Mayor’s inaugural to be a ‘statement’

‘Change candidate’ Buckley’s plans for parade, ball break with staid city tradition

Mayor-elect Gavin Buckley, left, and Mayor Michael Pantelides wait for the tree lighting at the Grand Illumination in Annapolis Nov. 26. Buckley said of his inauguration plans, “We’ve raised money the whole time by having non-traditional events. That’s what we all expect.” (Joshua McKerrow/Baltimore Sun Media Group)

Annapolis mayor-elect Gavin Buckley will break with tradition when the city hosts his inauguration celebration Monday afternoon and evening.

“We’re going big. We wanted to make a statement,” said Buckley, who defeated incumbent Michael Pantelides in last month’s election. “We campaigned as a change candidate, we didn’t run from those words.”

The inaugural mayoral and City Council ceremony is traditionally a staid affair, hosted at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in front of outgoing elected officials, community leaders and various political dignitaries.

Buckley’s day will have gospel singing and a parade.

There are both public and ticketed events on the inauguration schedule, kicking off with the parade. Starting at 2 p.m., the city will block off the first block of West Street, where marching bands will play through.

The parade will feature a Naval Academy band, the Naptown Brass Band and the Annapolis City Drum and Bugle Corps, which will march down West Street toward Church Circle, where a stage will be set up for Buckley’s speech.

The stage will feature a backdrop art installation by children and muralist Jeff Huntington — whose work on the front of Buckley’s Tsunami restaurant sparked a legal fight with city preservationists — and a gospel choir from Third Baptist Church.

Buckley will speak around 4:45 p.m., when holiday lights will illuminate West Street.

Following the public parade and swearing-in, Buckley will host an inaugural ball at Loews Annapolis hotel. The ball is ticketed — $100 a person. The soiree will feature a 17-piece swing band, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The tickets will pay for the ball, Buckley said, and his team will be giving away an undetermined number of tickets.

Buckley said he isn’t worried about bucking the traditional trappings of Maryland Hall for something a little more lavish. During his campaign, he raised funds and built community bonds through unusual events such as Iron Chef Annapolis, a cooking competition pitting Annapolis residents against each other. He also solidified a squadron of young supporters through his Young Bucks events and happy hours.

“We’ve raised money the whole time by having non-traditional events,” he said. “That’s what we all expect.”

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