As the Student Government Association city council liaison, I have attended almost every city council meeting since last semester. Because I have followed the council so closely, I think it is important to give you insight into the candidates you will be casting votes for today at the polls. These endorsements reflect only my opinion after following the council for two years first as SGA president and now as the liaison; they do not reflect the endorsement of the SGA.
District 4
District 4 is the number one priority, and I endorse Marcus Afzali and Denise Mitchell.
Afzali and Mitchell would be a refreshing change for District 4. Afzali, a graduate student, gives us the first real shot at having a true representative on the council. Although not a guaranteed vote, he is development-friendly and understands the student perspective on city issues. Mitchell is education-focused and currently serves as chair of the city’s Education Advisory Committee. I firmly believe Afzali and Mitchell will be better friends to students than the two current members of the council.
District 4 is home to two of the least supportive members of the city council, Mary Cook and Karen Hampton. Cook is unpredictable at best and has even found sympathy for the College Park landlords. Cook is also the least development-friendly member of the council and frequently is the obstructionist on city projects where there is a general consensus. Hampton casts her vote in a block with Mary Cook.
Districts 1 and 2
I endorse Patrick Wojahn and Fazlul Kabir in District 1.
There is no cause too small for Wojahn. He has the biggest heart on the current council, understands student issues and frequently works with us on many initiatives. Having him in office is necessary and fortunate. He is bright, passionate, dutiful and deserves our support.
Kabir has big shoes to fill on the council. His predecessor, Jonathan Molinatto, understood the student perspective on city issues, and Kabir is the most promising person to continue that legacy.
For District 2, Bob Catlin is thoughtful, analytical and blunt, which makes him a perfect city council member. While he does not always vote in line with student interests, his votes are logical and data-driven. He is an incredible resource for students, and his knowledge of council history is priceless. Catlin also deserves our vote and support.
District 3
I endorse Stephanie Stullich and Mark Cook.
Some of you may be wondering why Stullich is on my list of endorsements, considering she is the councilwoman who sponsored a harsher penalty for noise violators about 18 months ago. Keep in mind that she withdrew the bill after hearing student concerns. On most other matters, she is a loyal voter supporting student interests. She is driven, passionate and crucial to have on our side because of her influence. Any hope for better housing standards and a more harmonious community lies with Stullich.
Like Mary Cook (no relation), Mark Cook is a bit of a wild card. He initially opposed additional funding for the contract police force in the city but eventually voted for it. However, Cook always comes through in the end, and when he has had to cast a critical vote to help students, like the rent stabilization ordinance and contract police, he has cast his vote in our interests.
Mayor
Our next mayor will be Andrew Fellows, because he is running unopposed for the seat. Fellows previously represented District 3 on the council after a stint as president of the Graduate Student Government. He understands city issues and will bring a distinctly different style of leadership from current Mayor Stephen Brayman and we will see how it works. He may be just what we need at this juncture of East Campus development.
Jonathan Sachs is a senior government and politics major and the former president of the Student Government Association.
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