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Frederick city voters have reset the lineup for the Board of Aldermen, as they ousted all three incumbents who were up for re-election on Tuesday.
Karen Lewis Young (D) was the top vote-getter with 3,577 votes, according to unofficial results released Tuesday night. Michael O'Connor (D) came in second with 3,393, followed by Shelley Aloi (R) with 3,314, Carol Krimm (D) with 3,254, and Kelly Russell (D) with 3,240.
The incumbent aldermen sat in the middle of the pack, vote-wise: C. Paul Smith (R) earned 3,129 votes, Donna Kuzemchak (D) got 3,079 and Alan Imhoff (R) received 3,030.
All results are considered unofficial until Thursday, when the city's Board of Supervisors of Elections counts and certifies roughly 400 absentee ballots and 28 write-in votes.
Young, who was informed of her win as mayoral hopeful Jason Judd (D) conceded defeat, said her win was exciting and bittersweet.
Young, 57, said she was ready for the task of putting her strong marketing and financial background to use for the city. "I feel even more now an inordinate sense of responsibility — the greatest sense of responsibility I have felt since having my child," Young said.
Shelly Aloi, 49, a trained mathematician and scientist, and a dark horse in the aldermanic race, celebrated at the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille in downtown Frederick with family and friends Tuesday night.
O'Connor and Russell awaited results at City Hall.
O'Connor was standing up, while his wife and two teen daughters listened to the results and scribbled down numbers. When the votes for him reached 1,415, one of his daughters raised her voice in encouragement: "Good job, Dad!"
O'Connor, 42, who ran an unsuccessfully for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002, had never before run for public office in the city. He served as moderator of "Pressing Issues" on Comcast Cable.
"It's a very humbling and gratifying experience," he said of the election, noting that his goal was just to finish in the top five alderman spots.
"First or fifth, it doesn't matter," he said. "I am happy to be in the top five."
O'Connor said he was planning to spend the day after the election decompressing before he focuses on what he will be his top priority as an alderman – budget issues.
Russell, 50, a retired police lieutenant who was the first to announce her candidacy for alderman, said she was happy that she made the cut.
"This is really exciting," she said, smiling. "It hasn't sunk in yet. ... I don't know what I will do with myself tomorrow."
Krimm, 58, has been a prevalent figure lately, advocating for the city at Frederick County commissioners meetings and for city residents at City Hall.
The 30-year resident said that she is ready to put her more than 10 years in Maryland state government to use. She is on the legislative staff for Del. Galen R. Clagett (D-Dist. 3A), where she said she has acquired a wealth of knowledge.
Krimm said she plans to draw on her background to help the city make responsible spending decisions, capitalize on the state's smart growth priorities and help maximize economic development opportunities.
The incumbents who lost their seats on Tuesday were mixed in their reactions.
Imhoff attributed his loss to low voter turnout. "I think we're all surprised," he said. "The low turnout is what hurt us, for one. Maybe there was a lot of single-shot voting."
Looking over the numbers, Imhoff tried to make sense of his loss. "After the primary there was a lack of an overall campaign," he said. "It didn't seem that anything got galvanized."
Kuzemchak was among the first to arrive at City Hall wearing her blue campaign T-shirt, and surrounded by her two sons and other supporters. When the results indicated she had lost, Kuzemchak remained calm and went to hug and congratulate other Democratic winners.
"Of course, I am disappointed," she said. "After the primary, it didn't occur to me that this could happen. I still did my job. I worked very hard."
Kuzemchak tried to remain positive, but she could not say if she would get involved with politics again anytime soon.
"I would definitely need a breather first," she said.
"But as they say, when one door closes, you open a window, and if you can't find a window, you just keep walking. Life goes on."
Neither Krimm nor Smith could be contacted by The Gazette's press time.
E-mail Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net, Margarita Raycheva at mraycheva@gazette.net, or Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.
City of Frederick general election 2009 (Board of Aldermen)
Karen Lewis Young (D) 3,577
Michael O'Connor (D) 3,393
Shelley Aloi (R) 3,314
Carol Krimm (D) 3,254
Kelly Russell (D) 3,240
C. Paul Smith (R) 3,129
Donna Kuzemchak (D) 3,079
Alan Imhoff (R) 3,030
Amanda Haddaway (R) 2,676
W. Chris Huckenpoehler (R) 2,160
