Election Day in College Park

College Park's residents will head to the polls today to determine who will lead the city for the next two years. They will decide the outcomes of contested City Council races in all four legislative districts.

This election has seen unusual levels of competition for council seats and strong interest from several student groups. As a result, today's race may include a higher level of excitement than in years past.

The Student Government Association is expecting 200 students to cast a ballot between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. today, and UMD for Clean Energy is hoping for at least 100 to attend its own 5 p.m. "March to the Vote" rally.

But with student groups and leaders publicizing council endorsements, and the higher level of interest that stems from a contested election, many are optimistic that students will make a strong difference this year.


Council election logistics

To vote in today's election in College Park, you must have registered at the address where you now live, and that address must be within the College Park city limits, which include the university. If you are registered at home, with your address from last semester or not at all, you can't vote for a council member.

If you are registered, you need to find out in which district your residence lies. College Park is made up of four districts, each represented by two council members. The city's website lists each address' district. To view them, click here.

Voters in Districts 1 and 4 will vote at Davis Hall in northern College Park, at 9217 51st Ave. Voters in Districts 2 and 3 vote at City Hall on Knox Road downtown, next to the new parking garage across Route 1 from the College Park Shopping Center.

The SGA is offering a van service that will leave from the Stamp Student Union every 30 minutes while the polls are open for students who can't easily reach their voting place, SGA officials said.

Each voter will cast a paper ballot in which they can select up to two council members; each district this year has between three and five candidates to choose among. The ballot will also include a section to vote for mayor; former District 3 Councilman Andy Fellows is running unopposed for that office.

Polls are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the votes will be tallied tonight after the polls close.


The districts

• District 1 (northeast College Park) has a five-way race that includes an incumbent and a diverse group of challengers. Few students live in this section of the city, but it suffers from crime, high foreclosure rates and a struggling commercial district. Beyond these issues, several candidates there have been focused on citywide environmental initiatives.
  
   
• District 2 (central College Park) has an increasing number of student renters, which has upset many of the longtime residents who make up the district's voting base. Its three candidates include the council's two longest-serving members and a longtime landlord who only recently settled in the city.
  
   
• District 3 (southeastern College Park) covers the student-heavy Old Town neighborhood, where residents complain of constant and serious issues with student noise and student trash. Its three candidates include two incumbents and a challenger who ran several failed council campaigns more than 15 years ago.
  
   
• District 4 (western College Park) has seen its two incumbents informally ally themselves against the two challengers, one of whom is a university graduate student. The challengers accuse the incumbents of failing to represent their constituents on key issues, while the incumbents say the challengers lack understanding of complex issues and haven't shown sufficient commitment to the community.

The last election
In 2007, about 700 residents voted in the council elections, including an estimated 25 to 50 students. Two of the four council races were contested — Districts 1 and 2 — and both were narrowly decided. Longtime incumbent Jack Perry in District 2 was elected in a three-way race by a margin of five votes; each candidate received about 100 votes.

The U.S. Census Bureau pegs College Park's population at more than 27,000.