Mayoral Candidates Discuss Economic Development

Patch asked candidates for the May 3 election to share their opinions on more than a dozen topics relating to the city.

In this installment, the candidates for Havre de Grace mayor—incumbent Wayne Dougherty and challenger City Councilman Mitch Shank—discuss economic development in Havre de Grace:

Wayne Dougherty

Dougherty said the incentives are in place for business to sprout in Havre de Grace.

“The incentives are there with some of the grant funding we do working with Main Street. We’re partnering with Main Street and the Chamber [of Commerce],” Dougherty said. “If someone comes to us with an idea, we don’t turn our backs on them. We listen to them.”

In recent weeks, Dougherty said he’s received proposals for a handful of businesses. One would bring in “about 47 employees” while another is “talking about 60-some employees.”

“That’s nothing to sneeze at,” Dougherty said. “That tells you something. They’ve got a vision. They’re putting their business plans together. And they’re going to work with our economic development manager, the Chamber and Main Street, to bring it around and be successful.”

Dougherty said his administration has open arms for new businesses.

“The city will do anything we can to stimulate and create more business in the city,” he said.

Mitch Shank

Shank said the city’s MVP is in its economic development department.

In fact, she’s the entire economic development department.

Shank has gone on record in various forums to say he’d promote Meghan Simmons from Economic Development Manager to Director of Economic Development.

“Nobody has a more positive effect for our city outside of Havre de Grace than (Simmons),” he said. “I’ve been with her to Annapolis. I’ve seen her with her peers. She got an award for being one of the top people under the age of 40 in city government.”

Shank said the key to keeping Havre de Grace on the upswing in developing local business is to help Simmons.

“She is great at writing grants. What she needs is someone in her department,” he said. “It would not create another position, but I would definitely transfer somebody over [to assist in economic development]."

Shank said while he’s yet to see a city employee leave Havre de Grace for better pay, he’s concerned Simmons might be the first to get the chance.

“I don’t want to lose her,” he said. “To me she’s our greatest asset and our best employee.”

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Other issues the candidates for mayor have addressed:

—April 20

—April 21

—April 22

—April 23

—April 25

—April 26

—April 27