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Frederick city's aldermanic ballot grew by two in the last week, with Republicans Bill Ashton and George Bauer joining the race.

Also this week, former Republican alderman Bill Hall, who declined to run for re-election in 2005, announced he would not seek election to the board again this year despite rumors, due to family obligations.

Bill Ashton

Ashton, a 50-year resident of Frederick and a familiar face at City Hall, said that he would like to exercise political advocacy — which he usually does from the public microphone at city and county meetings — in an official capacity.

"I have been the eyes and ears of the citizens for a long time, and the city employees," Ashton said. "I feel that I've been around, and have the knowledge of the city that I can bring that to an official capacity and work for the city."

Ashton, 58, ran unsuccessfully for public office in 1997 and 2000. He said that he has retained his passion for issues close to city residents' hearts, from the way taxpayer money is spent to the deterioration of some city neighborhoods.

"Each time, you have to work a little harder," Ashton said of learning from his previous bids.

If elected, Ashton hopes to find a way to fill positions left frozen in the city's budget, tackle overcrowding in city homes and bring more commercial activity to Frederick. Ashton has operated a computer accounting business out of his home since 1994.

Ashton was one of few residents who spoke publicly during the city's budget process; he pleaded with aldermen to shift money from the city's Neighborhood Advisory Councils to fund police positions.

Ashton has also taken to the microphone at Frederick County commissioners meetings to advocate for the city's tax equity reimbursement.

"I've seen Frederick change, and we got some neighborhoods being affected and I think I have the knowledge of the city to help them," he said.

Ashton plans to outline the rest of his campaign platform during an announcement at 4 p.m., today, outside City Hall.

George Bauer

George Bauer said that he has been closely monitoring local politics by working with the Republican Central Committee, and plans to draw on his experience as a small businessowner to bring a fresh approach to City Hall.

Bauer plans to make a formal announcement of his candidacy for alderman at the Worman's Mill gazebo at 6 p.m., today.

Bauer, 32, touts a motto of "Bringing civility back to City Hall."He says he is seeking office to bring a more solution-oriented approach to the Board of Aldermen, which he believes is lacking in the current administration.

"I've seen a lot of the things going on right now in Frederick that has been really upsetting," Bauer said. "Instead of coming up with valid solutions for problems, they want to blame each other for problems."

Bauer, who has lived in Worman's Mill since 2005 with his wife and owns four Curves women's fitness locations in Baltimore and Montgomery counties, is running on a platform that outlines plans for the prosperity of small businesses in Frederick and quality of life issues for city residents.

Bauer outlines a plan that includes bringing high-tech industries to Frederick via tax incentives, which would provide higher paying jobs for residents. He also plans to expand on the city's technological resources and offer online databases and other resources to help businesses with marketing.

Bauer said he is committed to "smart growth," as he believes it is the key to easing taxpayers' burdens. He also advocates for improved parking downtown. Things as simple as making street signs and signs for parking garages more visible are simple solutions that Bauer believes could lead to the prosperity of the city.

"As a small business owner, I'm a little more solution-oriented than blame oriented, unlike some of our local politicians," he said. "Instead of making myself look better, I want to make Frederick look better."

Ashton and Bauer join Joe Cohen, Senitta Conyers, Amanda Haddaway, John William Shupe and incumbent C. Paul Smith on the Republican ticket. Democratic candidates include John Daniels, Andrew Kotkin, Carol Krimm, incumbent Donna Kuzemchak, Karen Lewis Young, Michael O'Connor and Kelly Russell.

The deadline for candidates to file is July 7. The city's primary election is Sept. 15; the general will be held Nov. 3.

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