2012 Mayor Race Shaping Up

Fredericksburg's 2012 mayoral race is slowly coming into focus. With the announcement that current Mayor Thomas Tomzak would not be seeking a third term followed shortly by Ward 3 Councilor Fred Howe throwing his hat in the ring, it appears as if current Vice Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw is getting ready to throw her hat in the ring as well.

Tomzak Looks Back on Two Terms

Tomzak's announcement had been hotly anticipated for a few weeks by the city's armchair political strategists. In the end, the announcement came at Tomzak's humble City Hall office before a small crowd of five journalists. Tomzak was also joined by his wife Suzanne, who looked on as Tomzak answered questions.

Tomzak, age 65, said his decision was a difficult one, but that it was time for him to move on to other challenges. He does not yet know exactly what he plans to do in his post political life. Retiring from his career as a physician is also being considered, but he has a hard time seeing himself not working in medicine.

He recalled his eight years in office fondly.

"It's been a great experience, I've enjouyed it," said Tomzak. "It's been a real joy to serve with the people on the City Council, and the city is well served by the people on the City Council."

He said the council remains aware of the challenges facing Fredericksburg residents and the city as a whole. Chief among them, said Tomzak, is making sure the city is able to survive on the long term as an independent municipal entity.

"The best year's of Fredericksburg are ahead of us," said Tomzak as he spoke of the city's not-too-distant 300th birthday in 2027.

Among his personal highs as Mayor, Tomzak listed the Rappahannock River Easement, the redevelopment of  the Maury School into the Maury Condominums, the development of the downtown Marriott Hotel.

Tomzak said his darkest moment as mayor was the 2008 line-of-duty death of Fredericksburg Police Officer Todd Bahr, who was shot and killed while responding to a domestic altercation.

Tomzak also addressed the stalled development of the Kalahari Water Park and Convention Center in Celebrate Virginia South.

"Kalahari still is not dead," said Tomzak. "It's not just a silly African water park, it's an 850 room resort and convention center that will make us a real destination for national and international conventions."

Tomzak also remained protective of the recently approved project to build a new downtown court facility at the intersection of Caroline and Charlotte streets. He said it was unwise to consider mothballing the project, as Councilor Howe has considered.

"Those people who say we don't need it, it's hard to argue with them, it's like they're believers in a flat earth," said Tomzak. "If they do reverse it, then they really have the responsibility to temporize millions of dollars and explain to future generations why they kicked it down to them."

Tomzak also regretted not making more of an issue out of social problems, in particular teenage pregnancy and its effects on the community.

Howe Announces, Greenlaw Announcement Imminent

On Saturday, Ward 3 Councilor Fred Howe announced that he would seek the Mayor's seat in 2012.

Howe, an 11 year resident of Fredericksburg, was elected to council in May 2010. He has taken an interest in transportation in his time on council, serving on the Virginia Rail Express board, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

"The campaign direction will concentrate on a citizens first philosophy centered on principles of honestey which are the expectations of our residents," reads Howe's announcement. "The opportunities before our city are tremendous and the core challenge is that of ensuring we maintain city status in the future."

Vice-Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw is also expected to announce her candidacy for the mayor's seat later today. Over the weekend, Greenlaw's public relation's firm Spangler Ekert sent an email alerting the media that Greenlaw would be making an announcement about the upcoming City Council elections at 5:30 p.m. at the old Fredericksburg City Hall council chambers at the intersection of Princess Anne and William streets.