Annapolis Election: Mayor Gavin Buckley Seeks 2nd Term

ANNAPOLIS, MD — This is part of Patch's candidate profile series. We will post a story with the unedited responses of every candidate that completed our survey.

To learn more about the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, read Patch's preview at this link.

Name

Gavin Buckley

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position sought (mayor, city council, school board, etc.)

Mayor

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife, Julie and two sons Dash and Miles

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Belmont Academy, Australia

Occupation

Mayor of Annapolis 4 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Mayor of Annapolis

Campaign website

gavin4annapolis.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To improve our way of life, and build our economy with smart technologies that will improve all of our city services. We need leadership that brings us together so that Annapolis doesn’t just survive, it thrives! I am committed to finishing the ground work we have put into place these past four years to ensure Annapolis will continue on a successful path for our future generations.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Climate Change

We partnered with Historic Annapolis and the United States Naval Academy, a well as our Federal, State, and County governments to establish a framework for combating sea-level rise and other Environmental issues threatening the quality of life in Annapolis. We will continue to work together towards greener solutions that will help our Environment and keep Annapolis thriving. Finding solutions to our Environmental issues we are experiencing today and being able to foresee their outcomes for our future, aids our City in becoming more resilient. It will also help to sustain our maritime community and its employees as well as create new entrepreneurial possibilities and jobs. The creation of employment and services through programming better serves our community and in turn will lift it up for our residents today and for tomorrow.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Since settling in Annapolis in 1992, I have continuously been a part of this community and have loved working with all of Annapolis to fill its needs and services to all that were previously unavailable in our City. As Mayor, I continued my work with more community engagement, new infrastructure projects to improve our way of life, and build our economy with smart technologies that improve city services by hiring a diverse staff. I have never wavered in my dedication to serving all residents especially through the hardships we have endured during the last four years. People know me not just because I am the Mayor of Annapolis, but because I am present in the community through out our great City, helping to solve issues in person.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

N/A

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

We were one of the top cities leading our country in response to this deadly air borne virus. In navigating COVID-19 we met the public health challenge of testing and vaccination. We also worked to meet resulting economic challenges with the help of our Small Business Task Force so the City could best help retail, hospitality, and manufacturing navigate through the reopening sequence. We were one of the first cities to be prepared with Recovery Zones when the Governor lifted mandates. I am very proud of how our City and community leaders came together to keep our City moving forward and safe.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As Mayor, I represent and work for all of Annapolis. My priorities are based upon building economic and social opportunities across all wards and for all residents.

Throughout my tenure, I’ve worked to bring new ideas, capable people, and important partners together to find solutions to those challenges and I Intend to keep doing that if re-elected. I intend to keep working hard to build our economy and implement the innovations and tailored strategies that kept us going through the pandemic. Before the pandemic, my administration delivered a balanced budget with no structural deficit for all three years. We fortified reserves and put policies in place to ensure that livability and desirability are at the forefront of all policy decisions. During the pandemic, we were offered federal assistance, which we utilized as intended.

Annapolis is a well-run city and is staged for a strong, post-pandemic comeback.

I remain committed to monitoring City finances closely to ensure we live within our means and maintain our strong financial position. My administration streamlined the budget and made transparent budget processes a priority. Not only does the City now fully fund all its obligations, and record all expenditures in the budget process (something that did not happen previously), we remain on track to deliver critical infrastructure investments and long-planned projects, such as the replacement of Hillman Garage, the renewal of City Dock, the replacement of the Department of Public Works facility and more. These projects will significantly boost our recovery, providing local jobs and positioning Annapolis for a stronger more sustainable future.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During the past four years we reformed the City’s financial management and eliminated so-called “revolving funds.” Every expenditure is now accounted for in a more transparent budget process.

We also identified savings and ‘Rainy Day’ reserves. We boosted our ratings with all three financial rating agencies in recognition of our “improved financial position that is supported by solid reserves and liquidity,” as recently stated by Moody’s Investment Services. We appointed a more diverse City leadership team to earn trust and to be able to govern equitably for all the people. We worked with local nonprofits, community groups, and individual residents on parades, murals, free art, and music events that enhance our quality of life and boost tourism. We convened the City Dock Action Group with more than 100 local stakeholders who came together to think long-term resilience and infrastructure. We acquired state and federal grants to aid expenditures and ongoing programming needs. Which gave the City millions for infrastructure, resilience, and public safety. We are solving Crimes and enacting community resource centers that helps us to establish strong partnerships directly with our neighbors for public safety. We worked from day one to expand outreach to all to create a more resilient One Annapolis. A unified City that is safe and economically stable for all.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Run for Mayor"

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am committed to building on the achievements of the past four years. We have laid the groundwork for investment and renewal that will drive economic, environmental, and community benefits for years to come. We have expanded liaison services and outreach to all residents, across all wards. New regulations and re-allocated funding protect our environment and waterways. New resiliency infrastructure is protecting our city from flooding. New bike and pedestrian pathways connect the breadth of our city and provide free, accessible transit for all residents. New community infrastructure, such as the new pool at Truxtun Park and new trails at Waterworks Park, provide social and economic benefits for our community. More transparent and responsible government is delivered through reformed financial management and budgeting processes. I’m committed to pandemic recovery and a revitalized city economy. I’m committed to diversity – not just through community engagement but by continuing to diversify the City’s workforce at all levels. City boards and commissions are now served by residents with a broad range of backgrounds, expertise, and experience.