The Candidates' Forum: District 2 Bowie City Council

Editor’s note: As a reader service, Bowie Patch is providing excerpts from Thursday’s City Council candidate forum sponsored by the Greater Bowie Democratic Club at the Kenhill Center. Below are parts of the discussions between the two District 2 candidates. Excerpts for the other contested races, District 3, District 4 and At Large, will be published shortly. District 1 and the mayor’s race are uncontested in the Nov. 8 city elections.

DISTRICT 2

Challenger Piero “Pete” Mellits, 47, is a lifelong resident of Bowie and a registered engineer and Bowie volunteer deputy fire chief. He ran against incumbent Diane Polangin in 2009 and lost.

He said:  “I am a strong communicator. I listen well. I am seeking the opportunity to enhance our city council in making decisions related to public safety, land planning and the establishment of continued economic growth and to streamline spending and work against raising taxes and utility fees.”

Incumbent Diane Polangin, 63, was elected in 2007 and was re-elected in 2009 by defeating Mellits. A 50 year resident of Bowie, she owns and operates her own business in the city.

She said: “I have been part of the leadership that has provided four balanced operating budgets with a combined county and city tax rate that is the lowest since 2003… The most important issue I see facing District 2 and our city is to promote a stronger and more viable tax base in order to have the capability of providing increased services that are demanded by a growing and diverse city.”

Moderator: The owner of the Marketplace says they need approval for a senior apartment complex on site to stimulate the retail center. How big of a senior living complex would you approve and what would you do to accommodate the extra traffic?

Mellits: He supports re-developing the Marketplace with senior housing. “The traffic would be the number one priority to focus on, the number of units would be second,” he said.

Route 450 and Stonybrook Drive and Superior Lane would all need improvements because of the increased traffic, he said. “My background in civil engineering and zoning would more than adequately allow me to provide excellent recommendations with the county.”

Polangin: The property’s developer, she said, proposed 384 rental units, to which she suggested senior owned condo units instead. “They did say they would think about senior housing…But since we don’t have our own zoning authority, it makes it very difficult. They can look at us in the face and say ‘yes, we’ll give you senior housing’ and then go to the county and come up with all rentals.”

She believes that the traffic impact may be less than some think because seniors use roads differently than younger people. “They won’t have an impact on our schools. They are not on the road during rush hour, so that will help a lot.”

Moderator:  What suggestions or recommendations do you have to attract young families to Bowie and make Bowie more pedestrian and more bike friendly?

Mellits: He a suggested a city tax incentive program regarding home financing to encourage home ownership, particularly by younger people.

He would enhance all of the city’s sidewalks and create and expand bike trails and other recreational facilities for younger, growing families. “The majority of Bowie was based upon young families that moved from the city and other larger areas. That’s how Bowie started.”

Polangin: “One of the things we need to do is be sure we have affordable housing,” she said.

Too many young people, said Polangin, purchased “McMansions” and lost them to foreclosure during the housing crisis. Now, though, is the time to buy, she said. It needs to be marketed to younger people that Bowie’s housing prices have gotten lower.

She said the bike paths are being improved under the city's five and 10 year capital improvement plans.

Moderator:  The speed limit in Bowie is 25 mph. It is obvious to many people this is an inconvenience. What are your feelings/stands on speed cameras, traffic bumps and other means to slow people down?

Mellits: He said as an engineer, traffic and speeding are part of his expertise.

He said the Bowie City Council has worked on education and enforcement regarding speeding, but not engineering. “Enforcement is good; the speed cameras are there, but there needs to be the next step, actual construction.” Mellits said Polangin said she would do this when he ran against her two years ago, but so far, has not.

Polangin: “We are not reluctant to construct speed humps or speed bumps. It’s just difficult to do so.” She said that if a resident wants a speed bump on their street, they have to collect petition signatures from 60 or 90 percent of their street’s homeowners.  “And to date, we have had many people go out with petitions, and they are unable to get even 10 or 15 percent of the signatures.”