VIDEO: Gajewski Stakes Claims As Challenger in Mayoral Race

Councilman Piotr Gajewski made it official on Saturday, saying that he will challenge Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio in this year’s mayor election during a campaign kickoff announcement at Rockville Memorial Library that included endorsements from two former mayors and two current councilmen. 

For months, Gajewski, in his second term on the council, has frequently drawn contrasts between his positions on city matters and those of Marcuccio.

On Saturday, with the new title of challenger, he offered specific examples of what he called a “leadership void” that the city is facing.

“Those who follow City Council meetings closely know that Phyllis routinely votes against any financing of the city’s capital improvement projects—this in spite of the fact that the city has a triple-A bond rating making financing in most cases literally cheaper than paying cash," Gajewski said.

Without using the top bond rating to borrow money at more favorable rates, the city would not be able to begin construction late this year on the expansion of the public works and parks maintenance complex on Gude Drive and would have left “federal and state grant money on the table” instead of securing it so that the city could , Gajewski said.

“But even more importantly, if Phyllis had prevailed, the city could not even pursue our routine street and water pipe replacement programs at the current level,” Gajewski said. “Of course, when you listen to Phyllis speak, you do not hear any of that, but that is how she voted. And, by the way, there is nothing uncivil about pointing that out.”

Gajewski also criticized Marcuccio’s vote against renewing city manager Scott Ullery’s contract last year and questioned what Gajewski views as Marcuccio’s waffling support for .

Gajewski received endorsements from two current city councilmen—John Britton and Mark Pierzchala—and from two former mayors—Susan Hoffmann and Jim Coyle, each of whom spoke during the campaign kickoff.

Coyle talked about the organizational and leadership skills that Gajewski brings to his job as director and conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra, according to prepared remarks, which Coyle provided to Rockville Patch.

Gajewski can offer the kind of leadership that is lacking in the mayor’s office, said Coyle, a member of the Rockville City Council from 1985 to 1993 and mayor from 1993 to 1995.

“There is a real perception that at times the current administration is drifting along, appearing unfocused and unwilling to lead the council to make the difficult choices needed on critical issues,” Coyle said. “I believe that this leadership vacuum is visible and understood across the city and is eroding our citizens’ confidence that the mayor and council can solve our challenges. I believe that Piotr Gajewski can bring the kind of effective and responsive leadership our citizens deserve and want in their mayor.”

The city holds nonpartisan elections in odd-numbered years for the four seats on the City Council and for mayor. This year’s election will take place Nov. 8.

Gajewski outlined his own priorities, including “protecting Rockville’s distinct neighborhoods as my top priority.”

With major developing ready to move forward just outside the city limits, including and the White Flint Sector Plan, “we had better be proactive about our own economic development and especially our own infrastructure investment," he said. "Otherwise, we will simply be overrun by the traffic and congestion going back and forth across the city and Rockville will have little to show for it.”

Gajewski also said that he would “work to restore relationships that have been badly tarnished in recent years.

“Being a reliable partner for the state, Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Public Schools—and even Montgomery College—is key to Rockville’s future,” he said. “Whether we’re talking about or the construction of new county buildings in downtown Rockville or dealing with , or even physical access to [the] Montgomery College campus, having ongoing relationships built on mutual respect will lead to best solutions.”

Gajewski also pledged “superior city services” while looking for “efficiencies” in the city budget, and took a swipe at one of his frequent targets: .

“Raising taxes just so that the city can fund a golf courses—as is advocated by Phyllis Marcuccio—when we already have several other county golf courses available for play is simply inappropriate,” Gajewski said.

Gajewski said that as mayor “I will insist on total transparency and an inclusive process for everything undertaken by the Rockville city government.

“Our city functions best when we have our policy discussions in public and involve citizens from all over our city and from different segments of our population,” he said.

On Monday, Gajewski sent an email to supporters, saying, “I need to raise at least $20,000 to successfully compete in the election,” and asking for contributions of $500, $250 or $100.