Ed Putens Breaks Council Record for Longest Service

Ed Putens made city history as the longest-serving council member, while Judith "J" Davis and Emmett Jordan were re-elected mayor and mayor pro tem, respectively, and Bill Orleans showed up in council chambers yet again.

Thus the 39th Greenbelt City Council convened its first meeting in front of a room packed with citizens, council supporters and family on Monday evening, November 14.

Council chose to retain Judith “J” Davis as mayor and Emmett Jordan as mayor pro tem, following a long-standing tradition of reserving those offices to the candidates receiving the most and second-most votes, respectively. Davis received 1,383 votes and Jordan, 1,367. 

Ed Putens Beats Tom White's 30-Year Council Record

Longevity and long-term sustainability were on the mayor’s mind as she began her 10th term on the council, serving as mayor for all but the first two terms. 

Even though Davis will have served for 20 years when her newest two-year term ends, she announced that it was Ed Putens, elected to his 16th term, which will make 32 years, who is now the longest-serving council member in Greenbelt’s history, which she called a remarkable feat. 

Later, Council Member Konrad Herling pointed out to Patch that Putens had beaten Tom White’s 30-year record. Second to Putens in longevity is Council Member Rodney Roberts, who told Patch he couldn’t believe he is beginning his 11th term—which will make 22 years.

Bill Orleans: Only One Challenger is a Shame

Bill Orleans, the only challenger to the incumbents in the recent election, failed to win a seat on council, receiving the lowest number of votes, 412. But the first time council opened it's doors for business, there sat Orleans—the man whom city clerk Cindy Murray said attends almost all of City Council's meetings.

Orleans told Patch that while he thinks and hopes he congratulated council on winning, he doesn’t think the city won. 

And, while he said he was thankful for the votes he received, he repeated two points from his campaign: It’s a shame — that people don’t follow council actions, instead acceding to council and city staff — and that out of 12,000 registered voters, and seven council positions, there was only one challenger.

Davis, Jordan, and Roberts Call for More Citizen Involvement

Mayor Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Jordan, and Council Member Roberts
seemed to share the same opinion as Orleans, telling Patch that there should be more involvement in elections.

Davis said, “It’s always good to have challengers, especially viable ones.”  She said it keeps candidates sharp. She found the turnout a bit disappointing and said she'd like to see more people at council meetings, especially at budget time. But, she said, that there is a good turnout at council meetings when important issues come up.

Jordan said the low voter turnout in Greenbelt West—47 voted at the Franklin Park precinct—is indicative of the need to find ways to get people involved. He said that maybe more resources, such as a community center at Greenbelt Middle School’s old building, once the new middle school opens, could help increase citizen involvement.

Roberts said he totally agreed with Orleans on the lack of citizen involvement.  He also said that Orleans’ getting 412 votes "shows that there are a number of people out there that are not really satisfied with the status quo, the establishment." He said that he received about 600 votes when he first ran for City Council in 1989.

Council Member Leta Mach, on the other hand, said that in her door-to-door campaigning, she found most voters had no issues or concerns. They said they were pleased with everything. 

Taxes and Crime Main Concerns

Davis found similar reactions, although she said that doesn’t mean that
Greenbelters don’t face many challenges, especially those created by the weak economy. “Taxes and crime led all other concerns among those I talked to while door knocking.”

39th Council May Plan Greenbelt's Future Beyond 75th Anniversary

Davis said she was proud to be elected to the 39th City Council in Greenbelt’s history and to serve the next two years, including Greenbelt’s 75th anniversary year in 2012. That looming anniversary and Davis’ attendance last week at the Green Cities sustainability work sessions at the National League of Cities conference, put Greenbelt’s long-term sustainability at the forefront of the challenges she wants to address in her next term.

Davis proposed that the visioning event council plans for the 75th anniversary be expanded to include a goal centered around strategies for sustainable planning.