Mayoral Candidate Profile: Gilbert Renaut

By Zaina Adamu Gilbert Renaut never intended to become an Annapolis resident 34 years ago. He moved from Baltimore because his wife, a former teacher, found the daily commute to Annapolis difficult. When he moved to the states capital though, he immediately knew it would be his new home. Now in 2009, the mayoral candidate wants to bring something new to the city. Im focused on three things: transparency, outreach and policy, he says. When he says transparency, he means that he wants to instill open communication between the government and the public. Its not just Annapolis, its the federal government sometimes, says Renaut. They are afraid to let the public know what they are doing because it might backfire. Renaut drew his motivation for politics from the President Kennedy campaign in the 1960s. He graduated from St. Johns College in Annapolis in 1968 and pursued a career in law. Renaut served as a federal litigation lawyer for thirty years. He prides himself in winning a $2.1 billion judgment against Exxon. He went on to receive the Secretary of Labors Distinguished Achievement Award for supporting injured maritime workers rights. The retired lawyer, who is still licensed to practice, says that the government should be willing to develop relationships with the public by listening to their needs and explaining policies. Leadership includes walking all our streets including the rough ones and talking to residents and business people about what we should be doing together to make our city the best it can be. Renaut stresses the next mayor will have to find new ways to eliminate unnecessary spending. He says he will perform audits on city employment. According to Renaut, excessive outside contracts and big salary increases

Fifth Annual Backyard Carnival

Mayoral Candidate Gilbert Renaut Courtesy Photo are a part of the problem with Annapolis budget. No more spending and taxing initiatives hidden in budgets, no more fake claims to have held the line on property taxes, no more imprudent one-sided contracts on the market house or anything else, and no more non-bid contracts to political supporters, Renaut says. Renaut intends to deevelop a new business plan for the sudden Market House collapse. He says the new city government should propose a strategy to restore the buildings. The business plan should prepare for full occupancy of the Market House and new tenants for successful and strong relationships with the city, and acknowledge the learning curve necessary for building new businesses from scratch, he says. He also wants to include a tactical plan for the Market House in five, 10 and 20 year intervals. I intend to use my listening and mediation training and skills to bring all our citizens together in common cause to preserve and improve whats special about our city, Renaut says.

(L-r) Judy Staudinger of Riva and Teresa Williams of Edgewater demonstrate where the frisbees should be thrown in a game for children to be held at the fifth annual Backyard Carnival for the entire family. Courtesy Photo Annapolis, Md. The fifth annual Backyard Carnival with fun for the entire family will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m at the South County Senior Activity Center, 27 Stepneys Lane in Edgewater. Activities at the carnival will include games with prizes, a moon bounce, a prize wheel, face painting, pony rides, relays, a money machine, refreshments, and special appearances by the BankAnnapolis Lion and McGruff Take A Bite Out of Crime Dog. The event will be held rain or shine and is sponsored by the South County Senior Activity Center, the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities and BankAnnapolis. Senior center members are encouraged to bring their children and grandchildren. The public is welcome to attendcan attend. For further information, please call 410-222-1927.

Backyard Science Days

Theres a whole world of science outside your back door and the Maryland Science Center will help you find it at its annual Backyard Science Days celebration, Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2009 from noon until 4:00 p.m. each day. Backyard Science Days will put visitors face to face with tiny microbats as well as the Malayan Flying Fox with a six-foot wingspan in Rob Miess famed Bat Encounters show. Mountain Mushers, the nations only Hero Sled Dog/Educational Therapy team will also be on hand to share their experiences working with actual sled dogs retired from Denali National Park. Visitors will learn about these dogs extraordinary jobs and get to meet them too! The Maryland Science Center is located at 601 Light Street at Baltimores Inner Harbor. For further information, visit www.marylandsciencecenter.org or call the 24-Hour Information Line at 410-685-5225, TDD: 410-962-0223.
Positive stories about positive people!

When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul. Langston Hughes
Page 6

The Annapolis Times, August 14 - 20, 2009 (www.baltimoretimesonline.com)