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In the first installment of The Gazette's five week candidate forum, 19 aldermanic candidates outlined their campaign priorities in responding to the question of what city issues they believed must be addressed in the next four years. Read the mayoral candidate responses in the Aug. 6 issue of The Gazette.

Shelley Aloi (R)

In cooperation with the citizens of Frederick, we must continue to improve our quality of life while implementing change to diversify the tax base and reduce the tax burden. We must enhance economic development by streamlining the permitting process; examining public-private partnerships; establishing incubators to encourage innovative business solutions. We must provide high-quality, cost-effective citizen services through line-by-line budget examination to conserve resources. We must prepare for the future through revitalization, infill development and smart growth balanced with sensible annexation and cost-effective infrastructure development. We must protect our future by establishing green initiatives with a focus on saving energy, recycling.

Bill Ashton (R)

The issues that the City of Frederick needs to address in the next four years are streamlining the budget, additional police presence in hot areas of our city, addressing the overcrowding in certain neighborhoods, changing the guidelines concerning the HPC, and working with economic development to bring more businesses to Frederick City.

Josh Bokee (D)

We first must craft a sustainable, fiscally accountable budget which recognizes that many of our residents are feeling squeezed by their property taxes. We need to be willing to take a new approach to budgeting while prioritizing essential services such as police and infrastructure and parks maintenance. Our city officials need to prioritize and execute an economic development strategy which makes Frederick the entrepreneur capital of Maryland and the first place for starting, expanding or relocating a new business. We must also reinvest in all of our neighborhoods and work with the private sector to revitalize our older commercial centers.

Bob Cassidy (R)

Budget: Changing economics will require a closer look at revenues and budgets and re-prioritizing. Economic Development: HPC needs to be reformed, decisions tempered with common sense. The process needs to be more user friendly and more expedient thereby encouraging new businesses to the downtown area. HPC reform will also help the homeowners wishing to renovate or remodel. Moving forward with the Carroll Creek Linear Park and development between East Street and the Monocacy River are emerging issues that will require great planning. Traffic: We must stay involved with the state in the planning process of mass transportation and highway improvement.

Joe Cohen (R)

If elected, my priorities would be to expand our economy and tax base by attracting new businesses to the area. I also intend to protect the citizens from any additional local tax hikes. I'd also like to explore the duplicate taxes that are levied against Frederick City residents. City residents currently pay both the city and county for certain public services, such as trash pickup. This needs to stop, and I intend to fight for Fredericktonians so they can keep their hard earned money in their wallets.

Senitta Conyers (R)

To create a stronger partnership amongst the Education Commission and the Board of Education. Enhance Business ownership in Frederick City and offer more workshops to assist current owners while providing information to those possibly wanting to bring business here. A greater police presence in the West End of Frederick through more community outreach programs and partnering with schools, neighborhood advisory councils and civic organizations; Promote leadership development amongst city leaders and youth. Ensure the city continues to be resourceful with energy and green programs.

John Daniels (D)

Tax equity: This year, the county withheld more than $500,000 of funds owed the city for services; we need legislation to protect the City of Frederick. Taxes: We have one of the highest tax rates in the State of Maryland. Holding property tax to a constant yield would provide some relief for property owners and require the county and city to be more aggressive in reducing spending. Growth: A comprehensive growth plan that does not reflect the wishes of the people is not a good plan. Infill and redevelopment will keep our city vital, walkable and livable. Sustainability: Design and implement a sustainability plan that has achievable goals.

Amanda Haddaway (R)

Fiscal responsibility: A line item budget review is necessary to eliminate wasteful spending. We must work with the County to ensure that the City receives its entire tax equity reimbursement. Rental registration: A program is necessary to protect the safety of our neighborhoods and assist our law enforcement and code enforcement officers. Economic development and tourism: The revitalization of the Golden Mile and East Frederick Rising are critical to our ability to sustain a thriving business community. We must support existing businesses and recruit new ones.

Transparency: Increased and quality communication to citizens through available technology.

Chris Huckenpoehler (R)

Makes no matter where you live in Frederick or of which party you're registered to vote. We need to address four issues that affect our residents, every single day: Crime, Transportation, Taxes and Freedom from Less Government. Let's focus on just one for a moment? Crime. Chief Kim Dine has certainly done an outstanding job policing our City, and has provided us with our lowest crime rates in almost two decades. Still, I want his Department to have more funding for more aggressive enforcement. Don't we all? This is Common Sense Change that we can all agree to, for Frederick.

Alan Imhoff (R)

Leaner budgets mean looking at more cooperative sharing of services between jurisdictions, introduction of new trends in job-sharing and increased technology to aid our city workforce. Increased innovation in Sustainable practices. The city needs to be fully engaged with surrounding jurisdictions through the Washington Area Council of Governments on understanding "best practices" in this emerging field. Increased protection of water resources on Catoctin Mountain. Carroll Creek, Tuscarora Creek and Fishing Creek headwaters need expanded protection from future development. An aggressive program of land purchase needs to continue whenever opportunities appear.

David "Kip" Koontz (D)

We must effectively address overcrowding issues in all neighbors. We need to ensure Code Enforcement has the people power to effectively do their jobs. We must look for all ways to present the services residents need while spending every tax penny responsibly. We need a new police station and more police officers so they can do their jobs efficiently.

Andrew Kotkin (D)

The largest issue will be dealing with, one way or the other, the proposed annexations. Another is the ability to find money where there isn't any. Look at increasing our revenue through avenues other than taxes. Another is getting businesses and commercial entities to be part of the recycling program. Due to growth, another issue becomes policing. I'd like to see a larger, more diverse (bike, foot patrols) police force with an increased presence. One more issue is how to attract, and keep, new sustainable businesses, in medical and information technology fields for example, to the City.

Carroll Krimm (D)

We must address property taxes and the issue of tax equity with the county. City property taxpayers subsidize county property taxpayers because we pay the same rate as the county taxpayers and then we pay city taxes in addition. The current tax equity program does not adequately compensate city taxpayers for all duplication of services. Please check my website, www.carolkrimm,com, for specifics. Our fiscal house must be put in order by using zero based budgeting and examining every budget item to determine effectiveness. We must address the overcrowding of houses in our neighborhoods and other public safety concerns.

Donna Kuzemchak (D)

Legislation to protect the quality of life for all Frederick residents must take priority. Everyone should have the right to use his/her property as s/he wishes, as long as it doesn't negatively affect the rest of the neighborhood. Rental licensing, an oversized vehicle parking ordinance and other legislation are the first step to protecting city neighborhoods. These are all initiatives this administration hasn't moved forward with. If we want to protect our quality of life, the next administration must.

Michael O'Connor (D)

As we wrestle with flat assessments and the on-going effects of the recession, the declining budget will be our top priority. Our focus must be funding essential city services first, such as police and code enforcement, including a new police headquarters. Small business growth, infill, and redevelopment around existing infrastructure will help us expand our tax base, in the most cost effective way. Revising our Land Management Code and Historic Preservation Commission guidelines to work with our businesses and residents is needed to assist us in those efforts. Finally, we must expand our use of technology to increase citizen engagement.

Kelly Russell (D)

Implement a full time Communications Coordinator to reestablish open government; Assign an Alderman as liaison to the NACs to provide support/validity to the NAC mission; Provide our police department with a facility that will best support implementation of its Strategic Plan; Restructure our budget process to fund essential services first, and separate personnel costs from operating costs to clearly reveal allocation of tax dollars for city services; Expand recycling efforts so at the very least, we include Downtown and city facilities; Adopt the use of Small Area Plans with mixed-use development for sustainable communities.

John William Shupe (R)

City Budget: I would break the 2010 pay raise for Mayor and Board of Alderman down to 25% for 4 years. I would get with the county commissioners and reduce the property taxes in our City. We need to stop the Frederick city Residents from paying both city and county taxes. A new 7-day-a week, 24 hour Bus service for the City of Frederick. If we allow a private contractor to come into our city we will not have to dole out money to the county in taxes for a transit system that is not properly working

Paul Smith (R)

In the long term, the city must address its growth—whether and where to expand its boundaries. And what changes in laws and regulations we will enact (or repeal) to make the city business-friendly. We must see that the downtown continues to do well, and that businesses on the east, north and west ends of the city also improve. Economic strength throughout the city is essential to maintaining a high quality of life for residents, and so that we don't have to raise taxes. In the next two budgets the City will have to hold the line and/or cut expenditures.

Karen Young (D)

The city must deal with some major financial issues. The budget has increased more than 117% in the past 10 years, while the population has increased by only 20%. City property taxes have doubled and we have seen no relief from the duplication between city and county taxes. The city's pension plan is seriously underfunded and the problem is getting worse. In addition, we must ensure local government efficiency and transparency and implement major economic development initiatives in order to sustain the local economy. Finally, there are safety issues, particularly on the west side of town that must be addressed.