Westminster Councilwoman Rebecca A. Orenstein opened the 1995 political season last week by announcing that she will run for a second term.
She was quickly followed by Willis Street resident Suzanne W. Albert, who filed for the May 8 city election. L. Gregory Pecoraro, who was appointed to fill a council vacancy in November, said he plans to run but won't make a formal announcement until next month.
Councilman Stephen R. Chapin Sr., who occupies the third council seat open in this year's election, is expected to run for re-election but could not be reached for comment.
City Planning Commission member Jerry L. Toadvine took himself out of the running. Mr. Toadvine's name circulated among council members in November when council President Kenneth A. Yowan became mayor, creating a council vacancy. Mr. Yowan replaced W. Benjamin Brown, who won election as a county commissioner.
"I'm pleased for the people who are interested in doing it," Mr. Toadvine said. "But having just run [for House of Delegates in 1994], I don't feel this is the right time for me to commit to another campaign."
Attorney Lloyd R. Helt Jr., a West Green Street resident, said he is considering running and is "talking it over with a few close friends."
Mr. Helt served 15 years in elected office in Sykesville before he and his wife, Ruth Gray, moved to Westminster in 1993. He said his experience in local government means he has "something to give to Westminster."
Ms. Orenstein, 52, is a Pennsylvania Avenue resident and an employee of the ARC, which serves developmentally disabled people.
She has focused on historic preservation and efforts to promote downtown Westminster's revitalization in her four years on the council. She sponsored the voluntary historic preservation program that the city now has in effect and provided the impetus for the Saturday morning farmers' market that opened in July 1994.
"I see the future for Westminster," Ms. Orenstein said. "People will see what a small town is. There'll be stores and shops. I want to be part of that excitement."
Ms. Albert, 62, is a nurse consultant and administrator with the state health department. If elected to the council, she would push for more scheduled activities for youngsters, better traffic management to reduce downtown congestion and waiting times stoplights, and attempts to reroute tractor-trailers off residential streets.
Ms. Albert would like to see a city pond opened to ice skating. Liability concerns that stopped the council from allowing skating in the past shouldn't be insurmountable, she said, adding that other local governments provide skating sites.
Ms. Albert ran for register of wills in Carroll County in 1990 and 1994 and for the House of Delegates from Anne Arundel County in 1979 and 1982. She said her husband "challenged me and said, 'You have so much to offer and genuine care and concern about all people, and those are the types of politicians we need.' "
Mr. Pecoraro, 35, a Furnace Hills resident, said he plans to resign as chairman of the Carroll County Democratic Central Committee to run for a full term on the council.
Mr. Pecoraro left his job as an aide to U.S. Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes in mid-January to take a temporary job as acting executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party.
He said that when the job ends at the end of this month, "then I'll go do something else."
The council election is nonpartisan, with candidates running as individuals rather than by party affiliation.
The deadline for filing to run for council office and to register for the city election is April 10. Westminster has 5,769 registered voters.
City Clerk John D. Dudderar reported that the city has a permanent polling place for its 2nd Precinct. Residents living west of Route 31 will vote at the community center in the Greens subdivision.