After graduation, he worked for a year in a local AmeriCorps program as a case worker for at-risk youth. He then became a rsum adviser for the Western Maryland Consortium job-training agency, but after only a few weeks jumped at the opportunity to become the planner in Frederick County.
In May 2001, he won his first election to City Council. Now he wants to do it again.
"The city is headed in such a good direction, and a lot of that has to do with the policies and the programs this administration has put in place," Aleshire said.
He said he has put his personal stamp on the city by helping to "bring the budget back under control."
Four years ago, he said, the city was projecting over the course of four years an increase of 30 cents per $100 of assessed real estate property value. Since he was elected, the city has raised the rate three times for a total of 6.6 cents per $100 assessed value, bringing the rate to 79.8 cents per $100 assessed value, or $798 on a $100,000 home.
He said that as a council, there are several items he's proud to have been a part of, including settling an annexation policy and putting in place a rental housing licensing program.
Asked about his least-proud moment, Aleshire said he wished he had more time to address issues, including trying to put out more information about Washington County Hospital's proposed move. Aleshire successfully lobbied the city administration to place on the city's Web site the minutes of the committee meetings that decided where the hospital should go.
Aleshire has questioned the cost-effectiveness of the plans to move the hospital to a site near Robinwood Medical Center.
The other official City Council candidates are Ruth Anne Callaham, the Rev. Haru Carter Jr., Walter E. "Nick" Carter, Kelly S. Cromer, N. Linn Hendershot, Scott D. Hesse, Ira P. Kauffman Jr., Dan Kennedy, Lewis C. Metzner, Penny M. Nigh, Alesia Parson-McBean, Henry R. Renner Jr., Donald L. Souders Jr. and Torrence "Tory" VanReenen.
The primary election is March 8. The general election is May 17.
