Incumbents bow out of city politics

Seven newcomers to vie for three open seats on City Council in November election

Their departure marks what is bound to be a heated race among the seven newcomers who are seeking the four-year terms. Among those seeking a seat on the five-member council are civic activists, business owners and conservative growth advocates.

JoAnn Schimke, president of the West Riding Citizens Association and a 23-year resident, said the changes could indicate the dawn of a new era in Gaithersburg with more frequent turnover and more intense dialogue.

‘‘If the council members keep the interest of Gaithersburg at the center, it will always work out,” she said.

Changing of the guard

Alster was in the process of collecting signatures when he decided not to run. Alster said he’s passionate about the city, but it’s time for change.

‘‘This has not been easy. I’ve really struggled with this,” said Alster, who joined the council in 1986 and is retired. ‘‘I ran out of gas.”

Alster, Edens and Schlichting join a growing list of city leaders who have left or plan to leave their positions.

Fifteen-year City Manager David B. Humpton plans to leave by April 1; Police Chief Mary Ann Viverette retired after 27 years of service in May; and Cathy Borten, the city’s attorney for three years, left in August.

Meanwhile, the roster of seven City Council candidates comprises political newcomers, including three men who filed their paperwork Monday.

‘‘This is revolutionary,” said Richard Arkin, a 19-year city resident and member of the historic preservation committee. ‘‘Change is inevitable and it’s been slow coming to Gaithersburg, and now it’s going to come very quickly.”

The new additions to the race include Ryan Spiegel, an attorney who ran unsuccessfully last year for the District 17 House of Delegates seat; Carlos Solis, a business owner and member of the Police Chief’s Advisory Council; and Ahmed Ali, a Navy veteran and president of a defense contracting company.

Spiegel, Solis and Ali said they are not running on a slate, but are colleagues who will support each other.

‘‘I do think these guys share a lot of my values and a lot of the vision we’d like to bring to the city as we tackle some important issues,” said Spiegel, who listed crime and the environment as his top issues.

The other candidates include Jud Ashman and Cathy Drzyzgula, who are running on a slate; Wilson Faris and Shawn Ali, who is not related to Ahmed Ali.

Shawn Ali said he is the cousin of Del. Saqib Ali (D-Dist. 39) of Gaithersburg.

In 2005, newcomers Jud Ashman and Michael A. Sesma, running on a ticket, along with incumbents Henry F. Marraffa Jr. and Blanche Keller vied for two City Council seats while Mayor Sidney A. Katz ran unopposed. Sesma and Marraffa won that election.

Hot topics

Several controversies have come to the forefront in the past few years, raising tensions on City Council about illegal immigration in the day-laborer center debate and redevelopment that has displaced hundreds of city residents from affordable housing.

Dan Searles, a 10-year Olde Towne resident, said the old guard was accustomed to running the government in an insular way.

‘‘The day labor issue, as well as the revitalization of Olde Towne, was really a wake-up call that people couldn’t continue to run the government as they had before. They actually had to be responsible to the people,” Searles said. ‘‘Democracy is supposed to be ugly and it’s supposed to be give and take.”

In June, Katz threatened to veto the city’s $50.6 million fiscal 2008 budget over a $250,000 line-item for a program to assist tenants displaced by redevelopment projects.

A veto would have triggered a shutdown of city services because the city charter lacked a backup plan for operating without a budget.

Katz and the council members reached a compromise that instead allocated $150,000, and they approved the amended budget before the July 1 deadline.

That was embarrassing to the city, but the last couple years have still ‘‘been exciting and healthy” for Gaithersburg, Schlichting said.

‘‘I’ve been more energized than ever in getting things accomplished,” said Schlichting, the managing director of a property development company who joined the council in 2001. ‘‘I think change is good, and I think I’m happy to see the turnover on the council, and I think Gaithersburg is going to benefit in the long run.”

But Edens, an attorney who joined the council in 1995, said the divisive dialogue, particularly during the budget crisis, was a troubling change in the council’s dynamic, which was traditionally collegial.

She said the learning curve could be steep with the loss of about 40 years of institutional knowledge.

‘‘Where those new people may take the city, that’s yet to be seen until we know where they stand,” she said.

Alster, Edens and Schlichting did not say who they would support.

Staff Writer Sebastian Montes contributed to this report

Hear them out

The West Riding Citizens Association is hosting a debate for the City Council candidates at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Diamond Elementary School at 4 Marquis Drive. For more information,e-mail joann@schimke.org.