Aleshire's seat was awarded to Councilman Martin E. Brubaker.
Brubaker is running for re-election this year.
The next mayor will take office June 1. The annual salary for the post is $28,000.
Mayor candidates address
Potomac Street project
With the City of Hagerstown's primary election approaching, The Herald-Mail asked each of the four candidates for mayor to respond to four questions.
The candidates' answers to the fourth and final question can be found below. Responses to the previous questions were printed Feb. 9, 16 and 23.
This week's question: Do you believe the current administration has neglected other parts of the city by focusing too heavily on developing the first block of South Potomac Street?
What ran Sunday: Candidates for City Council responded to this week's question.
The Feb. 23 question: Would you support furloughing or laying off municipal employees to save the city money?
The Feb. 16 question: How would you try to bring jobs to the City of Hagerstown?
The Feb. 9 question: What is the biggest problem facing the City of Hagerstown and, if elected, what will you do to solve it?
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Check out the candidates' answers to all four questions and view videos of those candidates who accepted an invitation to tell voters why they thought they are the best candidate for the job. Go to www.herald-mail.com and click on Hagerstown City Election, which is a hot topic beneath the two blue bars at the top of the page.
Editor's note: The following is the fourth of four questions that candidates for mayor of Hagerstown were asked to answer, followed by their responses.
Candidates were asked to keep their responses to 150 words or less. Responses were edited for length and to fix typos or errors. Otherwise, they appear as they were received from the candidates.
Question: Do you believe that the current administration has neglected other parts of the city by focusing too heavily on developing the first block of South Potomac Street?
Republicans
Robert E. Bruchey II, 50
Republican, Incumbent
905 Woodland Way
As mayor, I represent all of Hagerstown. While the downtown area might get a lot of press attention, it is simply one part of a much bigger city. Right now, the city is making major capital investments on Eastern Boulevard, Jonathan Street and the West End reservoir. We are actively working with residents across Hagerstown to make our neighborhoods safer and respond to needs that exist. Our Neighborhoods 1st groups have helped to make improvements in their neighborhoods all across the city. The cost of improvements to the Arts and Entertainment District pale in comparison to these other projects mentioned. I have always maintained an open-door policy to constituents and organizations so they have a voice at City Hall for any concerns or suggestions.
Jonathan R. Burrs, 38
Republican
950 Lanvale St.
Development in the first block of South Potomac Street is a good beginning to the downtown revitalization; whether too much focus has been given to these efforts is a matter of opinion. I do believe other parts of the city have been neglected and I don't believe enough attention has been given to the downtown area in general to ensure a small number of irresponsible city residents are prevented from trashing the city.
Shortly after Bulls and Bears opened, my wife and I took a walk through the downtown area and made several distressing observations: people throwing cigarette butts and other trash on sidewalks, in addition to some walking animals with no intentions on cleaning up after them. In my opinion, there needs to be an ordinance preventing people from walking their animals in the business district and heavy fines for those who trash the city.
Ann Holtzman, 65
Republican
1076 Lindsay Lane
