ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Just Days after a Republican was elected mayor of Annapolis, the mostly democratic City Council members say they will revisit legislation that would strip the mayor’s office of much of its power.
Why? Is it because the City Council does not desire to cede any power to a Republican mayor?
Democratic Alderman Ross Arnett of Ward 8 tells The Capital he will introduce a charter amendment to move Annapolis to a council-manager style of government. The city manager would report directly to the City Council, not the mayor.
Under Arnett’s legislation, the mayor’s post would be largely ceremonial. The mayor would retain a single vote on the council. Arnett says the change would stabilize the city’s management.
If the measure is approved, it would mean the Democratic-dominated council would be removing the powers of the first Republican mayor elected since 1997.
Last week, Republican Mike Pantelides defeated Democratic incumbent Josh Cohen.
