I’m grateful to the 800 voters who elected me alderman from Ward 1 and to those who actively supported my campaign. However, the campaign has now ended. Upon taking office on Dec. 5, I will endeavor to represent all residents in the ward to the best of my ability.

While representing the interests and concerns of residents of Ward 1, I wish to work with Mayor Ellen O. Moyer and the seven other aldermen for the common good of the community. Moreover, I wish to understand the interests of all affected parties, including the business community. We will not always agree, but I wish to understand the views of others.

As the aldermen do not have a staff assistant, I will be calling on the many talented residents in the ward for their insight into and assistance with my work on the council. I also look forward to working with the many dedicated employees of our city government.

To be accessible to voters, I will continue to  have a Web site (www.richardisrael.org) and an e-mail address (aldisrael@annapolis.gov). For mail delivered by the Postal Service, please note that there is another Richard E. Israel in Annapolis. My address is 61 Shaw St.

As the aldermen do not have individual offices at City Hall, I intend to continue the practice from my campaign of being available at 49 West Coffeeshop in the first block of West Street at announced days and times. Initially, I will be available on Saturday mornings preceding the twice-monthly Monday evening council meetings (generally the second and fourth Saturdays) between 10:00 AM and Noon. However, now that the campaign has ended, I no longer feel obliged to sit at one of the window tables.
                                                                        
                                                                        - Richard Israel
                                                                          Published in The Capital as "Letter to Editor" (11.17.05)

Photo Credit: Richard Kibbe.