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2008: Villages incumbents pay price
By NORM ROWLAND
Even before it became the clarion call of the presidential election, change was decidedly in the air in the Memorial Villages as voters in May elected newcomers to their city councils, throwing out incumbents who advocated a bit too much change.
In Piney Point Village, Karey Bresenhan, who rose to prominence because of her opposition to the city’s plans to convert a home into a city hall, defeated Randi Sahni, a councilmember who supported the plan, for mayor.
Bresenhan, who lives next door to the house the city purchased, coordinated the opposition to the plan, which was eventually abandoned.
She headed a slate that included Peter Nemeth, a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Henry Kollenberg Jr., a former member of the city council.
Nemeth defeated Doug Dawson, position 3 incumbent, who had supported the purchase of the home, and Kollenberg won the seat vacated by Susan Jones in a contest against newcomer John Schwartz Jr.
Sahni continues to serve as position 5 councilmember. Former Mayor Carol Fox did not run for re-election.
The City Council purchased the house at 230 Blalock in April 2007 after Fox said the city was unable to find suitable space to lease near the city. Piney Point has never had a city hall within city limits.
After several months of well-organized protests, the city put the house back on the market and rented quarters at 7676 Woodway, just a few blocks outside of Piney Point Village.
In Spring Valley, two members of the city council who advocated change their constituents apparently didn’t want were ousted from office.
Janet Nelson, a long-time community volunteer and legal consultant, and Allen Carpenter defeated incumbents Bruce Spain and Jerry Turner, who apparently were hurt by their support of widening Mickey Way and replacing existing ditches with a curb-and-gutter drainage system.
Mayor Mike Andrews, who opposed the curb-and-gutter system, was re-elected without opposition.
In another race run in the shadow of a street-widening controversy, former Hunters Creek Mayor Steve Reichek narrowly defeated Brent Fredricks for the position 1 seat on the City Council.
In the race for position 3 on the Council, Ed Neuhaus defeated Tod Demitry, 422 to 358. Position 2 Councilwoman Peggy Burck was re-elected without opposition.
Fredricks and Neuhaus, who were endorsed by outgoing councilmen Michael Cokinos, position 1, and Art Casper, position 3, blamed Reichek for spoiling “the beautifully winding” Pifer Road while mayor by pushing through a flood-control program that resulted in a concrete surface and a curb-and-gutter drainage system.
Reichek countered that the council had approved the street-widening and drainage plan twice before bowing to pressure for new studies that delayed the project for months and “wasted” $500,000.
In Hilshire Village, newcomer Cheryl Wolfe, who ran on a pledge to give residents a better voice in city government, defeated incumbent Brian Henault. Mayor Robin Border and Councilwoman Connie Castro, position 1, were re-elected without opposition.
In Piney Point Village, Karey Bresenhan, who rose to prominence because of her opposition to the city’s plans to convert a home into a city hall, defeated Randi Sahni, a councilmember who supported the plan, for mayor.
Bresenhan, who lives next door to the house the city purchased, coordinated the opposition to the plan, which was eventually abandoned.
She headed a slate that included Peter Nemeth, a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Henry Kollenberg Jr., a former member of the city council.
Nemeth defeated Doug Dawson, position 3 incumbent, who had supported the purchase of the home, and Kollenberg won the seat vacated by Susan Jones in a contest against newcomer John Schwartz Jr.
Sahni continues to serve as position 5 councilmember. Former Mayor Carol Fox did not run for re-election.
The City Council purchased the house at 230 Blalock in April 2007 after Fox said the city was unable to find suitable space to lease near the city. Piney Point has never had a city hall within city limits.
After several months of well-organized protests, the city put the house back on the market and rented quarters at 7676 Woodway, just a few blocks outside of Piney Point Village.
In Spring Valley, two members of the city council who advocated change their constituents apparently didn’t want were ousted from office.
Janet Nelson, a long-time community volunteer and legal consultant, and Allen Carpenter defeated incumbents Bruce Spain and Jerry Turner, who apparently were hurt by their support of widening Mickey Way and replacing existing ditches with a curb-and-gutter drainage system.
Mayor Mike Andrews, who opposed the curb-and-gutter system, was re-elected without opposition.
In another race run in the shadow of a street-widening controversy, former Hunters Creek Mayor Steve Reichek narrowly defeated Brent Fredricks for the position 1 seat on the City Council.
In the race for position 3 on the Council, Ed Neuhaus defeated Tod Demitry, 422 to 358. Position 2 Councilwoman Peggy Burck was re-elected without opposition.
Fredricks and Neuhaus, who were endorsed by outgoing councilmen Michael Cokinos, position 1, and Art Casper, position 3, blamed Reichek for spoiling “the beautifully winding” Pifer Road while mayor by pushing through a flood-control program that resulted in a concrete surface and a curb-and-gutter drainage system.
Reichek countered that the council had approved the street-widening and drainage plan twice before bowing to pressure for new studies that delayed the project for months and “wasted” $500,000.
In Hilshire Village, newcomer Cheryl Wolfe, who ran on a pledge to give residents a better voice in city government, defeated incumbent Brian Henault. Mayor Robin Border and Councilwoman Connie Castro, position 1, were re-elected without opposition.
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