, had 417 in-person votes in the Ward 3 alderman election.

Unaffiliated candidate Michael Dye, an engineer, had 128 in-person votes.

The ward’s current alderman, Rhonda Pindell Charles, did not run for reelection so she could make a bid for Annapolis mayor in the Democratic primary. Pindell Charles earned 32.9% of votes in the Democratic primary against Littmann.

Ward 5

Incumbent Ward 5 Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier, who works in health policy and is a Democrat, led with 447 in-person votes. Schandelmeier has been on the City Council since 2020, when he was appointed to replace Alderman Marc Rodriguez, who resigned mid-term.

Republican Jack Papaleonti, a real estate agent running against Schandelmeier, had 285 in-person votes.

Ward 6

Democrat Diesha Contee, a community navigator, led in the Ward 6 alderman election with 302 votes.

Republican George Gallagher, who works in biotech and has run for the seat twice before, had 110 in-person votes.

The ward’s current alderman, DaJuan Gay, did not run for reelection. At 22, Gay was the youngest alderman elected in city history when his write-in campaign won in 2019.

Ward 8

Democrat Frank Thorp, a former U.S. Navy communications officer, led with 679 in-person votes in the Ward 8 alderman election. Unaffiliated candidate William Cunha, the owner of Oscar’s Coffee, had 499 in-person votes.

The ward’s longtime alderman, Democrat Ross Arnett, chose not to run for reelection. He was first elected in 2007.

Wards 4 and 7

Wards 4 and 7 did not have competitive alderman elections. The candidates for alderman in the uncontested wards were incumbent Democrat Ward 7 Alderman Robert Savidge and Annapolis political newcomer Democrat Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson, a former Anne Arundel County government employee, in Ward 4.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

The election will determine the next mayor of Annapolis as two-term Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat, leaves office and was unable to run again due to term limits. Democrat Jared Littmann, a former alderman and current hardware store owner, and Republican Robert O’Shea, who does consulting for the defense and medical industries, are running against each other to be the next mayor.

About 2,725 people had voted in person in Annapolis as of noon Tuesday, with eight hours left to vote, and election staff had received more than 2,600 mail-in ballots by Monday.

Polling places around the city had lines of about 20 people at a time at some points in the day, including in Wards 2, 3 and 5.

The first round of unofficial election results, which will include only in-person Election Day votes, was set to be released Tuesday night shortly after polls close. To view results, visit capitalgazette.com.

The hundreds of mail-in ballots and ballots placed in drop boxes could dramatically shift the election following the in-person vote count. As of Monday, the city had sent out 3,420 mail-in ballots, 2,618 of which had been received.

On Thursday, election staff will count ballots placed in drop boxes and mail-in ballots that have been received up to that point. The final election results will be available Nov. 12, when the election will be certified and any remaining mail-in ballots will be counted. Mail-in ballots must be received by election staff by 10 a.m. Nov. 12 and be postmarked by Election Day to count.

While election results were not available in time for publication of this story, there are voter participation counts available by the party voters are registered to. Any voter could have voted for any candidate on their ballot, regardless of their voter registration.

As of noon Tuesday, 57% of in-person voters citywide were registered Democrats. About 67% of mail-in ballots received by Monday were from Democrats.

Throughout the city, candidates made their last appeal to voters, standing outside polling places with signs, treats and policy proposals.

O’Shea’s mayoral campaign had an electronic billboard on a van near the City Hall polling place and large signs plastered across the city promoting his plans to rein in property taxes.

Littmann’s campaign got a boost from a City Hall stop-in from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who touted the city’s Democratic candidates after he voted in his local polling booth.

“I’m so excited about what this is going to mean for the future of Annapolis, what it’s going to mean for the future of Maryland,” Moore told the Capital Gazette. “Now is the time for us to move fast, for us to be able to drive forward, for us to not just be able to push back against what we’re seeing from the Trump administration, but push forward, push forward for a new and a future-facing vision for the state of Maryland and for Annapolis.”

Ward 1 Alderman Harry Huntley said he had volunteers door-knocking on Tuesday, reminding residents to vote in the election.

Other candidates pulled out the stops to get more voters to the polls, including Ward 2 Republican alderman candidate Kenneth Vincent’s wife, Kerri Vincent, who was driving a van to the polling places from multiple senior living facilities and a public housing building in the old 4th ward.

“So we rented a van today and we are going on the hour, every hour, all day long, picking people up,” she said.

Capital Gazette reporters Benjamin Rothstein, Maggie Trovato and Bridget Byrne contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

The election will determine the next political chapter of the city as two-term Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat, leaves office and half of the current City Council is not running for reelection.

Of the eight city wards, six have competitive elections for alderman, the representatives on the City Council. Incumbent Democratic Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge and Democrat candidate in Ward 4, Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson are each running unopposed.

Annapolis voter guide: 2025 mayor and City Council races

The first unofficial results will be posted soon after polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The Tuesday results will include only in-person votes on Election Day.

On Thursday, the city will begin to count mail-in votes and votes places in ballot drop boxes. The final results are set to be released on Nov. 12, the deadline for mail postmarked by Election Day to be received by election officials.

Capital Gazette reporters are positioned across the city Tuesday morning talking to voters and candidates.

Gov. Moore casts his ballot

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, voted around 9 a.m. Tuesday at Annapolis City Hall. Inside the City Council Chambers, Moore thanked election workers for helping out in the election.

Outside City Hall, Moore spoke with Democrat mayoral candidate Jared Littmann and Democrat Ward 1 Alderman Harry Huntley, who is vying for an elected term on the City Council after his appointment last year.

Moore told the Capital Gazette that this is an “exciting time” for the city and encouraged Annapolis residents to vote on Tuesday.

“I’m so excited about what this is going to mean for the future of Annapolis, what it’s going to mean for the future of Maryland,” Moore said. “Now is the time for us to move fast, for us to be able to drive forward, for us to not just be able to push back against what we’re seeing from the Trump administration, but push forward, push forward for a new and a future-facing vision for the state of Maryland and for Annapolis.”

— Katharine Wilson

Ward 1 voters mixed on continuity vs. change

On Tuesday morning, both mayoral candidates and Ward 1 alderman candidates were talking to voters and waving signs outside Annapolis City Hall.

Early morning Ward 1 voters who spoke with the Capital Gazette had differing opinions on if the city should stick to continue the work done by the term-limited mayor Buckley or to change the city’s direction to address rising property tax payments.

Dana Mebane, a 60-year-old Ward 1 resident, said she voted for Republican mayoral candidate Robert O’Shea and independent candidate Tom Krieck because of their campaign messaging on taxes and the city budget.

“I think it’s really time for a change,” Mebane said on why she voted for O’Shea. “He’s not just making empty campaign promises … . He knows what can and cannot be done … . I think he has some good ideas that are doable.”

Dharma Pachner, a 54-year-old Ward 1 resident who has lived in the city for 20 years, said he likes the momentum that Buckley has had during his terms as mayor.

“I want to see the continuity in terms of what Mayor Gavin Buckley has done with the city,” Pachner said. “It’s very hard to get things done in this city; there’s a lot of competing factions. I like the idea of continuously finding ways to evolve this city, to make it … safer, more pedestrian friendly, more environmentally conscious.”

Pachner said he voted for Littmann and Huntley to continue work done by Buckley. Buckley has endorsed the two Democrats.

— Katharine Wilson

Ward 2 voters, campaigns out in full force

At Ward 2’s polling location, the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library, signs and campaign representatives were out in full swing. About 20 people were in line to vote just before noon  Tuesday.

Ward 2 Alderman Karma O’Neill, a Democrat running for reelection, had a pop-up canopy tent set out with campaign materials, including buttons and stickers that said “Vote Good Karma for Annapolis.”

Nina Fisher, a 68-year-old Ward 2 resident, said her top issue this election was the environment. She voted for O’Neill and Littmann, she said, because Fisher knew both candidates — Littmann through ultimate frisbee and O’Neill by working with the alderman on environmental signage around the stadium trail.

“She’s been very solid in the alderman position, and I see no need to change from what she’s been doing and how she’s been handling herself,” Fisher said about O’Neill.

O’Neill’s Republican opponent, Kenneth Vincent, a former FBI agent, had signs around the library and across the ward, emphasizing his endorsements from the Annapolis firefighter union. Vincent and O’Neill were both talking to voters as they walked into the polls.

Linda Davidson, a 74-year-old registered Democrat, said she voted for Vincent and O’Shea this election because their campaign messaging was more in line with what she was looking for.

The mayoral election wasn’t far away as campaign representatives went out to make their case. John Pantelides, the father of former Annapolis Republican Mayor Mike Pantelides, was holding up a large sign supporting O’Shea that said: “Taxes too high? Bobby O’Shea’s your guy! For mayor.”

Ray Feldmann, who has been working with Littmann’s campaign, sported a Littmann T-shirt while talking to passersby.

— Katharine Wilson

Lines out the door in Ward 8, Eastport

Ward 8’s alderman race had voters coming out in droves, with the line consistently stretching to the door of the Eastport Volunteer Fire Co. and sometimes out of it when a reporter visited around midday Tuesday.

Chief Judge David Beagan told the Capital Gazette that there were over 720 voters as of 2 p.m.

Going head-to-head are Democrat Frank Thorp and independent William Cunha.

Those advocating for the latter appreciate his views.

“I think Will Cunha is just what we need in this ward. He cares about everyone, not just down that way [pointing toward the northern end of Eastport]. I have been to his meet and greets, and I actually hosted one, and he is consistent in his beliefs and what he wants to accomplish for the people of Eastport, meaning all people of Eastport,” said Rosemary Katchmar, a Ward 8 voter.

“I think voting generally is a right that we should not take for granted, and it’s something that I think because we have access to it. It’s something that I have and will always exercise that right no matter what election it is,” said Catherine Roland, another Ward 8 voter. “I voted for Will Cunha. He does not have a specific party affiliation, and I think he’s used that to his benefit, in terms of not relying on what the Democratic or the Republican Party wants. It’s more directly what Eastport needs. And and I think he’s going to do just that.”

Some Democratic voters advocated holding the party line amid Republicans’ controlling all three branches of the federal government.

“I voted for Jared [Littmann], and I’ve known him from the hardware store for a long time. He’s a good guy, and I know his daughter,” said Jim Gomoljak, a voter. “I voted Democrat, which he is; that’s where I’m going. All Democrats.”

“[I came out today] to vote against the fascism that’s happening in this country,” said Dean Wickline, another voter. “I voted for Littman primarily because he’s a Democrat, not because I think he’s the best candidate. I voted on party lines.”

— Benjamin Rothstein

Candidates represent at Ward 3 precinct

Small huddles of the Annapolis Ward 3 alderman candidates and their supporters were formed in the parking lot outside the Mt. Olive Community Life Center around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Both candidates, Democrat Keanuú Smith-Brown and unaffiliated candidate Michael Dye, said they didn’t feel nervous about the results of the election. Smith-Brown said he’s grounded in his faith and said that it’s up to the people to make a decision.

Dye — who said he and Smith-Brown went into the center together earlier to vote — said he isn’t sure how he feels about the election and he’s OK with that. He said that this is “the people’s day” and they will make the decision.

Smith-Brown said he spoke with voters Tuesday about issues including homelessness, housing inequities and affordability. He said he’s focused on public safety, education and quality of life.

Dye said a lot of voters had already made their decision of who they were voting for before Tuesday. He said that in talking with residents of Ward 3, he’s realized that development is a major issue.

Although there weren’t large groups of people voting at the center just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Chief Elections Judge Dan McDowell said voter turnout was at a little over 300 people. He said that was more than they had expected all day.

— Maggie Trovato

Public safety a concern in Ward 6, candidates say

Ward 6 residents voted at the Eastport Community Center, tucked into the sprawl of residential houses that make up most of the ward.

The candidates — Democrat Diesha Contee and Republican George Gallagher — said they arrived early at the polling place that morning and were still there around 1 p.m.

Voters in Ward 6 are concerned about public safety, both candidates said in interviews on Election Day.

Chad Roberts, a Ward 6 resident, voted for Contee and Littmann. Annapolis being a small town, he said he wanted to be more involved and volunteered on their campaigns.

“We have the most public housing in the city, and a lot of great people live here, so we need to make sure they’re taken care of. It’s a safe place to live, a clean place to live, and everyone deserves that,” Roberts said.

— Bridget Byrne

Strength in numbers in Ward 2

Outside the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library Tuesday afternoon, a black sprinter van pulled up. When its doors opened, a couple of Ward 2 residents exited and proceeded to walk into the library to cast their ballots.

Kerri Vincent, the wife of Ward 2 Republican candidate Kenneth Vincent, said a lot of Old Fourth Ward residents, who are now a part of Ward 2, don’t drive. She said that many of them expressed a need for transportation to the polls.

“So we rented a van today and we are going on the hour, every hour, all day long, picking people up,” she said.

Kenneth Vincent said this effort is being spearheaded by a group of people, including him and his wife, who want to make sure their neighbors can get to the polls to vote.

Kerri Vincent said just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday that she and another group member had made eight trips so far. She said they would be making trips until 8 p.m.

— Maggie Trovato

Picking up steam in Ward 7

Ward 7 was expected to be quiet, as it had been during the primary election. Alderman Rob Savidge, the incumbent, was running unopposed.

However, Ward 7 saw over 400 voters as of 3 p.m., according to official counts.

One of those was Teresa Healey-Conway, a millennial. She works in politics, though not on any of the campaigns on the ballot Tuesday, so she makes sure to vote in every election for which she’s eligible.

“It’s important for us to have good representation on all levels, from president all the way down to your local community,” Healey-Conway said. “I supported Jared Littman, [I’m a] lifelong Democrat, so, they tend to align with my values. Not that I won’t ever give a Republican a look, but I tend to vote Democrat.”

Anne White was posted at Ward 7 to advocate for Bob O’Shea and felt the mayoral election alone is more than enough to bring out voters.

“I didn’t expect a big turnout because they don’t have a [competitive] alderman [race], or the Republican side doesn’t have an alderman candidate. But I think it’s been … I’d say fairly steady,” White said. “It’s an open election. I mean, Gavin [Buckley]’s termed out. So, it’s a clean slate.”

— Benjamin Rothstein

Uncertain about the future in Ward 5

In Ward 5, Democratic incumbent Brooks Schandelmeier is facing Republican Jack Papeleonti.

Around midday, the Pip Moyer Recreation Center had several volunteers campaigning in favor of Papeleonti and Republican mayoral candidate Bob O’Shea.

A central issue for many of their supporters is affordability.

“I want to be able to retire in Annapolis, and right now I can’t,” said Suzanne Duffy, who has been helping with O’Shea, Papeleonti and other Republican and unaffiliated candidates.

Other supporters came out for Littmann and Schandelmeier.

Mike Bzdil often runs into Littmann at his Ace Hardware store. He attended one of Littmann’s open houses, where he was won over.

“He’s a neighbor, and a lot of his philosophies and beliefs I fall in line with,” said Bzdil, a Ward 5 resident. “I’m not too excited about what’s going on in Annapolis with all the development and road closures, so I’m hoping for change.”

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

The city’s two-term Democrat Mayor, Gavin Buckley, is term-limited so could not run for reelection. Democrat Jared Littmann, a former city alderman and current hardware store owner, is running against Republican Robert O’Shea, who does consulting work in the defense and medical industries.

On Monday, Littmann told the Capital Gazette he was planning to door-knock in Ward 6 and Ward 1. O’Shea said his day was set for waving signs at passing cars on Forest Drive, making social media posts and talking to reporters about the City Dock Project groundbreaking.

Annapolis voter guide: 2025 mayor and City Council races

Half of the eight-member City Council did not run for reelection, and all seats are up for election Tuesday. Two seats have one person running: Ward 7 with sitting Alderman Robert Savidge, a Democrat, and Ward 4 political newcomer Democrat Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson, a retired Anne Arundel County government worker.

Here’s how to vote.

Voting in person or by drop box

In-person polling locations will be open in each ward from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voters must go to the polling location in their ward to vote in person but can drop mail-in ballots at any ward’s polling location.

There are new city wards as of this city election. There is a map of the new city wards on the city website. 

Election results

The first unofficial results available in the Annapolis general election will be available shortly after the polls close Tuesday. These results will only include votes cast in person on Election Day and will be available on the Capital Gazette’s website.

On Thursday, the count of received mail-in ballots and ballots placed in drop boxes will begin. Election staff will also certify in-person votes cast on Election Day during the Thursday count.

The final official vote tally will be available Nov. 12 when the city counts any mail-in ballots received by 10 a.m. and postmarked by or on Election Day.

No day-of voter registration

There is no Election Day voter registration offered in city elections. Only voters who registered ahead of the Oct. 6 deadline will be eligible to vote in the city election.

Who are the candidates?

The Capital made a voter guide with responses from nearly every candidate running for office and profiled every candidate running in a competitive race ahead of Election Day.

In Ward 1, the incumbent appointed Democrat Harry Huntley, who works in agriculture policy, is vying to keep his seat against independent candidate Tom Krieck, a former business executive. Huntley won his primary, against four opponents, with 51% of the vote.

Ward 2’s race has incumbent Democrat Karma O’Neill, an events planner, running against Republican Kenneth Vincent, a former FBI agent.

Ward 3’s election is between Wiley H. Bates Middle School teacher Keanuú Smith-Brown, a Democrat, and independent Mike Dye, an engineer. The current alderman, Rhonda Pindell Charles, did not run for reelection due to her unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for mayor.

Ward 5 Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier, who works in health policy, is running against real estate agent Jack Papaleonti, a Republican.

Ward 6 has community navigator and former nursing assistant Diesha Contee, a Democrat, running against Republican George Gallagher, who works in the biotech industry. The ward’s incumbent, DaJuan Gay, is not running for reelection.

In Ward 8, Democrat Frank Thorp, a Navy vet and board member of the Annapolis Maritime Museum, is running against independent candidate William Cunha, who owns Oscar’s Coffee.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@batsun.com. 

The project is slated to add floodgates, raise land to block rising water levels, install a new park and construct a New Maritime Welcome Center.

“We all know the urgency of now,” Rep. Sarah Elfreth, a Maryland Democrat, said. “We all know the grave public safety challenges if we don’t address the flooding.”

The flood mitigation project is more than five years in the making and has been a long-standing goal of outgoing Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. The groundbreaking Monday took place one day before the Annapolis city election to elect Buckley’s successor. Among officials in attendance was U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat.

The project is designed to protect the city from expected flooding events through 2060, according to City Public Works Director Burr Vogel. The project should protect the city from flood waters up to 8.77 feet above the daily average lowest level of the water, he said. That would have protected against the highest water level observed in city history, at 7.2 feet, during Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

The project would not be able to protect against a one-in-1,000-year flood event, Vogel said, but could protect against a one-in-100-year flooding event.

Last year Annapolis experienced about 120 flooding events, the most in the city’s history. Annapolis had possibly the 11th-highest water level in city history on Thursday, the fourth-highest within the last 10 years.

“We saw again last week how urgent the problem downtown flooding has become,” Buckley said. “We cannot wait any longer. The economic and community heart of Annapolis is at risk today.”

The flooding Thursday affected many city businesses, including the hot dog restaurant Pip’s, where 1 foot of water stood outside. Pip’s has its own pump system, but it was not functioning for about an hour because the store’s power went out.

The project is expected to cost about $87 million to complete, according to the city’s fiscal 2026 budget. Funding is set to come partially from a $32 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has not yet been dispersed to the city.

The grant is from the federal agency’s hazard mitigation grant program, as a repayment to Maryland for work done by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Annapolis waits for funds from FEMA, Buckley said the city is moving forward “responsibly” by adjusting the project’s timeline and “value-engineering design elements” to get the project started.

Other project funding comes from the city, a $10 million state grant, a $2 million Anne Arundel County grant and $3 million from a private donor.

The project is divided into two phases and is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete. The first phase, which will cost about $71 million, will include work on Dock Street from Craig Street to the water, including adding a park that will be 8 feet above where the current parking lot sits, constructing a New Maritime Welcome Center attached to the Burgess House, and adding a series of flood gates.

The park is set to possibly include a stage, splash pad and other additions that have been criticized at public meetings for being expensive and not related to the broader goal of flood mitigation. The park’s raised surface will function as a way to block rising water levels

, and the grass will serve to cool down rainwater before flowing into Ego Alley, officials say.

The second phase, set to begin in November 2026 and cost $15 million, will affect Dock Street between Randall Street and Craig Street as well as around Ego Alley on Compromise Street. The phase is set to include various flood mitigation efforts, including raised sidewalks, deployable flood barriers and a stormwater pump station.

The New Maritime Welcome Center, attached to the Burgess House, will be home to the new harbormaster house and a visitor’s center. The previous harbormaster house on City Dock was demolished earlier this year.

The welcome center is the subject of a lawsuit by Historic Annapolis, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the city’s history, arguing that the city had violated approval procedures. A judge affirmed the city’s decision in September, but Historic Annapolis has since filed an appeal.

Tuesday’s city election is set to determine the trajectory of the City Dock Project. Republican Robert O’Shea has called on the City Council to “pause and reevaluate” the project, arguing that the city should not begin the project without the FEMA grant funds, with pending litigation against the project and with some controversial aspects of the design plan such as a splash pad in the park and the design of the Maritime Welcome Center.

Jared Littmann, the Democrat running for mayor, has said that any attempt to change the project could further delay necessary flood mitigation.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. 

Navy veteran Thorp, who will be 66 on Election Day, is running as a Democrat against independent candidate William Cunha, who works in cybersecurity and owns Oscar’s Coffee, to represent Ward 8 on the Annapolis City Council in Tuesday’s city election. The ward’s current alderman, Democrat Ross Arnett, who was first elected in 2007, decided not to seek another term.

Thorp said Eastport is at an “inflection point” where things need to be done to help the maritime community and solve long-standing issues.

“We need leadership experience and somebody who’s done hard things, because we have a lot to do,” Thorp said.

Annapolis voter guide: 2025 mayor and City Council races

Thorp grew up in Eastport, he said, graduated from the Naval Academy and was a surface warfare officer. He became a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy, he said, at one point being the spokesperson for all Navy ships on the West Coast. Thorp served in various communication roles related to the Navy, including as a deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Defense, he said.

He later was the president of the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., for eight years, leaving that role in 2024.

The candidate currently serves on the board for the Annapolis Maritime Museum and is a part of the advisory council for Project Recover, which works to help families of American service workers who went missing in action.

Thorp started attending Annapolis City Council meetings in 2024 after a group of Ward 8 residents approached him about running for alderman if Arnett did not run for reelection. He attended council meetings and budget meetings before deciding he wanted to jump into the race.

His policy priorities are fixing traffic issues, reframing the city budget and implementing a “maritime vision for Eastport and Annapolis.”

The maritime community needs help to thrive, not just survive, Thorp said. He wants to have a permit point person for the maritime industry, block proposals that would shrink maritime economic zones, and work to improve programs to train people in maritime trades. The candidate opposes venture capital firms’ purchase of boatyards as well as house barges in the water, which he says block the waterways and take away maritime jobs.

“We need a vision that we ensure that the boatyards, and the marinas, and the maritime businesses on the water thrive because they’re the economic and cultural driver,” Thorp said. “We love Eastport and we love Annapolis because of the water. If the water gets built up in a situation where it’s non-maritime, we lose even more access to the water.”

But the first thing Thorp said he would work on is implementing recommendations from a 2016 traffic study and a 2018 parking report on Eastport. He wants the city to make a traffic control plan for major events in Eastport, like the Blue Angels.

Thorp said the city needs to ensure that the city uses tax revenue effectively and efficiently. He said the City Council needs to be held accountable for the property tax rate but said he could not commit to lowering the tax rate if elected because of the large projects needed in the city such as City Dock and improving Hawkins Cove.

Thorp said he wants council members to have an opportunity to share their priorities with city staff ahead of the budget process, so the budget process isn’t complicated by too many amendments with little data to explain their impact.

Richard Franyo, the owner of the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Eastport, serves on the Annapolis Maritime Museum Board with Thorp. Franyo said on the board that Thorp’s judgments are “spot on,” and he emphasized that Thorp would be able to devote his energy to being an alderman and looking at complicated ordinances and the budget.

“He brings a level of experience that is hard to find,” Franyo said. “I think he’ll really serve as a bridge between the City Council … and the mayor. I think he’s got a special personality that way.”

Asked what differentiates him from Thorp, independent candidate Cunha said he would be able to bring a fresh perspective and ideas to the ward. Thorp was asked the same question, and pointed to his own leadership positions and his availability to focus on council duties.

The current alderman salary is about $18,500, but the current City Council has raised alderman salaries to $32,000, starting for the next council. Thorp’s campaign has raised $39,770 as of Oct. 5 from donors other than himself.

Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com.

Annapolis election

Go to capitalgazette.com to read more candidate profiles and to view a voter guide.