Responses from the candidates to question 2.

Ron Tobin:  I have extensive experience in running multi-million dollar projects.  I am adept at building and managing relationships, cross-functional team interactions, regulatory agency communications as well as team building and staff development.  I have presented and garnered capital project support from legislative boards and government agencies, provided extensive team building support and empowered leadership forums to achieve organization goals, and implementation of agency-wide management goals and training programs.  My private sector experience also insures my entrepreneurial and cost cutting approach to budgeting and positive bottom line results.

Chris Simpson:  Every family I know has had to control spending and become fiscally responsible.  Why shouldn’t my government.

Randy McClement:  As stated in question #1, I believe the Mayor must be first a good manager.  The experience I gained managing Homeowners’ Associations will be of great help with this.  I also am currently the President of the Tourism Council of Frederick County. This has given me the opportunity to see how outside factors affect the local economy (i.e.: tourists) and to look at “out of the box” ideas to bring in funds without adding to the tax burden of our citizens.  My awareness of the city and its many functions has come through many other experiences: 1) My attendance at Mayor and Board Workshops and meetings; 2) As a member of the Ethics Commission; 3) As Chairman of the Charter Review Committee; 4) as Vice President of Celebrate Frederick; 5) As Chair of the Street.

Jason Judd:  My work experience and service over the last fifteen years has taught me the skills and judgment a good mayor and manager needs:
-Managing operations with multi-million dollar budgets
-Bringing people from diverse viewpoints together
-Policy reform at the state and congressional levels
-Executing long-term strategic plans for local organizations                                                    More