A New “Gang of 9” in Annapolis? Signs the City Council May Be Thinking for Itself

By MDBayNews Staff

For years, Annapolis politics under former Mayor Gavin Buckley were defined by a familiar pattern: a compliant City Council majority that rarely challenged the mayor’s priorities, even when questions of process, cost, or authority were plainly on the table. That era may finally be cracking.

This week’s 6–2 vote by the Annapolis City Council, as reported by the Baltimore Sun, to approve Mayor Jared Littmann’s proposal to create a new deputy chief of staff position revealed something new—and potentially healthy—for the city’s governance: open dissent, procedural skepticism, and a council that does not move in lockstep.

That alone is noteworthy.

What the Council Approved—and What It Didn’t

The measure approved on February 9th authorizes the creation of a senior-level deputy chief of staff role in the mayor’s office. According to the proposal, the position would:

• Serve as a senior advisor to the mayor
• Support the chief of staff
• Coordinate cross-department initiatives
• Handle communications and resident responses
• Act as a liaison to the City Council

The listed salary range runs from $86,552 to $160,737, with expectations that the eventual hire would land closer to the $100,000–$140,000 range.

What the council did not approve was funding. That decision was intentionally deferred to the upcoming budget process, with the mayor indicating that temporary funding would come from existing vacant payroll slots until his first full budget proposal is submitted in April.

This distinction matters—and it reflects a council that, at least partially, understands the difference between authorizing a role and blindly writing a check.

The Dissent Wasn’t Symbolic

Two council members voted no, and their objections were substantive.

Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge warned the proposal risked becoming a “mayoral power grab,” raising separation-of-powers concerns and urging that the position be debated as part of the full budget review.

Ward 2 Alderman Karma O’Neill objected to creating an executive-level position outside the normal budget timeline and at such a high pay grade.

Savidge also offered an amendment aimed at tightening oversight. It failed—6–2—but the attempt itself is revealing. A motion to postpone the vote for three weeks also failed, 4–3, with one abstention.

In Buckley-era Annapolis, such resistance rarely even made it to the floor.

Why This Vote Feels Different

This wasn’t a rebellion. The mayor ultimately won approval. But it wasn’t a rubber stamp either.

All nine council members are Democrats, yet the debate reflected genuine institutional tension—about executive expansion, fiscal discipline, and the proper role of council oversight. That’s not dysfunction. That’s how separation of powers is supposed to work.

Under the previous administration, Annapolis often operated more like a mayor-centric management structure than a balanced municipal government. The council’s role was frequently reactive, not deliberative.

This vote suggests a possible reset.

Thinking for Themselves—At Least a Little

Calling this group a “new Gang of 9” may be premature. The council still approved the mayor’s request, and the funding question remains unresolved. But unlike the past, the approval came with visible friction, public skepticism, and clear lines of disagreement.

That’s a step forward.

If council members continue to press for transparency during the budget process—and if they are willing to say no when funding or authority goes too far—Annapolis may finally be exiting the era of automatic consensus politics.

For a city facing real fiscal, infrastructure, and quality-of-life challenges, that independence could matter more than any single staff hire.

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