I spent much of yesterday—along with friends and volunteers—knocking on your doors to introduce myself and hear from you directly. Issues residents talked to me about included housing affordability, getting city dock done, and the slow pace of permits for home improvements. Expect to see me at your door sometime very soon—even if it’s sleeting.

Since September, Harry Huntley has worked tirelessly for the people of Annapolis. Following the resignation of Eleanor Tierney, the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee held a vote to select a replacement alderman for Ward One of Annapolis.

Annapolis Ward One Alderman Harry Huntley kicked off his campaign for a full term on the city council at McGarvey’s Oyster Bar packed with supporters, including Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth, Ward One Residents Association President Craig Harrison, local business owners, and other residents from King George Street to Spa Road.

It’s still brutally cold out, but we’ve made it through the darkest ten weeks of the year, and the light is in sight. This week’s cold has been beautiful on our waterways but ugly on city infrastructure like water mains. Thanks to a resident calling me yesterday and a diligent Public Works crew, we were able to get this break at the corner of Fleet and East Streets taken care of expeditiously yesterday. Sara gives the repair job two thumbs up!

I have always said that my priorities regarding the city dock project are to unpave paradise and preserve it for posterity.

It’s been over a month since I have actually had a city council agenda to send out. To all the new readers, welcome to my normally-biweekly newsletter describing issues before the city council and notable news in Ward One. Please share this with your neighbors and share your thoughts with me.

Top things to know about tomorrow’s snow.

So many of us have much to celebrate this holiday season, and we should enjoy those parties, marshmallow toastings, and other opportunities for cheer. But it’s important to remember that we have neighbors who are struggling. Yesterday, I presented a city council citation (center photo) to the Anne Arundel County Coalition to End Homelessness at their “Longest Night” memorial for people who were homeless and died in the past year. The ceremony was deeply moving, and the list was far too long.

“Let’s make it happen.” Whether in my career, at home, or on the city council, I strive to just plain get it done. Sometimes issues residents bring me can take months of coordination or legislation to resolve, but other times it just takes showing up and jumping in—together. That’s what the awesome folks from Save Our Trees realized in 2022, and since then, they’ve removed invasive vines strangling over 6000 trees around Annapolis. I was happy to join them this weekend and then later in the day do my own little clean-up at Amos Garrett Park.

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year. As we enter the season of thankfulness and joy, please remember to keep your neighbors in mind. Invite someone who might be lonely to Thanksgiving dinner, buy a little present for an acquaintance you want to get to know better, and always shovel your walk if Christmas turns out to be white. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for lots of events to show your holiday spirit.

“It’s utterly unserious, and even a non lawyer can find the grammatical and logical errors in these three pages,” Alderman Harry Huntley, a Democrat representing Ward 1, said Tuesday.

Last weekend’s Slaughter Across the Water was such a joy to be apart of. In Julien Jacques’ photo above, you can see me leading the Annapolis side for tug #2. While the official result was a draw, we still made sure those traitorous Eastporters don’t have bragging rights for the next year. My favorite part of the event was meeting the many dedicated volunteers who make this happen every year and have raised close to a million dollars for local charities. Whether you tugged, volunteered, or just showed up to watch, thanks for participating in this fun tradition!

It's election season, and I've been working hard to support Democrats in many of our most crucial races—especially Angela Alsobrooks, who could determine control of the US Senate, and Dr. Joanna Tobin, whose school board race will so directly impact our ward. If you haven't already, I hope you'll get out and vote! Early voting is happening at Pip Moyer 7 am to 8 pm every day through this Thursday. And of course you can vote on election day, November 5. I'll be at the Bates Legacy Center 5-8 on election day to tell voters about the candidates—Kamala&Angela&Sarah&Joanna—who are supported by our Anne Arundel County teachers. Say hi if you see me!

Huntley filed his paperwork and paid the $60 filing fee, he said in a text message Wednesday.

This weekend seems perfectly brisk and sunny! I hope all of you have the opportunity to get outside to sail, check out the sailboat show, or just enjoy a walk around the neighborhood. Thursday morning, I was asked to open up the Sailboat Show and welcome thousands of visitors to our city, which you can see a video of here. I love Annapolis traditions like this that make our city so vibrant…even if they can make parking a little trickier.

Harry Huntley wants you to know he’s not the mayor’s man. Despite being labeled an “insider” in a local news headline about candidates for an Annapolis City Council vacancy, he says he’s not that, either.

Harry Huntley takes over as the new Ward 1 alderman for Annapolis on Monday, completing the remainder of Elly Tierney’s term until the 2025 election.

Tierney, elected in 2017, announced in May that she was retiring from politics and moving to Massachusetts.

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At 26, Huntley has received endorsements from Tierney, Ward 5 Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier, Ward 2 Alderwoman Karma O’Neill, Ward 6 Alderman DaJuan Gay, Ward 4 Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson, Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge and Mayor Gavin Buckley.

Harry Huntley will finish Elly Tierney’s term as an Annapolis city alderman representing Ward 1.