City Council election features two uncontested districts

While Tuesday's College Park City Council election will not be nerve-wracking for the uncontested candidates in Districts 2 and 4, the three incumbents and one newcomer said they have used the campaigning period to hammer out their respective platforms for their two-year term.

For the most part, their goals align with one another, as each stated they will increase citywide public safety initiatives and fuel downtown's economic development.

However, most candidates cited one unique focus — including increasing the quality of public school education, amping up the community's efforts on sustainable practices and adding more accessible public transportation options downtown.

District 2 includes the Varsity, University View, the South Hill and North Hill dorms and South Campus Commons 3 and 4. District 4 consists of all the North Campus dorms and the University Courtyards.

BOB CATLIN

The 57-year-old retired economist was first elected as a District 2 councilman in 1997 and will serve his eighth term this year. Although he initially didn't intend to run for re-election, Catlin said he decided to enter the race at the last minute to fill the void, as only one other candidate was running.

Catlin named several key issues the council must face over the next two years, including public safety, economic development in the city and public school education. He said collaboration between the city and the university will continue to be at the forefront of his goals for this term, such as collaborating with the task force university President Wallace Loh charged to help better public school education in the city and safety in the area.

"I think with Loh and his initiative to work with the city on a number of issues, the easy answer is to work with University of Maryland and see how we can cooperate to make the city and the university a better place," he said.

MONROE DENNIS

As a member of the Lakeland Civic Association for 10 years and president for six, Dennis, a 69-year-old systems engineer, said he is running for District 2 councilman this year to take on a more prominent role in resolving issues at the city and district levels. He said his experience collaborating with other area neighborhoods and local associations has given him the breadth and background necessary for success on the City Council, and his main focus will be to tackle problems that affect residents' daily lives.

"Many of our issues in District 2, as well as the city, are centered around quality-of-life issues. Policing, safety, and protection of constituents and surroundings is of great concern," he wrote in an email.

Like other candidates, Dennis said improving development in the city will continue to be a priority during his tenure.

MARCUS AFZALI

Running for his second term as a city councilman in District 4, the 26-year-old account specialist said he believes the city needs to focus on three main issues — public safety, development and public transportation.

"We as a city need to continue to push for the Purple Line whenever possible," said Afzali, who ran for a seat on the council as a graduate student in 2009. "We need to do what we can to promote smart growth and mixed use development as long as it's in line with the character of our neighborhoods."

City officials should also focus on concerns regarding the population boom in the Washington metropolitan area, including College Park, Afzali said. In the U.S. Census Bureau's data released earlier this year, the city's population jumped 23.3 percent in the last 10 years.

"We need to manage it in an effective way and that means smart growth development and focusing on public transportation," he said.

Afzali said he looks forward to serving as part of the process to improve city issues.

DENISE MITCHELL

Also running for a second term representing District 4, Mitchell — 48, who directs a for-profit education firm — wrote in an email there are several important reforms she hopes to work on, like safety and sustainability.

After working with other districts to create the city-wide Neighborhood Watch Program, Mitchell wrote she will continue to emphasize collaborations within the city and with this university.

"I would like to host two Round Table Forums for students and residents in order to begin to engage each other in an open dialogue," she wrote.

Mitchell said she hopes to fuel economic development through the establishment of more transportation options and mixed-use properties. This goal is in line with the Route 1 Sector Plan, which is the guideline for development in the city.

"You are always on a learning curve because of the overall dynamics of your position," she wrote."

kirkwood@umdbk.com