Annapolis Policy Issues » About me

Meet the Candidates

Gilbert Renaut — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:29:25 +0000

In Monday’s Capital, there was an article about endorsements that speaks for itself. Gilbert is emphatically not anti-union. He spent the first five years of his legal career in the Solicitor of Labor’s office, litigating to secure and protect the rights of injured maritime workers, most of whom were represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association, and he won a “Distinguished Achievement Award” from the Secretary of Labor for his efforts. However, his policy this time is the same as it was in 2005. The Mayor’s job is to respect and serve the citizens of Annapolis. Gilbert’s goal in running for Mayor is to take back the government from the professional politicians and special interests and restore it to the people. Accordingly, he will accept no donations or endorsements from developers, builders, lawyers for developers, or anyone else, including city unions, who might have dealings with the City that might give him even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The article: hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/08/24-16/City-union-endorsements-questioned.html

An article in the Sunday Capital stresses how much developers’ contributions fill the campaign coffers of other candidates. Gilbert does not accept contributions from developers or any other business interests that might give him even the appearance of a conflict of interest as mayor.

Article at http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/08/23-49/Developers-nonresidents-bankroll-city-mayoral-races.html

The video that was done by the mayor’s public affairs office is now available “on demand” on the City’s web site at:

http://origin.peg.tv/pegtv_player?s=annapolis

That will get you a menu where you need to click “elections,” and there you can scroll down to watch Gilbert’s interview (or anyone else’s).

Gilbert recorded an interview with Dr. Herma Percy for our locally owned WNAV, 1430 on your AM dial. It can be heard on WNAV’s website “on demand” at http://www.wnav.com/

Town Meeting on Bay Clean-Up

Gilbert Renaut — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:54:53 +0000

In August of 2009 I attended a “town meeting” regarding the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the president’s order for EPA to produce new plans by Sept 9 for restoring the Bay. The meeting was run by Brad Heavner of Environment Maryland (http://www.environmentmaryland.org/). About 400 people were in attendance and dozens lined up to speak. Chuck Fox, EPA Senior Advisor on the Chesapeake Bay was on the panel. (profiled at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033003066.html). This is clearly an issue of serious concern that we must address. A farmer in his eighties stated: “You talk about the canary in the coal mine, but this is more like the buzzard on the back fence.” Much to my surprise the only elected official I saw there was Ron George — good for him, anyway. We must make our elected officials accountable.

Capital article on the town meeting at http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/08/12-22/Crowd-speaks-out-on-bay-cleanup.html

Profiled in the Baltimore Sun on August 2d, Light House volunteer

mdagostino — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:42:23 +0000

Annapolis mayoral race

Mediator hopes to use his skills in post

By Olivia Bobrowsky

August 2, 2009

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-ar.renaut02aug02,0,4897183.story

This was a nice profile that was in the Baltimore Sun last Sunday.

I am prepared to give Annapolis the best mayor that it deserves and so badly needs to get past the egos and polarization that have poisoned politics at all levels for all too long. I intend to use my listening and mediation training and skills to bring all our citizens together in common cause to preserve and improve what’s special about our City.

Renaut stirring a pot of barbecue

Last week I joined a group of volunteers from the Annapolis Jaycees to cook and feed dinner to the residents of the Light House Shelter on West Street. As usual with volunteer work, I listened and learned a lot from it and feel it enriched my life. According to the shelter’s web site:

For over two decades we have been steadfast in our mission of rebuilding lives with service and compassion by providing shelter, preventing homelessness and empowering people in Anne Arundel County as they work to become self-sufficient.

Those of us who are securely housed tend to think of homeless people as “other.” Meeting a houseful of them, I found them very much the same as the rest of us. Did you know that

The AVERAGE age of a homeless person is just 9 YEARS OLD.
Nearly HALF of all homeless men are MILITARY VETERANS.
HALF of all homeless women are escaping DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
MANY homeless adults are EMPLOYED.
For MOST, being homeless is just a TEMPORARY situation.

One of the other volunteers suggested I post something on my website and was kind enough to take a picture with her cell phone.

If you are interested in volunteer work there, please email Holly Mallonee or phone her at 410-349-5056 ext 14.