New Candidate Enters Havre de Grace Mayor's Race

There will be a race for the mayor's seat this spring.

Days after incumbent Wayne Dougherty filed to run for reelection, former City Councilman Jim Miller told Patch he wanted to ensure there wouldn't be a one-candidate ballot this May.

Miller filed Friday at City Hall.

"I'm running because I don’t think the job is being done right," Miller told Patch Friday evening.

He will be running against Dougherty, who announced he was running for a fourth term earlier this month.

With three terms on the City Council under his belt, Miller said he has seen the inner workings of the city government and believes it is time for a change.

"I think six years of Wayne Dougherty's administration is enough," Miller said.

"People aren't treated fairly, and they aren’t treated equally in this town, and it has to stop," Miller said. He cited disparities in code enforcement that came to the forefront last summer in the great fence debate.

"One person was forced to take [his fence] down, and [for] another person in the same situation ... nothing was done," Miller said.

"That’s not really the whole reason I'm running for mayor," he continued.

The second-generation Havre de Grace resident said he wants to uphold the quality of life.

"I think we can do better," Miller said. "Code enforcement is one of the big things. People now get a letter because they have paint peeling on their shutters, and [meanwhile,] somebody down the street has shutters [falling off] the side of their house."

Miller, who grew up on Market Street and now lives on Lewis Street, said he wants all citizens in Havre de Grace to have equitable treatment.

"Four years ago, Wayne [Dougherty] ran unopposed, and I didn’t want to see that happen again," Miller said. "It didn't look like anybody else was going to step up, so ... I put my name out there..."

The first day candidates could file for the election was Tuesday, March 5. Miller said that Friday was the first day he could fit the visit to City Hall into his schedule.

Miller is a physical science technician with the U.S. Army in Edgewood, and every other Friday, he has the day off.

"Some people think if you're not retired or you're not a millionaire, you can't do the job," Miller said. But, he added that the mayor's position is intended to be a part-time job, with a full-time staff that is well-managed. 

"David Craig was mayor and he was the principal at Bel Air," Miller said, "and the city worked just great when he was mayor."

Craig, who is now the Harford County Executive, was mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989 and from 2005 to 2009.

In part, Miller told Patch he is running because he thought the last few years have left much to be desired.

For example, Miller said that during his time in office, which ended in 2012, he submitted ordinance revisions to the planning commission that still have not come to fruition.

While on the council, he served on the parks and marina committee, the Department of Public Works committee and the planning commission.

Candidates may file for the mayor's seat or one of three openings on the city council, by March 19.

What do you think of the election pool so far? Tell us in the comments!

See Also:

• Meet the Candidate: Jim Miller (May 2012)
• 2013 Havre de Grace Election Application Process (Feb. 2013)
• Havre de Grace Election Filing Begins March 5 (Feb. 2013)
• Mayor Announces Plans to Run Again in 2013 (March 2013)

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