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With 2009 ringing in an election year for the City of Frederick, residents looking to win a post in City Hall have begun filing applications for candidacy.

Election officials began collecting applications Monday for the Sept. 15 primary. The filing deadline is July 7.

By Wednesday, three candidates had filed for mayor or one of five aldermen positions. Applications are available at City Hall or at www.cityoffrederick.com.

Alderman

Kelly Russell (D), 49, a 25-year city resident and retiree of the Frederick Police Department, is seeking one of the five alderman seats.

Russell, who serves as the special vehicles coordinator for the police department, applied Monday.

A member of the city's Neighborhood Advisory Council 9 and Zoning Board of Appeals, Russell said years in public service fuel her appetite for quality of life issues. "This seems like a natural segue for me," she said. "[My experience] gave me a taste of how a person who lives in Frederick can have a positive effect on what happens in the city. I want to encourage that."

Mayor

As promised nearly six months ago, Jack Lynch (D), 48, made his mayoral bid official as the first candidate to file his application on Monday.

Lynch is an eight-year city resident and a database administrator. The Democrat, who serves on Friends of Frederick County and the Monocacy Scenic River Citizens' Advisory Board, said maintaining and improving resident's quality of life amid growth and expansion of the city is his key message.

"Frederick has grown like everywhere else in the world, but I want to turn Frederick into a national model for smart growth — within its current boundaries rather than annexations," Lynch said.

Admittedly, Clint Hoffman, 46, embarked on his mayoral bid after battles at City Hall. But it's the primary reason the business owner wants to spend the next four years there.

Hoffman, a native of Frederick and owner of a tow-truck company that spurred a recent ordinance targeting predatory towing companies, said he wants to improve dialogue among residents, business owners and officials.

"A lot of people seem to be having problems in that area," he said. "I know we need to stay on top of violations, but there's a right way and there's a wrong way. The right way is to work with the people."

E-mail Erica L. Green at egreen@ gazette.net.