District 3 Candidates

There have been discussions in the community about renovating Mullinix Park. Returning the pool to a full functioning pool, renovating the bathroom, pavilion, and building an amphitheater. These improvements would ensure that Mullinix Park is more than just a green space, but a destination where memories are made where the spirit of the community can truly flourish. 

Would you support the renovation of Mullinix Park, a park that truly belongs to everyone?

• David Schmidt: Yes   "For a generation, we have heavily invested in the beautification and amenities of Baker Park. We should spend the next generation investing in Mullinix, Laboring Sons, and other parks that serve the rest of the community."

• Peter Brehm: Yes

The city council has created one majority-minority district instead of two (2) majority-minority districts, thus diluting people of color's voting power.

Will you take action to amend that matter to implement two (2) majority-minority districts?

• David Schmidt: Yes   "Day 1 we need to get to work fixing this mistake. The Council allowed consultant written maps to be implemented without meaningfully engaging the community. I have made this a pillar of my campaign. Our political system disenfranchises large portions of our community. Reform is needed immediately."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "Understanding that people of color includes latine people, I would first want to meet with consultants / other organizations to review the data before making any changes."

Wage disparity continues to be an issue for minorities and immigrants. Black and Latino workers are significantly less likely to earn middle and upper wages compared to other groups. A recent report by the Maryland State Comptroller shows that there would be a worker deficit if not for immigrant workers. 

Will you introduce or support an ordinance to ensure fair wages for all in Frederick City — regardless of race, ethnicity, or immigration status? Furthermore will you commit to ensuring all of your actions on the city council support this?

• David Schmidt: Yes  "At this moment, I am unaware of the legal mechanism we could use at the city level to ensure fair wages for our working families. If possible though, we should find and pull that lever. This is why collective bargaining and community organizing is so important. Together we are powerful."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "Sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression must be added to this. Philosophically, yes, and any ordinance must not harm City businesses or economic development. I also do not understand what "ensuring all of your actions" means in the last sentence."

Many jurisdictions, have adopted “Ranked Choice” voting, allowing greater choice and effort of one’s vote. 

Do you support ranked choice voting for the City of Frederick?

• David Schmidt: Yes  "Ranked choice is a tremendous tool to give more power to the community. However, it is very different and could be confusing for voters that have never experienced it before. If passed, we will need a significant community effort to educate and train our residents to ensure their voices are heard."

• Peter Brehm: Yes

A growing number of immigrants feel disenfranchised with attacks on residency, citizenship, and due process at the Federal level of government.

Will you use your position to allay those feelings and make sure immigrants are protected in Frederick?

• David Schmidt: Yes  "To me, this is the very core responsibility of public office. If elected, your focus should be on advocating for the most vulnerable, and safeguarding and ensuring that everyone's rights are protected. I served in the USMC to protect the rights of my neighbors, I see elected office no differently."

• Peter Brehm: Yes

• David Schmidt:  Yes  "Our local law enforcement should be focused on building trust with the residents. There is tremendous, justified, fear in our immigrant communities. Repealing 287g is one of many steps we need to take to rebuild that trust."

• Peter Brehm: Yes

• David Schmidt:  Yes  "Yes, full stop. Every member of our community deserves an equal seat at the table devoid of prejudice."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "While on a macro level I support inclusion of everyone, this term and what it pertains to needs to be fleshed out."

• David Schmidt:  Yes  "There is a humanitarian crisis occurring, children do not deserve to be starved or murdered for any reason whatsoever. In asymmetric warfare, it is the absolute responsibility of the advanced military to not just minimize, but to prevent atrocities."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "While a balanced resolution would be helpful, I suggest any resolution be crafted by a group that includes a wider range of representatives of Frederick's faith community, including our Jewish siblings."

The growing wealth inequality in our community often disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations such as seniors, people with disabilities, and the unhoused.

Will you support affordable housing legislation in Frederick City, including but not limited to: establishing a Community Land Trust, modular construction, rezoning, rent-stabilization, ensuring city agencies enforce State fair housing rules, and performing an assessment of affordable housing in Frederick City?

• David Schmidt:  Yes  "I have made rent stabilization a priority of my campaign. See my many public writings on affordable housing. 50 words is not enough to explain how important each of these steps are to ensuring that everyone in our community can afford to live in our city. I will fight for each of these proposals."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "The affordable housing "tools" listed have merit; requiring that I support all of them without studying them is not appropriate. I will commit to giving all of them serious consideration and will work with civic, religious, City, County, State, Federal, and developer representatives in this effort."

• David Schmidt: Yes  "We have too much, we are too blessed for anyone to be left behind or homeless. We need a "Quality of Life" Department/Director. A central clearinghouse for services made available by our amazing non-profits. We need to be better organized and the city should be responsible for that coordination."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "Drawing on the study now underway, create a task force to create a comprhensive plan to address affordable housing for each tier. I will also make sure the City's Rental Licensing and MPDU fees are being invested into rental support, weatherization, and affordable housing programs."

• David Schmidt: Yes  "Most of you have probably already seen my testimony to the BoE in support of Policy 443. Our values of fairness and kindness and respect mean nothing unless they are given to every single child."

• Peter Brehm: Yes

Minority communities are oftentimes disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. 

Will you introduce or support an ordinance detailing steps Frederick will take to remain committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 despite budget constraints and federal government hostility to climate actions?

• David Schmidt: Yes  "Years ago I served on the 'Green Team' which formed today's City Sustainability Commission. I have extensive experience in the building trades and have worked as an energy auditor. We do have some requirements already passed to ensure climate resiliency, we just need to actually enforce them."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "As with the equitable pay issue, this will require study and intentionality."

• David Schmidt: Yes "Everyone deserves equitable treatment in any governmental interaction. There should be no barriers to any particular religion's building. But, while any student should be excused for religious observations, I generally disagree with codifying any religion's holidays into our government calendars."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "Yes, understanding that these important goals must be reviewed for secondary order impacts, and that issues like school holidays are not the purview of City Council."

Granting the church’s request would not only demonstrate respect for its vital role in the community but also align city policy with principles of inclusion and equal treatment. 

• David Schmidt: Yes  "This is a conditional yes. I do not know the specific church or streets involved. But no matter what, the organization would need to work together with their neighbors to come to consensus. I believe the city has a role in that mediation."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "This is a qualified yes. It is an oddly specific request about a situation that is not well described. Which church? Which street? Why can church attendees not use free garage parking? What are the safety implications of parking on a 'No Parking" street?'"

• David Schmidt: Yes  "Emphatically yes. Many of the interactions between public safety and the public are not law enforcement actions. We need to heavily invest in mental health services, training, resources, and staff. This ties in directly with the need to have a 'Quality of Life' Department/Director in the City."

• Peter Brehm: Yes  "I believe this is already the case, and this is worth researching. In fact, my understanding is that the City will be taking on the cost of the Social worker because Shepherd Pratt will not longer front this cost."