MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 23, 2004

MAYOR DOUGHERTY TO VISIT CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE “IF I WERE MAYOR” ESSAY CONTEST

Frederick, Md. --- Mayor Dougherty will be visiting area elementary schools beginning this week in an effort to encourage students to participate in the Maryland Municipal League’s “If I Were Mayor, I Would…” essay contest. She will be encouraging students to be interested in and learn about the role of a mayor in city government.

The contest is open to all 4th grade students enrolled during the 2003-2004 school year. One winner will be selected from each of the 11 regional districts. The winner will receive a $250 savings bond and be recognized at a statewide Municipal Government Week event in April. MML will also select two winners at random (one participating student and one participating teacher) from each district to receive $25 Barnes and Noble gift cards.

The contest gives students the opportunity to exercise their creativity, language arts, and social studies skills while learning about city government. It also promotes the statewide annual Municipal Government Week held in April. Hundreds of students throughout Maryland participated in the essay contest last year.

Please note Mayor Dougherty’s Arranged School Visits:

Whittier Elementary January 29, 2004 1 p.m.
Visitation Academy February 2, 2004 9:30 a.m.
Hillcrest Elementary February 5, 2004 1:30 p.m.

Additional schedules of school visits will be released pending confirmation. All visits are subject to change.