Laurel Mayoral Vacancy Brings Eager Candidates

Last month, longtime Laurel Mayor Craig Moe announced his retirement, following over 20 years of service to the town. It is very likely that this election will give the 153-year-old town its first Black Mayor.  The first two candidates to announce thus far have been Councilman At-Large Martin Mitchell and Ward 2 Councilman Keith Sydnor.

Mitchell announced his campaign shortly after Moe’s retirement in late April, and Sydnor announced his campaign on May 1. 

The at-large councilman, serving in his first term, is known as an advocate particularly on housing and cannabis legalization. He sponsored rent-stabilization legislation in Laurel alongside Laurel Councilman Carl DeWalt and supported County Councilwoman Krystal Oriadha’s (D) legislation to implement rent stabilization in the County. If elected, Mitchell pledges to implement further measures to support tenants and to make Laurel’s Main Street a statewide attraction that can draw both future residents and visiting customers. He has also supported unionizing efforts from the City’s Department of Public Works.

In his third term as Ward 2 councilman, Sydnor is a U.S. Navy veteran who also served as a union organizer, and was first elected to the Council in 2017. He was unanimously voted Council President by his colleagues in 2019. Sydnor formerly served on the Democratic Central Committee in 2022.  He sponsored the  Laurel Emergency Assistance Relief COVID-19 Act, hosted Laurel’s first-ever expungement clinic and job fair for Laurel residents, nominated the first African American woman to serve as Council President and led efforts to recognize Juneteenth as a permanent official city holiday. He also fought for and secured real property tax credits for seniors, veterans and first responders and an apprenticeship program for Laurel residents.

“It’s time to make sure our government is meeting people at their places of need,” said Sydnor in his May 1 campaign announcement. “I’m running for mayor because you deserve a true partner that will keep our communities first, place service above self-interest and leverage every resource available to improve the quality of life for all neighbors that live within our city’s limits.” 

Ward 2 Councilman Brencis Smith is a potential candidate for Mayor. Smith previously ran for Delegate in Maryland’s 21st District, which overlaps with Laurel. 

Laurel is a unique municipality, as parts of the town are in Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Montgomery County. Laurel is also the only town in Prince George’s County with local zoning rights. This race is a nonpartisan race, meaning that any resident can participate regardless of partisan affiliation and candidates do not have their partisan affiliation denoted on the ballot.