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/

There are two candidates nights this week:

The earlier is sponsored by the Annapolis Sustainable Business Alliance and the Annapolis Business Association:

WHEN: Tuesday, August 25, 2009

WHERE: Maryland Hall – Large Auditorium

TIME: 6:30 – 9:00 PM

The later is sponsored by the West Annapolis Civic Association, the Wardour Improvement Association, and the Admiral Heights Improvement Association.

WHEN: Thursday, August 27th

WHERE: West Annapolis Elementary School gymnasium

TIME: 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Speaking of the Market House, I accept the sincerest form of flattery from the mayor’s office: compare my “vision” video (http://www.gilbertrenaut.org/2009/08/07/video-gilbert-discusses-his-vision-for-the-market-house/s) with the mayor’s latest press release:

Market House is a 220-year-old landmark in the center of historic downtown Annapolis’ business district whose prime mission is to provide a gathering and shopping destination for those visiting the center city. Today, Market House is in the midst of an ongoing transformation to better meet the needs of those who shop, work, and visit Annapolis offering a variety of goods and services from locally-owned businesses. For more information about Market House, please visit www.markethouseannapolis.com.

I am going door to door every day now to meet as many potential voters as possible. I have been extremely well received and found that so many of our residents share my visions for a unified Annapolis . . . even in 93-degree heat.

Quite a few people have asked me whether there are candidates forums — the word does not seem to be getting out as well as we would like. Please spread the word. The next one is:

Next Thursday, August 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Annapolis High School. Mayoral Candidates Forum sponsored by the Annapolis High Parent Teacher Student Association. The focus will be how each candidate’s vision for the city of Annapolis will affect the schools in the Annapolis cluster. Each will be allowed to speak briefly and then it will be Q&A from the audience followed by brief closing remarks. There will be translators or some sort of technology for translating for the Spanish-speaking members of the audience. Please note this is sponsored by the PTSA, not Annapolis High School.

Tuesday, I traded some door-knocking time to attend an important “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.” We must make our elected officials accountable! As mayor of Annapolis, I would be pressing this issue hard.

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

Mediator hopes to use his skills in post

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.