Cullum To Run For City Council, Not Mayor

With four slots on this year's ballot in Havre de Grace, Fred Cullum announced Tuesday that he is planning to run for one of three seats open on the City Council.

Cullum told Patch he will file for candidacy at some point Tuesday. City Hall confirmed his candidacy Tuesday afternoon.

Three seats on the City Council will be up for a vote—those of incumbents John Correri, Randy Craig and Barbara Wagner.

Candidates may file for those positions or that of mayor between March 5 and March 19. The election will be May 7.

Cullum served 16 years over eight non-consecutive terms as a council member. He finished fourth in the race for three council seats last May. In 2007, he ran for mayor; now three-term mayor Wayne Dougherty won.

On Monday, Dougherty told media he was running again in 2013 for a fourth term in office.

Cullum told Patch that he believed his impact would be greatest on City Council.

"After much thought and consideration, I have decided that running for mayor was not really where my heart was, but rather once again serving on the council," Cullum said. "I have always felt and still do, that one can have a greater impact and do more good as a council member. My interest has always been with the legislation that is proposed and adopted and in the details of assuring that it is correct and the right thing for the citizens and the advancement of the city."

Specifically, Cullum told Patch he is interested in zoning.

"Three years ago a dedicated group of citizens worked for over a year reviewing and compiling recommended changes to the city zoning ordinance," Cullum said. "This is still not completed and I want to see it moved forward, as I believe it will be to our property owners benefit."

Cullum has lived in Havre de Grace for almost 46 years and has served as a volunteer with the Susquehanna Hose Company for 44 years. 

His involvement in the Susquehanna Hose Company led to his interest in City Council. In the early '90s, Cullum served as a liaison between council and the fire department when there was no steady budget for the volunteer services in the city.

In 1992, he was elected to the City Council and served 16 years in eight non-consecutive terms thereafter.

This article was updated to reflect that Fred Cullum officially applied to run for public office with the city Tuesday afternoon.

See Also:

• Former Councilman Says He'll Run in May Election (Feb. 2013)
• Meet the Candidate: Fred Cullum (April 2012)
• 2013 Havre de Grace Election Application Process
• Havre de Grace Election Filing Begins March 5 (Feb. 2013)

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