Laurel Mayor, Council President Rack up Local Media Endorsement

Incumbent candidates vying to remain in office after the Nov. 1 Laurel election won the backing of the Laurel Leader, which announced its electoral endorsements Wednesday.

Mayor Craig Moe and Council President Michael Leszcz prevailed against their respective challengers--, Valerie Cunningham, both fellow mayoral candidates, and Adrian Rousseau, an at-large candidate for city council. 

Councilwoman , who Gayle Snyder on the council during the summer, received a pass from the Leader as well as . Both are running unopposed. Ward 2 council members Frederick Smalls and Donna Crary, who are also running unopposed, received backing from the Leader as well.

The 2011 election cycle has been the most . The Leader's editorial board took notice of Sarich's campaign tactics and Cunningham's experience.

"Sarich has run a campaign of bashing the mayor and council and condemning how the city has been run," the Leader wrote. "He is a contrarian and was at odds with his fellow council members and the mayor during his two terms on the council from 2004-2008."

The Leader wrote that Cunningham "needs to gain some political and management experience before she should be considered for an elected position."

Moe has been under fire from both Sarich and Cunningham for failing to grow business in the city and a lack of diversity in city leadership. Moe told Laurel Patch that he expects to be the target of his opponents.

"I understand I get shots taken at me," he said. "[Sarich] is in attack mode. He's got nothing."

In addition to the Leader, Moe has received from the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11, a union representing the Laurel Police Department, Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker and State Sen. Jim Rosapepe.

Laurel Patch will publish an interview with Moe later this week.