CANDIDATE PROFILE: Mitch Shank

ran for sixth grade class treasurer a few decades ago, utilizing two future cheerleaders who danced and sang, “Do the hanky panky and vote for Shanky.”

Shank won.

If he’s been creative in his campaign tactics again this year, it’s because that was the extent of his political desires as a younger man.

“My dream would have been to stay behind the scenes and run campaigns,” Shank said.

He never had any visions to run for mayor—until now.

Shank is the lone challenger to incumbent Mayor Wayne Dougherty, who is seeking a third consecutive term.

Ironically, it was Dougherty who convinced Shank—then a former Harford County Councilman who had just recently moved back after spending five years in Florida—to run for Havre de Grace City Council.

But he’s become critical of Dougherty and the way the city has run in his time as a councilman. His campaign pines for more transparency from the government, reducing taxes, emphasizing the city’s arts and entertainment district, and generally refining the way the city operates.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been told, ‘We’re working on it,’ or, ‘I’m working on it,’ or, ‘That’s the way its been done for 35 years,’” he said of correspondence with the mayor and administration.

With technological advances and a depth of citizen backgrounds in town, Shank sees no reason for it. He wants to involve citizens more in the decision-making at City Hall.

Shank also wants to see the city branch out to its neighbors more—citing that tactic as one he learned from his political influences, Frank Hutchins and David Craig.

“Their policy of bridge-building—Wayne doesn’t do that,” Shank said. “When he knocks Mary-Dulany James from the dais, when he sends letters that are incorrect to Nancy Jacobs, when he blasts Mike Bennett, what is he thinking? I just don’t get it.”

Shank said Dougherty’s brashness has hurt the city from an outsider’s perspective. His goal, if elected is to build bridges to Aberdeen, Harford County, and further into the state.

“I wont see anything out of it [in my term in office],” Shank said of the benefits of “bridge-building” from the city. “That’s fine. Somebody’s got to start.”

Shank is legally blind, but refers to himself as “visually-impaired.” He can see outlines, but not details.

He’ll often carry white cards to meetings or events with large, handwritten words on them as his form of notes.

While his vision of the world may be different than most, his view of Havre de Grace—he feels—is one that is forward-thinking and citizen-oriented.

“I’ve always been in love with the town,” he said. “I see a need. Instead of ‘We can’t do that,’ how can we fix the problem? How can we make things better?”