Aldermanic Candidates Smith-Brown, Huntley, Cussimanio, Makell & Thorp Wins Over Audience During Well-Attended Forum Organized by The Coalition for Atonement & Repair at The Historic First Baptist Church in Annapolis

The views expressed in this article are not those of Coalition for Atonement & Repair-CAR or First Baptist Church of Annapolis. 

City Council candidates Smith-Brown, Huntley, Cussimanio, Makell, and Thorp gave impressive responses to questions regarding their dedication to positive change, resonating with the enthusiastic audience at the Coalition for Atonement & Repair's forum held in Annapolis at The Historic First Baptist Church.

With at least 150 attendees, the Annapolis City Council Mayoral and Aldermanic candidates were the focal point of this well-attended reparative justice forum. Panelists posed questions on critical topics such as affordable housing and displacement, economic equity and job access, community violence and criminal justice reform, cannabis justice, and repair. Community members also had the chance to voice their concerns, express their aspirations for solutions, and outline their expectations for leadership.

As of July 16, 2025, all certified candidates for the City of Annapolis Mayor and City Council were invited. The following candidates confirmed their attendance:

  Mayoral Candidates: Jared Littmann and Rhonda Pindell-Charles

  Ward 1: Ben Bramsen and Harry Huntley

  Ward 2: Karma O’Neill

  Ward 3: Debbie Odum and Keanuú Smith-Brown

  Ward 4: Janice Allsup-Johnson and Coren Makell

 Ward 5: Brooks Schandelmeier

Ward 6: Craig Cussimanio

  Ward 7: Rob Savidge

  Ward 8: Frank Thorp

Among all the aldermanic candidates present, the responses given by Smith-Brown, Huntley, Cussimanio, Makell, and Thorp yielded some of the most noticeable reactions from the crowd.

Topics included:

Reparative Justice & City Policy 

War on Drugs & Cannabis Justice

Land, Affordable Housing & Displacement 

Economic Equity & Governance

In a statement, Senator Shaneka Henson said: 

"Today I attended the Annapolis Mayoral and City Council Candidate Forum hosted by the Coalition for Atonement & Repair-CAR at First Baptist Church of Annapolis. It was a meaningful and necessary conversation about equity, justice, and restoration in our city. Grateful for the organizers and community members who continue to push these important issues forward."

The forum featured moderated questions and community testimony, with timed candidate responses to questions about municipal action. On-site voter registration was also provided. 

The panelists were:

Lynda Davis: Core member of CAR, Coming to the Table Annapolis, Showing Up for Racial Justice Annapolis & Anne Arundel (SURJ3A), Timothy Boston: Clay Street Native, Lifelong Ward 2 Annapolitan, Report Annapolis News Publisher and Community Advocate, Ahsun Powell: Facilitator and strategist of CAR, Capitol Accountability Project (CAP)

The planning team included experienced grassroots community leaders such as Renetra Anderson, Argo Duenas, and Bishop Charles Carroll, ensuring that the voices of those affected by decades of institutional neglect are heard. 

The Honorable Cynthia Carter, CAR Chairwoman, noted, "CAR has become a trusted voice for the descendants of the Old Fourth Ward—those harmed by the City’s actions of Urban Renewal. Past injustices are linked to the present-day issues, and this election forum includes a new generation of organizers committed to truth, justice, and repair.”

The forum can be viewed below:

🎥 Watch here

The views expressed in this article are not those of Coalition for Atonement & Repair-CAR or First Baptist Church of Annapolis. 

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