Annapolis Primary Election Results Released For Mayor, City Council

Hardware store owner Jared Littmann defeated current alderwoman Rhonda Pindell Charles in the Annapolis Democratic primary election for mayor. Littmann hopes to return to office after serving as the Ward 5 alderman from 2013 to 2017.

Littmann won 67% of the vote, compared to Pindell Charles' 33%. He will face Republican Bobby O'Shea, a business consultant, in the Nov. 4 general election to replace term-limited Mayor Gavin Buckley (D).

"This primary victory belongs to every one of you," Litmann said Tuesday on Facebook. "The volunteers who knocked on doors for me (even in the rain!), the community members who made calls for me, the donors who supported me, the campaign team who guided me, my family who stood by me and every voter who believed in me! This win is ALL of ours. Thank you!"

Election officials released the certified results on Tuesday, one week after the primary.

The city is guaranteed a new mayor and at least four new aldermen. Four aldermen are running for another term.

In the city council primary, agriculture policy analyst Harry Huntley beat out four other Democrats in his bid to retain his Ward 1 seat representing downtown. He meets independent Tom Krieck in the general election.

Huntley said he "ran a campaign unapologetically on moving the city forward, and voters enthusiastically embraced that energy, expertise, and positive vision."

"I congratulate the other candidates on well-run races that gave voice to those who don't always feel like city government is working for them—from taxes to transparency to tenant rights," Huntley said on Facebook. "It is my sincere hope to meet with each of the candidates and hear from their supporters so that I can be a nominee and an alderman for all of our neighbors."

Keanuú Smith-Brown topped Debbie Odum in the Ward 3 race, setting up a meeting with unaffiliated Mike Dye this fall.

"What an honor to be voted as the Democratic nominee to represent us, Ward 3 neighbors/residents," Smith-Brown wrote on Facebook. "God has spoken."

Ward 4 was the closest contest by far. Janice Elaine Allsup-Johnson edged out Coren Eve Makell by four votes. Neither has commented publicly since the results were released. Allsup-Johnson does not have an opponent in the general election, so she automatically wins this seat.

In Ward 6, Diesha Contee beat out Craig Cussimanio. Republican George Gallagher awaits as a challenger this November.

During Tuesday's official canvass, election officials found an error in the unofficial in-person vote totals reported on election night. The city initially said Cussimanio had 112 votes, and Contee had 69. That was incorrect. Contee actually held the lead after in-person votes were counted.

The mistake stemmed from a transcription error on election night. During their final tally, election officials checked the tapes from the voting machine and servers, which are consistent with the official results that certified Contee as the victor.

"Congratulations to Diesha Contee on her election as the Democratic candidate for Alderwoman of Ward 6," Cussimanio said in a statement. "While the initial incorrect reporting of in-person voting totals as reported by the City of Annapolis was certainly unfortunate, it should not take away from her victory. I wish her all the best in the general election."

There were also four wards that didn't have contested primaries. Candidates in these races automatically advanced to the general election.

In Ward 2, Democratic incumbent Karma O'Neill meets Republican Ken Vincent.

Incumbent Brooks Schandelmeier, a Democrat, will square off with Republican Jack Papaleonti in Ward 5.

Rob Savidge, the Democratic incumbent in Ward 7, does not have a challenger, so he will retain his seat.

Ward 8 features a battle of newcomers Frank Thorp, a Democrat, and Will Cunha, an independent.

The city released the in-person vote totals on election night, but mail-in, drop box and provisional ballots are not counted until a week later. This allows overseas and military voters to send in their ballots on Election Day and have them counted in time for the final tally.

The final tallies are listed below.

An overvote is when someone votes for mayor but not alderperson. An undervote is when one votes for alderperson but not mayor.

The charts above are all courtesy of the City of Annapolis.

Source: https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/annapolis-primary-election-results-released-mayor-city-council