Debbie Odum enters Ward 3 council race; Smith-Brown scores key endorsement
- friendsofrhondapin
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
By Megan Loock
UPDATED: April 02, 2025 at 4:29 PM EST
Debbie Odum, a former Annapolis Recreation and Parks employee, is expected to
launch her campaign for the Ward 3 council seat in May.
Rhonda Pindell Charles has held the seat since 2013 but is not seeking reelection as she looks to replace Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Democrat who is term-limited, in November. Pindell Charles is endorsing Odum.
“Ms. Odum has been able to use her decades of knowledge and experiences, along with her most recent interactions, to be a very viable candidate and to serve as our next Ward 3 Alderwoman,” Pindell Charles said in a statement.
Odum, a Democrat, says her priorities include affordable housing, crime
prevention programs and increasing public access to waterways such as Church
Creek, which feeds into the South River.
“Church Creek is off a little side street. No one even knows that it exists so make it
accessible for residents,” she said.
There are several projects earmarked for Church Creek in the cityʼs Public Water Access plan, which has yet to be approved by the council, including a public trail network.
Asked what makes her different from Pindell Charles, she says there isnʼt much.
“Rhonda has done a remarkable job, so I donʼt think I would do anything
differently,” Odum said.
Odum will launch her campaign at the Smokehouse on Hillsmere Drive May 10.
Keanuú Smith-Brown, a Democrat, is also vying for the Ward 3 seat. County
Executive Steuart Pittman and Lisa Rodvien, a Democrat representing District 6 on the Anne Arundel County Council, are expected to endorse Smith-Brown at his campaign launch Thursday.
Subscribers to The Capital Gazette can read the full article here: https://www.capitalgazette.com/2025/04/02/debbie-odum-enters-ward-3-council-race-smith-brown-scores-key-endorsement/
